ᐅ Is it possible to build a new house for €900 per square meter?
Created on: 3 Sep 2024 21:04
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Ottowillswisse
Hello everyone,
After my house purchase unfortunately fell through, I happened to start a conversation with someone from a new development in town.
He told me that the average cost for new builds is usually around €3000 per m² (approximately $280 per ft²), which is quite expensive. But he built his 100 m² (1,076 ft²) flat-roof bungalow with an architect for only €900 per m² (around $85 per ft²). How he managed that: wall construction consists of 17.5 cm (7 inches) calcium silicate bricks + 15 cm (6 inches) insulation with a thermal conductivity of 0.035 W/(mK) + 1.5 cm (0.6 inches) plaster (this is apparently the cheapest possible wall build-up).
Most of the interior work was done by himself, so for example, the kitchen cost €2000 (about $2200) purchased from a DIY store, and the bathrooms were tiled and the fixtures installed by himself. Laminate flooring and tiles were also installed as DIY for a maximum of €15 per m² (about $1.40 per ft²). Interior plaster on ceilings and walls, interior doors, windows, and the front door were also installed by himself.
The design is very simple with small window areas, and the excavated soil was reused in the garden, for example. The house has no photovoltaic or solar system. Hot water is provided by a tankless water heater, and heating is done with an air-to-air heat pump, that is, a split air conditioning system.
What do you think about such a construction cost? It seems somewhat unrealistic to me.
Best regards
After my house purchase unfortunately fell through, I happened to start a conversation with someone from a new development in town.
He told me that the average cost for new builds is usually around €3000 per m² (approximately $280 per ft²), which is quite expensive. But he built his 100 m² (1,076 ft²) flat-roof bungalow with an architect for only €900 per m² (around $85 per ft²). How he managed that: wall construction consists of 17.5 cm (7 inches) calcium silicate bricks + 15 cm (6 inches) insulation with a thermal conductivity of 0.035 W/(mK) + 1.5 cm (0.6 inches) plaster (this is apparently the cheapest possible wall build-up).
Most of the interior work was done by himself, so for example, the kitchen cost €2000 (about $2200) purchased from a DIY store, and the bathrooms were tiled and the fixtures installed by himself. Laminate flooring and tiles were also installed as DIY for a maximum of €15 per m² (about $1.40 per ft²). Interior plaster on ceilings and walls, interior doors, windows, and the front door were also installed by himself.
The design is very simple with small window areas, and the excavated soil was reused in the garden, for example. The house has no photovoltaic or solar system. Hot water is provided by a tankless water heater, and heating is done with an air-to-air heat pump, that is, a split air conditioning system.
What do you think about such a construction cost? It seems somewhat unrealistic to me.
Best regards
I wasn’t talking about extensions or bungalows. And now, good night, John-Boy.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
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nordanney27 Nov 2024 07:28Ottowillswisse schrieb:
So it might make sense to build a one-and-a-half-story house right away but only finish the ground floor as living space initially, and then finish the upper floor or attic later if needed,But you still have to build it. And prepare everything for finishing later (electrical, water/sewage, heating). And pay for it as well. P.S. The upper floor won’t improve over the years, for example if it’s not heated at all. Maybe you could start growing mold if you’re lucky.
Ottowillswisse schrieb:
Especially since a house is meant to last a lifetime if I go into debt for it.No. A property has to fit your life situation. The idea of “for life” is over, just like a “job for life.” It’s comparable to a car. If a convertible is enough now, I wouldn’t buy a large van for the future but skip all extra features because I actually don’t have the money.
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Teimo198827 Nov 2024 11:01Ottowillswisse schrieb:
I'm not an expert in architecture, but the loggia and the small bay window were expensive, right? The small bay window was really necessary due to the window design and the plot. Of course, it's not ideal financially.
The entire exposed concrete structure for the terrace, balcony, and roof, including waterproofing and house connection, probably cost around 30-35k. However, some of the work was done by myself.
nordanney schrieb:
P.S. The upper floor won’t improve over the years if it isn’t heated at all, for example. Maybe you could start a mold farm there, if you’re lucky.This is a good argument that is often overlooked: keeping rooms unused as a reserve is a concept from times when minimal ventilation could mostly be achieved through leaks.https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
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Ottowillswisse22 Apr 2025 21:24Hello community,
In December 2024, I contacted an architect in this region to discuss my wishes and planned specifications and to find out if he considered the proposed construction cost realistic. He provided various (creative) suggestions for cost savings, and we have now planned a bungalow with a 22-degree pitched gable roof and owner-contributed work on: floating screed, floor coverings, interior plaster, windows and front door, interior doors, bathroom including bathroom fixtures, and an infrared heating system.
The bungalow will have about 85 m2 (915 sq ft) of living space, and according to the architect’s calculations, a heat pump would never pay off because the heating demand is too low. I can install the infrared heating system using electricity myself and still meet the required efficiency standards. The planned construction costs are now 1700€ per m2 (158 sq ft), and with additional construction-related expenses, the total comes to about 160,000-165,000€. Unfortunately, I have to buy the plot from my grandparents, although well below market value, because otherwise the other grandchildren would have demanded the market value of the land; therefore, an additional 40,000€ was added (market value 130,000€).
I am estimating the total cost, including outdoor facilities with a lot of owner-contributed work and the land price, at 220,000€ for the 85 m2 (915 sq ft) of living space. Construction started one month ago, and soon everything will take shape.
Best regards
In December 2024, I contacted an architect in this region to discuss my wishes and planned specifications and to find out if he considered the proposed construction cost realistic. He provided various (creative) suggestions for cost savings, and we have now planned a bungalow with a 22-degree pitched gable roof and owner-contributed work on: floating screed, floor coverings, interior plaster, windows and front door, interior doors, bathroom including bathroom fixtures, and an infrared heating system.
The bungalow will have about 85 m2 (915 sq ft) of living space, and according to the architect’s calculations, a heat pump would never pay off because the heating demand is too low. I can install the infrared heating system using electricity myself and still meet the required efficiency standards. The planned construction costs are now 1700€ per m2 (158 sq ft), and with additional construction-related expenses, the total comes to about 160,000-165,000€. Unfortunately, I have to buy the plot from my grandparents, although well below market value, because otherwise the other grandchildren would have demanded the market value of the land; therefore, an additional 40,000€ was added (market value 130,000€).
I am estimating the total cost, including outdoor facilities with a lot of owner-contributed work and the land price, at 220,000€ for the 85 m2 (915 sq ft) of living space. Construction started one month ago, and soon everything will take shape.
Best regards
N
nordanney22 Apr 2025 22:05Thank you for the feedback.
This means that the question in your initial post has ultimately been well answered—although not as you intended with 900€ being sufficient.
Wishing you success, and please share how it turned out in the end.
This means that the question in your initial post has ultimately been well answered—although not as you intended with 900€ being sufficient.
Wishing you success, and please share how it turned out in the end.
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