Hello,
I have a question regarding the offer for a solid construction house.
How close does the offer come to the finished house?
For the initial offer, we should consider the floor plan. We had prepared an appropriate floor plan for this purpose. It was drawn more or less exactly to scale, and the offer was based on it.
However, since we did not like the window arrangement at all, the offer was revised twice.
The usefulness of the floor plan itself was not really considered. I think there is still potential for optimization.
My idea now is to sit down with the architect from the general contractor and discuss the floor plan.
I also understand that the construction company is not interested in continuing planning without a signed contract for work. According to the salesperson, changes can be made free of charge until the building permit / planning permission is submitted, and any differences in cost would then be adjusted accordingly on the offer. On the other hand, we would prefer the offer to largely reflect the actual construction.
How does it usually work with other general contractors?
I have a question regarding the offer for a solid construction house.
How close does the offer come to the finished house?
For the initial offer, we should consider the floor plan. We had prepared an appropriate floor plan for this purpose. It was drawn more or less exactly to scale, and the offer was based on it.
However, since we did not like the window arrangement at all, the offer was revised twice.
The usefulness of the floor plan itself was not really considered. I think there is still potential for optimization.
My idea now is to sit down with the architect from the general contractor and discuss the floor plan.
I also understand that the construction company is not interested in continuing planning without a signed contract for work. According to the salesperson, changes can be made free of charge until the building permit / planning permission is submitted, and any differences in cost would then be adjusted accordingly on the offer. On the other hand, we would prefer the offer to largely reflect the actual construction.
How does it usually work with other general contractors?
It was the same for us. However, we had already included many items in the initial quote, such as a bay window and ventilation, an outdoor water tap, exterior lighting, etc.
This way, we had a fixed price from the start. For the redesign of the floor plan that only came up after the architect’s visit, we ended up with an additional cost of 4000.
We had a floor plan that we were basically satisfied with, but during the 10-hour meeting with the architect, several new aspects were raised that we hadn’t considered. It was good that the architect went over everything with us again. After the discussion, we had an additional pantry, a perfect kitchen layout, and a closet niche. Overall, this added about 8 meters (26 feet) of extra interior wall length. The cost was 300 € per meter of interior wall.
After that, plan for at least a 10,000 budget for selections, and then you have an approximate idea of the final costs you will face. Of course, this is excluding additional expenses.
This way, we had a fixed price from the start. For the redesign of the floor plan that only came up after the architect’s visit, we ended up with an additional cost of 4000.
We had a floor plan that we were basically satisfied with, but during the 10-hour meeting with the architect, several new aspects were raised that we hadn’t considered. It was good that the architect went over everything with us again. After the discussion, we had an additional pantry, a perfect kitchen layout, and a closet niche. Overall, this added about 8 meters (26 feet) of extra interior wall length. The cost was 300 € per meter of interior wall.
After that, plan for at least a 10,000 budget for selections, and then you have an approximate idea of the final costs you will face. Of course, this is excluding additional expenses.
Hello Der Da,
it seems it’s not that uncommon after all.
We also have some items included that go beyond the basic building permit / planning permission. We recently reconsidered the floor plan and realized that we would want to change it again from our side. Financially, this might only cause limited differences, but we would have less circulation space inside the house and could, for example, later add a double garage/carport next to the house instead of behind it.
10,000€ (about 10,000 USD) have been planned for the selections.
Did you renegotiate the price? What was possible there?
it seems it’s not that uncommon after all.
We also have some items included that go beyond the basic building permit / planning permission. We recently reconsidered the floor plan and realized that we would want to change it again from our side. Financially, this might only cause limited differences, but we would have less circulation space inside the house and could, for example, later add a double garage/carport next to the house instead of behind it.
10,000€ (about 10,000 USD) have been planned for the selections.
Did you renegotiate the price? What was possible there?
Well, what have we managed to negotiate? That’s hard to answer since our home builder runs promotions with vouchers.
We had an initial offer of 190,000. We hesitated, and then the salesperson pulled vouchers out of the hat.
