ᐅ Overwhelmed... Is my calculation or knowledge correct?

Created on: 10 Aug 2016 20:15
S
Schwabenland
Good evening!

I come from the Tübingen district and I am 27 years old. My wife and I have now received confirmation for our desired plot, which we will buy in the next few days. Now the planning for the actual house begins.

I am a complete beginner and have browsed this forum a bit, but it’s overwhelming. All the information drives me crazy and discourages me; I don’t even know where to start!

We don’t have a huge budget and want to build with a construction company such as Heinz von Heiden, Town & Country, or Scanhaus Marlow. Some kind of builder that is not the most expensive but still delivers good quality work, preferably solid construction. There are good and bad reviews about every builder online, so I won’t even ask here for recommendations, right?

What I have found out so far are the following hidden costs: (House only, no landscaping)

On top of the “turnkey price,” I have to calculate:
1. About 25,000€ (27,500 USD) additional construction costs
2. Kitchen
3. Lighting fixtures
4. Own work, usually: flooring/wall work + materials
5. Basically add about 20,000€ (22,000 USD) for selections to the stated “turnkey price” because the standard is often too basic

I need to pay attention to the construction description included with “turnkey”:
1. Is triple glazing included?
2. What standard is installed?
3. Heat pump, etc.?
4. What extras do I want + what does all that cost?

I would like to know now:

1. What is the best way to proceed? I want to schedule appointments with the companies mentioned above. How do I best prepare for meetings with these somewhat opaque builders?

2. What other hidden costs should I watch out for that I haven’t mentioned or don’t know yet?

3. What must the house absolutely have in terms of “equipment”/standard?

An example of how I calculate:

House standard turnkey: about 170,000€ (187,000 USD)
Selections:        about 20,000€ (22,000 USD)
Additional construction costs: about 25,000€ (27,500 USD)
Flooring + wall materials: about 6,000€ (6,600 USD)
Kitchen:             about 15,000€ (16,500 USD)
Lighting:            about 3,000€ (3,300 USD)
Financial buffer:      about 5,000€ (5,500 USD)

= 244,000€ (269,000 USD)

Is this correct? Am I missing anything? Do I need to add anything else, if yes, what?

I would really appreciate your help!
Best regards
P
Peanuts74
14 Aug 2016 14:11
So, two acquaintances were very satisfied with Town & Country... It’s more of a "good and affordable" option; everything extra costs an additional fee, which is already included with others...
B
Bauexperte
14 Aug 2016 15:11
Peanuts74 schrieb:

.... which is already included for others...
That hits the nail on the head!

Best regards, Bauexperte
S
Schwabenland
15 Aug 2016 18:24
Yes, thank you very much for your thoughts.

Whether timber frame or solid construction, we don’t have a preference; both have advantages and disadvantages.
The tip regarding delivery time is helpful, and I will keep that in mind.

We already have the plot of land.
RobsonMKK15 Aug 2016 18:29
Schwabenland schrieb:
Whether a timber frame or solid construction, we don’t mind; both have advantages and disadvantages.

That’s a strange approach... you should really be clear about what makes the most sense for you personally.

It’s similar when buying a car: gasoline? Diesel? Hybrid? Electric? You will have to make a decision early on, even though each option has its pros and cons.
S
Schwabenland
15 Aug 2016 19:00
Well, I don’t know, I can only read the pros and cons and nothing more. Both options are fine for us. Diesel vs. petrol/gasoline, etc., can be figured out fairly quickly by test driving. But you can’t really try living in it beforehand.

Therefore, I can’t have an opinion on that, because as I said, both have advantages and disadvantages. What would you recommend and why?
RobsonMKK15 Aug 2016 19:05
You can find it out for yourself. You can visit model home parks to take a close look at the houses, listen to how they sound, and so on.

We decided on a solid construction house, mainly for subjective reasons. But also due to cost and time considerations.