Hello everyone,
I came across this forum by chance today and have already read some interesting information. However, I still have a few specific questions.
My family and I (currently my wife, one daughter, and me, with two more children planned within the next five years) want to make our dream of owning a home come true. Since this is known to be neither easy nor cheap, we want to consider everything very carefully.
We would like to know what costs you would estimate for a small house like this.
- LxW 11m x 8m (36ft x 26ft) plus attached garage (with office/bedroom upstairs) 6.5m x 6m (21ft x 20ft)
- Main building (11x8m) with basement
- 2 balconies
- 1 conservatory on the east side
- small terrace on the south side
- Pellet heating system + photovoltaic system + solar system for domestic hot water
- Plot of land (with 40% maximum building coverage approx. 350m² (3767 sq ft) → around 65,000€ in our area)
Here are the floor plans and elevations:
There should also be a roof over the garage, but I haven’t quite figured that out yet.
I look forward to your comments and feedback.
Best regards
Zeiti
I came across this forum by chance today and have already read some interesting information. However, I still have a few specific questions.
My family and I (currently my wife, one daughter, and me, with two more children planned within the next five years) want to make our dream of owning a home come true. Since this is known to be neither easy nor cheap, we want to consider everything very carefully.
We would like to know what costs you would estimate for a small house like this.
- LxW 11m x 8m (36ft x 26ft) plus attached garage (with office/bedroom upstairs) 6.5m x 6m (21ft x 20ft)
- Main building (11x8m) with basement
- 2 balconies
- 1 conservatory on the east side
- small terrace on the south side
- Pellet heating system + photovoltaic system + solar system for domestic hot water
- Plot of land (with 40% maximum building coverage approx. 350m² (3767 sq ft) → around 65,000€ in our area)
Here are the floor plans and elevations:
There should also be a roof over the garage, but I haven’t quite figured that out yet.
I look forward to your comments and feedback.
Best regards
Zeiti
schubert7919 Feb 2013 18:278x11 meters (approximately). This is how we are building, roughly. Also with a basement / pellet heating, etc. We pay about 325,000 euros for the house. In addition, there are costs for the kitchen, ancillary expenses, etc. Take a look at the breakdown of ancillary costs by Bauexperte.
Too much when you look at the room layout!
Take a look at the children's rooms—none of them really have practical living value. The upper floor is completely cramped.
I wouldn't feel comfortable in this house, neither as a child nor as an adult (considering the layout, including the ground floor).
Well, that wasn't your question...
But I think this is the wrong approach—planning all the various building details without a budget in mind before consulting the architect. There should be a cost limit set beforehand, and then you take that to the architect. Because an architect is definitely needed here, since this won't be a standard build.
I also imagine that having the garage below the living area with proper insulation will be quite expensive.
Then balconies, conservatory... is this going to be a KfW-certified house?
But the professional answer regarding costs will surely come here soon.
Take a look at the children's rooms—none of them really have practical living value. The upper floor is completely cramped.
I wouldn't feel comfortable in this house, neither as a child nor as an adult (considering the layout, including the ground floor).
Well, that wasn't your question...
But I think this is the wrong approach—planning all the various building details without a budget in mind before consulting the architect. There should be a cost limit set beforehand, and then you take that to the architect. Because an architect is definitely needed here, since this won't be a standard build.
I also imagine that having the garage below the living area with proper insulation will be quite expensive.
Then balconies, conservatory... is this going to be a KfW-certified house?
But the professional answer regarding costs will surely come here soon.
@ypg: The layout of the upper floor was deliberately designed so that each child’s bedroom receives natural daylight (which is especially useful in the afternoon when doing homework).
Additionally, each room is just under 15m² (160 ft²). At the moment, my daughter has only 11.5m² (124 ft²) with a window facing east. So that’s not really ideal.
Regarding the ground floor, I have to say the kitchen/pantry was planned by my wife (I’m not particularly interested since I’m working most of the time --> please don’t take it the wrong way, but that’s how it is in some families...). The living/dining area is actually the main space for us, as we often have guests and spend most of our time there. For size comparison: our current living room is 26m² (280 ft²) and L-shaped.
A clear advantage for us is that we have many skilled professionals among close relatives who will help with the construction. But that is still somewhat in the future.
By “KfW house,” I understand that it refers to energy-efficient construction, or am I mistaken? Certain efficient buildings receive up to 10% subsidies, and from 2018 onward, houses are supposedly expected to be independent of external electricity supply (Wikipedia, but honestly, I have still no knowledge about that).
