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!
K a t j a17 May 2023 11:14
I would swap the toilet and shower, then place the sink and toilet simply against the wall. This feels less cramped.
X
xMisterDx
18 May 2023 23:23
It’s a matter of personal preference whether you prefer to shower or pass gas in peace.

The shower shown here doesn’t require a door.

I would leave it as is.
H
hanghaus2023
19 May 2023 09:11
I would plan it more like this. It is significantly brighter in the shower.

Floor plan of a small room with a spiral staircase on the left and a bathroom with a bathtub on the right.
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xMisterDx
19 May 2023 10:18
Yes. But with the version that has the shower upstairs, someone can also shower without worrying about being seen from behind. Neither by someone quickly entering the bathroom to wash their hands nor by the neighbor through the window.

For brightness, there is lighting.
kati133719 May 2023 11:24
hanghaus2023 schrieb:

I would plan it this way instead. The shower area is significantly brighter.

realistische-kosteneinschaetzung-efh-mit-unguenstiger-erschliessungslage-629887-1.png
I find the design very successful.
There are solutions for showering without being observed. For example, locking the door and using pleated blinds.
So far, this is my favorite.
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xMisterDx
19 May 2023 11:26
kati1337 schrieb:

I think the design is very well done.
There are solutions for showering without being observed, like locking the door and using pleated blinds, for example.
So far, I like this best.

I’ll remind you in 6 or 7 years when the kids are older and this one bathroom becomes a bottleneck because the oldest showers for 25 minutes daily and locks the door.

You’re thinking about so many things... but not the everyday practical stuff...

PS:
Looking back, I would have preferred a shower niche instead of a frosted glass door.