ᐅ Is it possible to save costs smartly when building a house?

Created on: 16 Apr 2017 20:43
F
Flauti
Hello,
we are building a semi-detached house with around 150 sqm (1,615 sq ft) of living space and a 200 sqm (2,153 sq ft) garden. The contract will be signed next week, and construction will start in late autumn. We have chosen the “technical completion” stage and will do some of the work ourselves: flooring, tiling, sanitary fixtures, attic finishing, interior doors, landscaping, and painting.

We have done our homework for the financing and negotiated extensively with the builder, so we now have a good price.
As you know, building a house always takes quite a toll on the budget, so we are now focusing on the details and where we can save costs. What are your experiences? For example, regarding:
  • Where to get sanitary fixtures cheaply? Also, are branded products really worth it?
  • Likewise, kitchen appliances – is there a good way to find display models?
  • How have you managed to do landscaping cost-effectively?
  • Where and how to buy doors at a low price?

And so on…
I’m looking forward to your experiences!
N
Nordlys
17 Apr 2017 15:08
So... we can save everywhere. But the door handle, doormat, and doorbell button have to be by Arne Jacobsen. Otherwise, it looks tacky.

Karsten
11ant17 Apr 2017 15:20
Nordlys schrieb:
So....we can save money everywhere. But the door handle, doormat, and doorbell button have to be by Arne Jacobsen. Otherwise, it looks tacky.

Well, that might sound a bit blunt. But: "Living" is also about tactile experience. Just making the shower ten centimeters wider (about 4 inches) can noticeably improve how your day starts. Everyone appreciates different details more, but in general, it’s often the small things that turn a "home" into a "castle." And for the unimportant things (the drain in the utility room doesn't have to be by Colani), you can save money again.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
N
Nordlys
17 Apr 2017 15:32
Elevant, that’s the kind of humor you find in border areas. Of course, I was being purely ironic... you’ve known me for quite a few posts by now.
11ant17 Apr 2017 15:38
Nordlys schrieb:
....you’ve known me for quite a few posts by now.

Yeah, but also make sure that when it really matters, you don’t skimp on quality. Not everyone is familiar with Jacobsen.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
N
Nordlys
17 Apr 2017 16:11
It’s only 185 km (115 miles) from us to Copenhagen... so Jacobsen isn’t that exotic there. And it’s true, I love this type of design—pure, simple. His kitchen chair is just outstanding.
Y
ypg
17 Apr 2017 17:32
By the way, you can easily live without the utility room sink. You can also dispose of drinking water in the adjacent bathroom and wash dirty hands in the kitchen.

And @Nordlys, I obviously mean gravel. Just make sure it’s not too fine, so you don’t sink in or the stones don’t get caught in the profile.

Best regards, Yvonne