ᐅ Realistic Cost Estimate: Single-Family Home with Challenging Site Access
Created on: 20 Jan 2023 10:50
S
schmeissrein
Hello everyone,
I have been following this forum for a while and first of all, a big thank you to everyone who shares their advice here and sometimes also speaks hard truths. I didn’t originally want to create a new thread but intended to form an opinion based on other discussions. However, you convinced me that this building project is too individual for that. So here is our plan:
- Building a new single-family house in the far north of Germany (Schleswig-Flensburg region).
- Plot size is over 1000sqm (10,764 sq ft).
- Total square meters are not so important as long as the layout works.
- Basement is not planned.
What we would like:
- Open-plan kitchen-living area of at least 36m² (388 sq ft).
- Guest room (at least 10m² / 108 sq ft) and small guest bathroom with shower on the ground floor, so that in old age, with disability, or a broken leg, the ground floor can be used independently and possibly serve as a bedroom.
- Utility room / storage room / pantry with heat pump of at least 8m² (86 sq ft) (KfW 40 standard would be great, of course).
- Upper floor with three rooms (1 office, 1 master bedroom, 1 child’s room) each at least 14m² (151 sq ft) and one bathroom. Our dream would be a “walk-in” (what a silly word – aren’t all showers walk-in?) shower to avoid having to clean those limescale-rusty, annoying shower enclosures.
- We could contribute labor for garden landscaping and painting/wallpapering; otherwise, we would prefer a turnkey build.
As for the house style, regionally typical Frisian houses or captain’s houses (with all the “cute” features like small gables, etc.) are in consideration, or also not completely unimaginative “normal” single-family houses. We are not afraid of Bauhaus-style concrete marvels either, but those tend to be more expensive. In terms of fittings, no “gold-plated faucets” and no smart home – but decent and presentable.
The big BUT: the plot is not connected to utilities, and the distance to the street is about 65m (213 ft), of which 50m (164 ft) is a paved driveway and paved parking area that would have to be dug up (across another property). The connection costs and incidental construction costs worry us quite a bit. Does anyone have experience with such a “mammoth connection” for a relatively small building project? What realistic costs should we expect for both?
We would greatly appreciate any thoughts on this project, thank you very much in advance!
I have been following this forum for a while and first of all, a big thank you to everyone who shares their advice here and sometimes also speaks hard truths. I didn’t originally want to create a new thread but intended to form an opinion based on other discussions. However, you convinced me that this building project is too individual for that. So here is our plan:
- Building a new single-family house in the far north of Germany (Schleswig-Flensburg region).
- Plot size is over 1000sqm (10,764 sq ft).
- Total square meters are not so important as long as the layout works.
- Basement is not planned.
What we would like:
- Open-plan kitchen-living area of at least 36m² (388 sq ft).
- Guest room (at least 10m² / 108 sq ft) and small guest bathroom with shower on the ground floor, so that in old age, with disability, or a broken leg, the ground floor can be used independently and possibly serve as a bedroom.
- Utility room / storage room / pantry with heat pump of at least 8m² (86 sq ft) (KfW 40 standard would be great, of course).
- Upper floor with three rooms (1 office, 1 master bedroom, 1 child’s room) each at least 14m² (151 sq ft) and one bathroom. Our dream would be a “walk-in” (what a silly word – aren’t all showers walk-in?) shower to avoid having to clean those limescale-rusty, annoying shower enclosures.
- We could contribute labor for garden landscaping and painting/wallpapering; otherwise, we would prefer a turnkey build.
As for the house style, regionally typical Frisian houses or captain’s houses (with all the “cute” features like small gables, etc.) are in consideration, or also not completely unimaginative “normal” single-family houses. We are not afraid of Bauhaus-style concrete marvels either, but those tend to be more expensive. In terms of fittings, no “gold-plated faucets” and no smart home – but decent and presentable.
The big BUT: the plot is not connected to utilities, and the distance to the street is about 65m (213 ft), of which 50m (164 ft) is a paved driveway and paved parking area that would have to be dug up (across another property). The connection costs and incidental construction costs worry us quite a bit. Does anyone have experience with such a “mammoth connection” for a relatively small building project? What realistic costs should we expect for both?
We would greatly appreciate any thoughts on this project, thank you very much in advance!
