Hello,
even though this question has been asked many times before, I would like to ask it once more. I am planning to build a single-family house with approximately 120 - 130 sqm (1,290 - 1,400 sq ft) of living space plus a storage room and garage. From what I have read in this forum, a rough estimate could be calculated as follows:
Now I am my own spoiler because the budget is only 210,000 euros. So, at this point, I should give up the building project, but I cannot understand that it is not possible to build a house for 210,000 euros. I would describe my requirements as simple in terms of fittings but high when it comes to quality. I don’t need any luxury, but I can’t stand flimsy windows/doors or creaky stairs. I don’t want much, but what I have should be solid. If I take this on, I want to be quite sure that this budget limit will not be significantly exceeded.
Specifically, I would say the following: simple floor plan – terrace – no slope – shutters (roller shutters) – no curtains inside, instead blinds – no frills – all tiled except for bedrooms and children’s rooms – bathroom with toilet – separate guest toilet – no underfloor heating – no electric shutters/blinds/skylights – no automatic ventilation system – walls and ceilings painted white with textured wallpaper. As the only luxuries, I would like a wood-burning stove in the living room and a network connection in every room. Everything kept simple but of solid/durable quality. For DIY work, I would do the painting (wallpapering/painting) and outdoor areas myself. I would also install the flooring in the rooms that are not tiled (bedrooms/children’s rooms) as well as handle the cleaning up. Preferably built with a solid construction method.
Now the big question: Is this completely unrealistic? Or how should one go about building a simple but solid house for 210,000 euros?
Thanks and regards
even though this question has been asked many times before, I would like to ask it once more. I am planning to build a single-family house with approximately 120 - 130 sqm (1,290 - 1,400 sq ft) of living space plus a storage room and garage. From what I have read in this forum, a rough estimate could be calculated as follows:
| 130 sqm x 1,500 |
| Additional construction costs |
| Garage |
| Outdoor areas |
| Kitchen |
| Painting/flooring |
| Miscellaneous |
| Total |
Now I am my own spoiler because the budget is only 210,000 euros. So, at this point, I should give up the building project, but I cannot understand that it is not possible to build a house for 210,000 euros. I would describe my requirements as simple in terms of fittings but high when it comes to quality. I don’t need any luxury, but I can’t stand flimsy windows/doors or creaky stairs. I don’t want much, but what I have should be solid. If I take this on, I want to be quite sure that this budget limit will not be significantly exceeded.
Specifically, I would say the following: simple floor plan – terrace – no slope – shutters (roller shutters) – no curtains inside, instead blinds – no frills – all tiled except for bedrooms and children’s rooms – bathroom with toilet – separate guest toilet – no underfloor heating – no electric shutters/blinds/skylights – no automatic ventilation system – walls and ceilings painted white with textured wallpaper. As the only luxuries, I would like a wood-burning stove in the living room and a network connection in every room. Everything kept simple but of solid/durable quality. For DIY work, I would do the painting (wallpapering/painting) and outdoor areas myself. I would also install the flooring in the rooms that are not tiled (bedrooms/children’s rooms) as well as handle the cleaning up. Preferably built with a solid construction method.
Now the big question: Is this completely unrealistic? Or how should one go about building a simple but solid house for 210,000 euros?
Thanks and regards
@DerDa
When the sun shines directly on the window during summer, a partially closed roller shutter provides hardly any effective sun protection. Theoretically, it reduces heat gain by half, but in practice, the interior still heats up.
Interior venetian blinds do not block solar radiation. The heat is already inside the room.
Exterior venetian blinds are more susceptible to wind than roller shutters, which is true. However, the wind resistance depends on the quality of the blinds. In protected locations (such as a closed, densely built single-family home area with trees all around), the wind risk is lower than in exposed locations at the edge of a field. If the exterior blinds are motorized, installing a wind sensor could be considered.
Ultimately, it all comes down to personal preferences and how you weigh the factors. I do not want to convince anyone, just provide some food for thought.
When the sun shines directly on the window during summer, a partially closed roller shutter provides hardly any effective sun protection. Theoretically, it reduces heat gain by half, but in practice, the interior still heats up.
Interior venetian blinds do not block solar radiation. The heat is already inside the room.
Exterior venetian blinds are more susceptible to wind than roller shutters, which is true. However, the wind resistance depends on the quality of the blinds. In protected locations (such as a closed, densely built single-family home area with trees all around), the wind risk is lower than in exposed locations at the edge of a field. If the exterior blinds are motorized, installing a wind sensor could be considered.
Ultimately, it all comes down to personal preferences and how you weigh the factors. I do not want to convince anyone, just provide some food for thought.
A
angoletti119 Nov 2013 14:16Now we have gone from having roller shutters everywhere to half and half or even none at all with venetian blinds. It just keeps getting more expensive, but oh well, I’m for wood-aluminum windows just the same—it gets more expensive on-site as well. I don’t want to ruin anyone’s little home project, but I want to warn about unexpected additional costs. I also used to think it was like buying a car: one vehicle, one price, license plates on, and done. Wouldn’t that be nice.
