ᐅ Single-Family Home Planning: Requests for Help, Tips, Suggestions, and Feedback Welcome
Created on: 8 Feb 2016 13:59
M
McEgg
Since we are just slowly starting to plan our single-family home, I would like to share it here for feedback. I’m sure many people will have tips, suggestions, and even criticism that could help us. I’m trying not to write a long novel to avoid overwhelming readers and to keep it readable.
Plot details:
Key zoning plan specifications:
Our basic wishes:
About us:
We are still undecided about how to build. Therefore, I said I want to look into companies from the following categories:
Prefabricated house (timber frame construction):
We visited the prefab house center in Mannheim several times. Based on online research and recommendations from acquaintances who have built with this company, we had an appointment with Fertighaus Weiss GmbH. The consultant took a lot of time for an initial meeting (5 hours) and planned a first draft house with us. It’s basically a first idea based on what we have expressed as our wishes. As a first draft to see what is roughly possible on the plot, I think it’s okay. But it’s not yet something that convinces us. Here are just the ground floor and upper floor:
Comments:
Other appointments:
What do you think of our current approach and draft?
Plot details:
- 540 m² (approximately 5800 sq ft)
- 19 m (62 ft) wide
- Garden facing south
- Flat terrain
- Currently undeveloped
- New residential area (30 plots) in Rhein-Pfalz district
- High groundwater expected (requires waterproof basement construction, “white” or “black” tank)
Key zoning plan specifications:
- Floor area ratio (FAR) 0.3
- Total floor area ratio 0.6
- 2 full stories permitted
- Maximum wall height 4.5 m (15 ft)
- Maximum ridge height 9.5 m (31 ft)
- Gable or hip roof with pitch between 30° and 45°
- Dormers may cover up to half of each building side’s width; each individual dormer may cover up to one third of the building width, maximum 4 m (13 ft)
- Garage must be at least 5 m (16 ft) behind the street building line
- Garage allowed on only one side of the building
Our basic wishes:
- Usable basement (waterproof construction, “white” or “black” tank)
- Ground floor
- Shower bathroom
- Office
- Open kitchen-living-dining area
- Fireplace in living-dining area
- Pantry
- Entrance vestibule (?)
- Straight staircase to the upper floor
- Upper floor
- Main bathroom
- Master bedroom
- Walk-in closet
- 2 children’s rooms
- Gallery (?)
- Double garage
- With access to pantry (not sure if allowed in Rhein-Pfalz)
- Construction style
- Simple, modern, clean lines
- High ceilings
- Unfortunately, due to zoning, no upper floor without sloped ceilings possible
- Budget
- I estimate we’ll end up around 350,000 € (house only, without land), probably about 10% higher
About us:
- She: born 1982, teacher (civil servant)
- He: born 1981, executive at a large German mid-sized company (approx. 6,000 employees worldwide)
- Child 1: born late 2015, mostly just kicking, drooling, sleeping, and eating at the moment
- Child 2: still swimming like a tadpole in the Rhine
We are still undecided about how to build. Therefore, I said I want to look into companies from the following categories:
- Prefabricated houses (timber frame construction)
- Property developer (solid masonry construction)
- Architect
Prefabricated house (timber frame construction):
We visited the prefab house center in Mannheim several times. Based on online research and recommendations from acquaintances who have built with this company, we had an appointment with Fertighaus Weiss GmbH. The consultant took a lot of time for an initial meeting (5 hours) and planned a first draft house with us. It’s basically a first idea based on what we have expressed as our wishes. As a first draft to see what is roughly possible on the plot, I think it’s okay. But it’s not yet something that convinces us. Here are just the ground floor and upper floor:
Comments:
- The width of 10 m (33 ft) results from 19 m (62 ft) plot width minus 6 m (20 ft) double garage (boundary building) and 3 m (10 ft) clearance to neighbor
- Negative ground floor aspects:
- No entrance vestibule
- Passage from hallway to living area too narrow
- Lower right area of living space (right next to staircase / above “office”) is too narrow (we have a large sofa)
- Ground floor
- Arrange shower bathroom and pantry vertically
- Access to pantry from kitchen side upstairs
- Position office horizontally instead of vertically
- This allows moving the staircase to the left wall of the pantry, creating more space for passage and living area
- Upper floor
- Moving the stairs causes a problem upstairs that I have not yet solved
- I generally like the upper floor layout, but because the stairs access is on the left side, I cannot reach the walk-in closet anymore
- I do not want the walk-in closet to be a pass-through room (!)
Other appointments:
- Appointment with property developer (Missivbau) scheduled for early March
- Appointment with architect scheduled for early March
What do you think of our current approach and draft?
McEgg schrieb:
I wonder where exactly the extra cost comes from in the house, or what the other providers are cutting so much on. After all, we’re talking about 40% more here...
Is an independent architect simply outrageously expensive, or are the others all cutting corners?You pay for individuality
Especially since the general contractor we visited is also an architect. He will probably get better prices because he always works with the same companies. But 40%… We want to build with good quality, but we also have to watch our budget. Now we are wondering if others might be cutting corners on quality to be 40% cheaper. Ultimately, as laypeople, we cannot judge whether the work is done well or poorly.
B
Bauexperte3 Mar 2016 11:51Hello,
Best regards, Bauexperte
McEgg schrieb:Right.
During that meeting, I learned that I was using the wrong term.
McEgg schrieb:As you described it, "planning office."
No idea what it’s called, but it doesn’t really matter.
McEgg schrieb:In that case, you might as well hire an independent architect directly for the planning of the single-family house; I don’t see any advantage.
- Or you could still decide not to build with the company after the complete planning is finished to the point where the application could be submitted.
McEgg schrieb:With a fixed rebate portion, I assume? Or is the billing done according to HOAI?
- You pay a fixed price x €, and if you build with the company, that amount will be credited.
McEgg schrieb:Seriously – I have been happily working with a particular architect for many years; in my opinion, their designs are well thought out and have a high level of recognition. Regarding technical innovations – especially in renewable energy – they seem stuck in the 20th century, even though they have not reached the “magic” age of 50 yet. If your statement refers only to the planning service itself, I agree with you. For comprehensive consulting, I don’t really see architects as being up to date.
- No talks with salespeople, but directly with one of the architects from the start.
McEgg schrieb:If that estimate also makes it into the final construction contract – what are you still considering?
- The rough estimate I was given matches the price we had in mind. So it doesn’t seem overpriced at first glance.
McEgg schrieb:Do you seriously think your praised planning office offers guarantees beyond their planning services?
I didn’t realize that the architect basically acts as an intermediary and that I would sign contracts with different companies.
Best regards, Bauexperte
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