X
xMisterDx1 Feb 2023 18:54The biggest problem in old age is not the doors. Simply put, at some point, you can no longer maintain your 150m² (1,615 sq ft) living space; there isn’t enough money for renovations, and sometimes not even for heating such an area. Not to mention the 300m² (3,230 sq ft) garden.
Many people have unrealistic expectations today about the pension they will receive. If the pension level ends up being around 30%, you should consider yourself lucky. That will hardly be enough to make major improvements to your own home.
As 11ant already hinted, if you still know where all the rooms are, or who you are, and that you have lived in this house for 40 years...
Many people have unrealistic expectations today about the pension they will receive. If the pension level ends up being around 30%, you should consider yourself lucky. That will hardly be enough to make major improvements to your own home.
As 11ant already hinted, if you still know where all the rooms are, or who you are, and that you have lived in this house for 40 years...
schmeissrein1 Feb 2023 21:13@11ant
There were previous plans (by the former owner) to build several terraced houses there, and apparently, those plans could have been approved, but he eventually gave up. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean that our plan will be approved. When I called for information, I was told it “should visually blend in and preferably align with one of the neighbors.” That’s not very clear, unfortunately, I’m not sure what to make of it. 🙁
@ypg
I mainly started this thread because of the site development, and the question about the floor plan came from the forum, which I followed up on. The option has now newly (or again) come up during planning. The suggestions for our floor plan still stand and will be implemented. We are sticking to our plan; it may be supplemented for the other building party, but it will not be replaced.
There were previous plans (by the former owner) to build several terraced houses there, and apparently, those plans could have been approved, but he eventually gave up. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean that our plan will be approved. When I called for information, I was told it “should visually blend in and preferably align with one of the neighbors.” That’s not very clear, unfortunately, I’m not sure what to make of it. 🙁
@ypg
I mainly started this thread because of the site development, and the question about the floor plan came from the forum, which I followed up on. The option has now newly (or again) come up during planning. The suggestions for our floor plan still stand and will be implemented. We are sticking to our plan; it may be supplemented for the other building party, but it will not be replaced.
schmeissrein schrieb:
"should visually blend in and preferably be aligned with one of the neighbors"This is not clearly apparent from your site plan in post #44.https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
schmeissrein2 Feb 2023 13:0211ant schrieb:
This is not clearly visible from your site plan in post #44. It doesn’t have to be; the drafter just noted it there initially, and I uploaded it so that the connection situation can be visualized. Whether the house is later moved a few meters to the side and rotated slightly doesn’t really make a significant difference in this context.
schmeissrein2 Feb 2023 15:32Hello everyone,
A quick update on the original topic regarding whether anyone has experienced a similar issue: our utility providers have now said that the connection route is too long for them to handle with their civil engineering contractor (not in terms of cost, but at all). So, the connection would only be possible via the neighbors or independently and at our own risk and responsibility. This sounds very discouraging to us, not only financially but also potentially from a liability perspective, in case something happens with the lines.
A quick update on the original topic regarding whether anyone has experienced a similar issue: our utility providers have now said that the connection route is too long for them to handle with their civil engineering contractor (not in terms of cost, but at all). So, the connection would only be possible via the neighbors or independently and at our own risk and responsibility. This sounds very discouraging to us, not only financially but also potentially from a liability perspective, in case something happens with the lines.
K
karl.jonas2 Feb 2023 17:38schmeissrein schrieb:
Has anyone ever had a similar problem: our utility providers have now said that the development route is too long for them I have a similar issue and just looked at your post #44 and the surrounding discussion (sorry if I’m repeating something that has already been discussed):
- Private development is a hassle, but with your short distance it shouldn’t be a problem at all (mine is 600m (656 yards))
- Possibly with remote monitoring that alerts you if water infiltrates along the way
- If 13,000 euros is too much for you: small excavators can be rented and you can install the required (empty) pipes yourself. Of course, get professional advice beforehand and have a specialist inspect and connect everything afterwards.
- I’m surprised you’re not going through the family property, but that has probably already been addressed. If something blocks that route: lines can also be drilled through underground; my utility provider did this over 40m (44 yards) to preserve the garden. Whether this is also possible with water lines I don’t know – it likely depends on diameter and soil conditions.
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