Well, I didn’t want to start an argument over whether to have roller shutters or not.
Are those the final costs or just an estimate? Because that already sounds quite different from 280,000. Ok, with additional costs for incidental expenses, walls, and flooring, my 210,000 may still not be enough.
The maximum budget is indeed 210,000 EUR, with a 15% buffer, but I would not count on that buffer being spent. No matter whom I’ve spoken with so far, all estimated that the construction cost would be 10% to 30% higher. If I say 240,000 is still possible, then in the end we’re at 270,000, which would shift financing from comfortable to less comfortable. I think very pragmatically about this. The house must be fully paid off within 25 years at the latest and must not restrict general living conditions. So the limit is 210,000 with a 15% buffer. If that’s not possible, I’ll stay in my 95 sqm (1020 sq ft) condominium with roller shutters and blinds, a separate basement, and a large garage :-))) The house should one day accommodate 3 people.
It seems that won’t be enough. A brochure from a regional provider offering turnkey with all incidental costs included (ready to move in), for example, fuels my concern. Single-family house with 125 sqm (6.60 x 12.00 meters (22 x 39 feet)), exterior walls made of aerated concrete, load-bearing interior walls of reinforced concrete, no basement, ceilings/stairs made of reinforced concrete, gable roof, plastic windows with roller shutters, carport with lockable storage room built with the house, non-load-bearing interior walls of gypsum honeycomb panels (10 cm (4 inches)), tiled ground floor, laminate on the first floor with prices up to 23 EUR per sqm, heating via district heat, no underfloor heating, does not meet Kfw 70 standard. Asking price 265,000 EUR. I’ve never heard anything bad about the provider, only satisfied customers.
ypg schrieb:
Our house with about 135 sqm (serious construction company from Lower Saxony) would have cost around 145,000 EUR turnkey "naked" according to the 2009 Energy Saving Ordinance (ready for wallpapering and flooring included in the basic price). ("Naked" means for us, some additional upgrades were important.) If we add a (now almost mandatory) controlled residential ventilation system and a few special services, we end up at 160,000 EUR. No tile upgrades (there are nice tiles for 25 EUR), laminate in the living area, converted kitchen, standard shower, digging work included in the basic price, etc., we reach 180,000 EUR. Additional costs for incidentals apply. Garage and external flue for the chimney can be added later. Paths and driveway can be filled with gravel.
The problem is, we don’t know how the original poster’s maximum budget is composed, whether a buffer is included or special payments are already planned. Or where or for whom/how many people the house is being built.
Additional note: my condominium with comfort features from a few years ago (which still exists) has no garage, no roller shutters, no walk-in shower, and no underfloor heating. Nevertheless, it was comfortable to live in.
Are those the final costs or just an estimate? Because that already sounds quite different from 280,000. Ok, with additional costs for incidental expenses, walls, and flooring, my 210,000 may still not be enough.
The maximum budget is indeed 210,000 EUR, with a 15% buffer, but I would not count on that buffer being spent. No matter whom I’ve spoken with so far, all estimated that the construction cost would be 10% to 30% higher. If I say 240,000 is still possible, then in the end we’re at 270,000, which would shift financing from comfortable to less comfortable. I think very pragmatically about this. The house must be fully paid off within 25 years at the latest and must not restrict general living conditions. So the limit is 210,000 with a 15% buffer. If that’s not possible, I’ll stay in my 95 sqm (1020 sq ft) condominium with roller shutters and blinds, a separate basement, and a large garage :-))) The house should one day accommodate 3 people.
It seems that won’t be enough. A brochure from a regional provider offering turnkey with all incidental costs included (ready to move in), for example, fuels my concern. Single-family house with 125 sqm (6.60 x 12.00 meters (22 x 39 feet)), exterior walls made of aerated concrete, load-bearing interior walls of reinforced concrete, no basement, ceilings/stairs made of reinforced concrete, gable roof, plastic windows with roller shutters, carport with lockable storage room built with the house, non-load-bearing interior walls of gypsum honeycomb panels (10 cm (4 inches)), tiled ground floor, laminate on the first floor with prices up to 23 EUR per sqm, heating via district heat, no underfloor heating, does not meet Kfw 70 standard. Asking price 265,000 EUR. I’ve never heard anything bad about the provider, only satisfied customers.
The 145,000 is a fixed amount. On top of that, we have underfloor heating, a chimney, KfW 70 energy-efficiency standards, colored windows, a few roller shutters, a walk-in shower, and so on. The costs add up quickly, and it’s easy to go over budget 🙁 Controlled residential ventilation adds around 11,000. That’s why the cost estimate is about 160,000.
However, Lower Saxony (probably especially the Hannover area) seems to have some of the lowest construction prices.
I’m not familiar with Baden-Württemberg.
Maybe it’s better to wait a few more years and save some more—occasionally looking at used properties or checking foreclosure listings... 🙂
However, Lower Saxony (probably especially the Hannover area) seems to have some of the lowest construction prices.
I’m not familiar with Baden-Württemberg.
Maybe it’s better to wait a few more years and save some more—occasionally looking at used properties or checking foreclosure listings... 🙂
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