It goes without saying that a house should be built to minimize energy loss and keep running costs low for the owner.
I want to keep the whole house relatively compact, partly to reduce costs and partly to avoid difficulties with construction and energy efficiency.
A detached garage unfortunately has the disadvantage of requiring extra land, which will lead to significantly higher additional costs for the property. Also, building regulations such as setback rules (or whatever they are called) must be observed.
@schubert79: could you please show me the floor plans? Don’t worry, I’m not looking to steal ideas, just curious what you get for 325k with that amount of space.
Best regards
Zeiti
Additionally, each room is just under 15m² (160 ft²). At the moment, my daughter has only 11.5m² (124 ft²) with a window facing east. So that’s not really ideal.
Regarding the ground floor, I have to say the kitchen/pantry was planned by my wife (I’m not particularly interested since I’m working most of the time --> please don’t take it the wrong way, but that’s how it is in some families...). The living/dining area is actually the main space for us, as we often have guests and spend most of our time there. For size comparison: our current living room is 26m² (280 ft²) and L-shaped.
A clear advantage for us is that we have many skilled professionals among close relatives who will help with the construction. But that is still somewhat in the future.
By “KfW house,” I understand that it refers to energy-efficient construction, or am I mistaken? Certain efficient buildings receive up to 10% subsidies, and from 2018 onward, houses are supposedly expected to be independent of external electricity supply (Wikipedia, but honestly, I have still no knowledge about that).
It goes without saying that a house should be built to minimize energy loss and keep running costs low for the owner.
I want to keep the whole house relatively compact, partly to reduce costs and partly to avoid difficulties with construction and energy efficiency.
A detached garage unfortunately has the disadvantage of requiring extra land, which will lead to significantly higher additional costs for the property. Also, building regulations such as setback rules (or whatever they are called) must be observed.
@schubert79: could you please show me the floor plans? Don’t worry, I’m not looking to steal ideas, just curious what you get for 325k with that amount of space.
Best regards
Zeiti
Hello,
my amateur opinion: Put your wishes in writing first (3 children’s bedrooms, office, large living-dining area, etc.) and then take them to the architect!
As you’ve planned it, it will be expensive! As ypg already said, having the garage under the living area is almost the most costly option. The children’s bedrooms are very narrow and long. Have you ever been in a room like that? There’s only a small passage beside the beds. That won’t work; it’s far from comfortable. Sunlight while doing homework is overrated.
Are you aware that the drains for the bathroom would run under your dining room? The bathroom would be better located above the guest toilet / kitchen. I would place the laundry room directly next to or inside the bathroom. You don’t really want it behind your bedroom, do you?
The house can be planned differently while keeping the size. We are building 8.84 x 10.60 m (29 x 35 ft), also with three children’s bedrooms (but without a basement and office, and with a larger utility room), and the children’s rooms are between 13 and 16 sqm (140 and 170 sq ft) in a more practical shape, not narrow and long.
You can roughly budget 30,000 to 50,000 € (depending on ground conditions) for a basement.
If you are going for a basement, couldn’t you plan the office there? That would also free up space for the garage without having living rooms above it.
Best regards,
Jaydee
my amateur opinion: Put your wishes in writing first (3 children’s bedrooms, office, large living-dining area, etc.) and then take them to the architect!
As you’ve planned it, it will be expensive! As ypg already said, having the garage under the living area is almost the most costly option. The children’s bedrooms are very narrow and long. Have you ever been in a room like that? There’s only a small passage beside the beds. That won’t work; it’s far from comfortable. Sunlight while doing homework is overrated.
Are you aware that the drains for the bathroom would run under your dining room? The bathroom would be better located above the guest toilet / kitchen. I would place the laundry room directly next to or inside the bathroom. You don’t really want it behind your bedroom, do you?
The house can be planned differently while keeping the size. We are building 8.84 x 10.60 m (29 x 35 ft), also with three children’s bedrooms (but without a basement and office, and with a larger utility room), and the children’s rooms are between 13 and 16 sqm (140 and 170 sq ft) in a more practical shape, not narrow and long.
You can roughly budget 30,000 to 50,000 € (depending on ground conditions) for a basement.
If you are going for a basement, couldn’t you plan the office there? That would also free up space for the garage without having living rooms above it.
Best regards,
Jaydee
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