- Clay bricks instead of concrete
- Free Swedish stove (although with an extra charge of 1,500 for room air independent operation)
- Energy package voucher. Instead of a gas condensing boiler and a 150-liter (40-gallon) tank, we got a free upgrade to a better gas condensing boiler, a 300-liter (80-gallon) water storage tank, and solar thermal panels on the roof, plus window rebate vents and a bathroom fan. However, we replaced the fans with a decentralized ventilation system... necessary for KfW 55 standard.
- Kitchen voucher with huge homeowner discount and a 2,000 credit. This voucher was amazing. We now have a Nobilia kitchen that was offered here for 25,000 but we bought it in the partner kitchen studio for just about 11,000. Without having to negotiate. The initial price was 19,000, then almost 6,000 discount was deducted, and on top of that a 2,000 credit.
The appliances installed in the kitchen have an internet price of almost 7,500. The kitchen including sink, waste sorting system, nearly 8 meters (26 feet) of cabinets, LED lighting, and many small extras plus delivery and installation cost us 4,000... it doesn’t get cheaper even at IKEA. Also, there were two great lunch vouchers worth 30 each on the two planning days 😀
Since I can’t stop negotiating, I also had them include 2 exterior lights and negotiated an 800 voucher for customization.
Next week we’re going to the selection center 400 km (250 miles) away. Our overnight stay will be covered, and even an extra night for us... since my wife is in the middle of her seventh month. During the selection process, I’ll negotiate again... much to my wife’s dismay, but I can’t help it... if you don’t negotiate, you pay too much. They will let you know when you’ve hit the limit. If you want to learn how to negotiate, spend a few weeks in Beijing... not like in the Orient... You meet in the middle, haggling over every cent, each side pushing as high or low as possible. If the seller still smiles at the end, you lost the deal 😀 (Happened to me every time... even after 30 tough minutes over a brass dragon 🙂 Starting price 80, final offer 15, actual sale price 5.)
Financially, the advantage is already huge, but surely all this was already factored into the price. The invoice amount itself couldn’t be reduced.
We had an initial offer of 190,000. We hesitated, and then the salesperson pulled vouchers out of the hat.
- Clay bricks instead of concrete
- Free Swedish stove (although with an extra charge of 1,500 for room air independent operation)
- Energy package voucher. Instead of a gas condensing boiler and a 150-liter (40-gallon) tank, we got a free upgrade to a better gas condensing boiler, a 300-liter (80-gallon) water storage tank, and solar thermal panels on the roof, plus window rebate vents and a bathroom fan. However, we replaced the fans with a decentralized ventilation system... necessary for KfW 55 standard.
- Kitchen voucher with huge homeowner discount and a 2,000 credit. This voucher was amazing. We now have a Nobilia kitchen that was offered here for 25,000 but we bought it in the partner kitchen studio for just about 11,000. Without having to negotiate. The initial price was 19,000, then almost 6,000 discount was deducted, and on top of that a 2,000 credit.
The appliances installed in the kitchen have an internet price of almost 7,500. The kitchen including sink, waste sorting system, nearly 8 meters (26 feet) of cabinets, LED lighting, and many small extras plus delivery and installation cost us 4,000... it doesn’t get cheaper even at IKEA. Also, there were two great lunch vouchers worth 30 each on the two planning days 😀
Since I can’t stop negotiating, I also had them include 2 exterior lights and negotiated an 800 voucher for customization.
Next week we’re going to the selection center 400 km (250 miles) away. Our overnight stay will be covered, and even an extra night for us... since my wife is in the middle of her seventh month. During the selection process, I’ll negotiate again... much to my wife’s dismay, but I can’t help it... if you don’t negotiate, you pay too much. They will let you know when you’ve hit the limit. If you want to learn how to negotiate, spend a few weeks in Beijing... not like in the Orient... You meet in the middle, haggling over every cent, each side pushing as high or low as possible. If the seller still smiles at the end, you lost the deal 😀 (Happened to me every time... even after 30 tough minutes over a brass dragon 🙂 Starting price 80, final offer 15, actual sale price 5.)
Financially, the advantage is already huge, but surely all this was already factored into the price. The invoice amount itself couldn’t be reduced.
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