ᐅ Plot reserved in a new residential development, building planning is about to begin

Hello everyone,

We are completely new here and just starting our homebuilding journey.
We have reserved a building plot in a newly developed area in southern Germany, which is currently still being prepared for construction. Nevertheless, we want to start planning the build as early as possible.

We already had an initial meeting with a large prefabricated house company, which we found quite positive. To prepare, we thought about what we roughly want and what is possible on the plot, then looked through floor plans on their website/catalog, and also created a rough layout of what we envision (just as a rough idea) to discuss in more detail during the meeting.
By the next appointment, the company is supposed to present a first proposal, sometimes with extras like a balcony or bay window and sometimes without. We are really curious to see what comes out of that.

Of course, we want to look at some other providers as well and already have an appointment next week with a second company. The question now is whether we should go in with our current ideas, possibly even the floor plan from the first provider, or start completely fresh with new ideas? Should we mention that we are in talks with other companies or not? Are there any other tips or tricks we should consider at the very beginning?
Looking forward to your answers!

Tip: Don’t show your DIY plan. They will build exactly that because there are fewer objections. Have your house designed by someone who has successfully done this several times. Often, standard designs from prefabricated house companies are quite well planned.

Why not show the site plan? Is there a slope? Then an experienced architect should be involved.

Is there a schedule for site development?

Hello,
we created a so-called spatial program for our architect (i.e., what types of rooms we need, how we use them, what furniture will be placed there, how we currently live and how we want to live) as well as a list of "Must Haves," "Nice to Haves," and "Absolutely Not." I would prioritize the design later. Based on our lot and budget, we were then given an initial draft to work from and develop the details.
For example, the kitchen with dining area is very important to us, while the living room has a very low priority.
I would recommend this approach to you as well. OneNote, for example, works well for this.

Flomo22 schrieb:

We are completely new here; our house-building experience is just beginning.
We have reserved a building plot in a new development area in southern Germany, which is still being prepared at the moment. Nevertheless, we want to start the planning process as early as possible.
We already had an initial meeting with a large prefab home company, which we liked quite a bit.

Don’t stop taking birth control after just the first dance lesson!

Flomo22 schrieb:

By the next appointment, the company should prepare a first proposal, sometimes including extras (balcony, bay window, etc.), sometimes without. We are very curious about what will come out of it.

Wo1z3rl schrieb:

We prepared a so-called room program for our architect (i.e., what types of rooms we need, how we use them, which furniture goes in, how we currently live and want to live) as well as a list of "must-haves," "nice-to-haves," and "definitely not." I would put "design" last on the list.

Bay windows (or “oriel windows”) might come up, but I wouldn’t specify them in advance. And in general, I wouldn’t go through hair-style simulations with planners like you’re drawing a police sketch. Balconies are mainly for apartments or smokers; if you own a house, you usually have a garden and don’t need a substitute. Makeup comes last—you are starting at the wrong end.
What will likely happen is a steadily increasing pressure to sign.

Flomo22 schrieb:

Of course, we also want to look at some other providers and already have an appointment next week with a second company. The question now is: Should we present our current ideas, possibly including the floor plan from the first provider, or should we start completely from scratch with new ideas? Should we say that we are talking to other companies or not? Are there any other tips and tricks we should consider at the beginning?

You shouldn’t be going to second or third companies but rather to your first architect (or to an independent building consultant who will refer you to an architect and, after you’ve developed a preliminary draft together, also helps you choose suitable catalog designs). I am such a consultant, construction-method neutral. But there are also some colleagues of mine who mostly specialize in prefab homes (and whom I regularly recommend here). The question whether to disclose to companies—mind you, only much later in the process—the fact that you’re also in talks with competitors can go straight into the recycling bin. In the initial inquiry stage for “setting the course,” I openly tell companies how many and which competitors have also been contacted (five or six, roughly balanced between Holzer and Steiner), and in a later selection stage—except if it is a formal tender—usually only four remain, typically either Holzer or Steiner.
An important tip: first get your financing advice, then visit model home exhibitions and browse Pinterest for inspiration, not the other way around.

Wo1z3rl schrieb:

For us, the kitchen with dining area is very important; the living room has a very low priority.
I would also recommend this approach to you. OneNote, for example, works well for that.

You mostly cook and hardly live there? – Weren’t you supposed to get back after the weekend (the next one’s coming soon!)? – For bathroom and kitchen planning, it’s useful to get plans from the architect as digital files.

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https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/

I’m attaching a plan of the plot. It is fairly flat, so that shouldn’t cause any issues. There are building plots to the north and south, a road to the west, and undeveloped farmland to the east. Completion of infrastructure development is expected in the second quarter of 2025. Construction must begin within 36 months after the building permit / planning permission is granted.

So far, we have mainly followed the company’s designs. Some of them fit pretty well, but not perfectly (for example, we want the utility room on the north side, and the terrace facing south / southeast, which sometimes would require mirroring or similar adjustments). However, we haven’t found any design that works for both the ground floor and the upper floor, so we have put together a custom solution. But now we are probably going to approach this more openly.

11ant schrieb:

You shouldn’t go to second or third companies but stick with the first architect (or to an independent building consultant who can refer you to an architect, and after you work out a preliminary design with them, help you choose suitable catalog designs). I am one of those, construction-method-neutral. But there are colleagues of mine who are mostly focused or specialized in prefabricated / turnkey houses (and I regularly mention them here).

So that I don’t have to search everywhere, do you have any recommendations in the Konstanz or Bodensee district?

Flomo22 schrieb:

I’m attaching a plot plan. The land is quite flat, so that shouldn’t be a problem.

Unfortunately, the plan is cut off in the tight crop; please state the development plan (without a link). Flatness is often significantly underestimated.

Flomo22 schrieb:

Building obligation within 36 months after the building permit is granted.

Are you sure you’re not mixing this up? Three years is usually the validity period of building permits, while building obligations are typically linked to the land purchase date.

Flomo22 schrieb:

So far, we have based our plans on the company’s drafts. Some fit quite well, but not perfectly (for example, we want the utility room on the north side and the terrace facing south / southeast, so sometimes you would have to mirror or something). However, we haven’t found any plans where both the ground floor and upper floor fit, so we just put something together.

Mirroring has its limits where the sun won’t rise in the west. Also, read about the planning order of floors in “The upper floor has priority” (where you can also find “A building schedule for you: the HOAI phase model!”). With a house height of 9.5m (31ft) and two full floors, a “town villa” is usually possible. Exceptionally, it might be feasible to develop a straight-walled upper floor on top of a one-and-a-half-story ground floor. What have you done with your homemade plan?

Flomo22 schrieb:

So I don’t have to search everything myself, do you have any recommendations in the district of Konstanz or Bodenseekreis?

Yes and no. Konstanz probably has internet presence; I (and few other construction method-neutral colleagues I know) am in the Koblenz area and online. The (though “prefabricated house” specialists) colleagues are in the Rottal-Inn district and online (Zink), Nuremberg and online (Beuler), or Wermelskirchen and online (Freyermuth). You can find me at least through my external contributions. I currently don’t plan to visit my buddy in KN, but I work nationwide and for about fifteen years in projects fully without onsite meetings. The colleagues mostly work online as far as I know.

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https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/