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Newyorker21 Feb 2015 09:29Hello and good day,
we are new here because we are quite unsure, but let me explain step by step...
We live near Rüsselsheim in a house built in 1960. There are several things that need renovation. The roof needs to be replaced. Pipes, wiring, and electrical systems are all from the 1960s standard. The heating system needs to be renewed, especially the oil tanks. Windows, insulation, and the basement is damp. Since there is quite a bit to do, we thought about demolishing the house and building everything new. It is a two-family house with 90sqm (970 sq ft) each. However, only one floor is currently occupied.
So, at first we thought about tearing it down and building something new on the plot.
There are hardly any restrictions on what can be built here because there is no detailed zoning plan (building plan). We went to the city office, and they just said the building footprint can’t exceed 100sqm (1,076 sq ft) and that the 3m (10 ft) building setback limits from the street and neighbors must be respected. Everything else does not matter.
So we drove to Bad Vilbel to visit a prefab house show park to get an impression.
We were quite impressed by the houses, but the prices...
We want a house with about 150sqm (1,615 sq ft) of living space. In this size range WITHOUT a basement, the cost would be around 200,000€ (approximately $215,000). With demolition and a basement included, it would be around 270,000 to 300,000€ (about $290,000 to $320,000)!!!
I find this extremely overpriced! In our town, there were terraced houses WITH land for 150,000€ (~$160,000). Of course, it’s not really comparable, but for that price, I could almost get two houses.
Is it even worth building a prefab house? Architects surely have portfolios with standard house designs you can choose from.
My parents also built a house. 160sqm (1,720 sq ft) of living space, architect-planned, and it cost less than the prefab house!? And it’s only about 300m (1,000 ft) away from here.
Sure, the salespeople tried to make their product appealing... but sometimes I thought what they said barely made sense.
- Brick cladding would be pointless
- Solar panels would be nonsensical
- The stove would be a luxury
We are newcomers and would appreciate any advice!
we are new here because we are quite unsure, but let me explain step by step...
We live near Rüsselsheim in a house built in 1960. There are several things that need renovation. The roof needs to be replaced. Pipes, wiring, and electrical systems are all from the 1960s standard. The heating system needs to be renewed, especially the oil tanks. Windows, insulation, and the basement is damp. Since there is quite a bit to do, we thought about demolishing the house and building everything new. It is a two-family house with 90sqm (970 sq ft) each. However, only one floor is currently occupied.
So, at first we thought about tearing it down and building something new on the plot.
There are hardly any restrictions on what can be built here because there is no detailed zoning plan (building plan). We went to the city office, and they just said the building footprint can’t exceed 100sqm (1,076 sq ft) and that the 3m (10 ft) building setback limits from the street and neighbors must be respected. Everything else does not matter.
So we drove to Bad Vilbel to visit a prefab house show park to get an impression.
We were quite impressed by the houses, but the prices...
We want a house with about 150sqm (1,615 sq ft) of living space. In this size range WITHOUT a basement, the cost would be around 200,000€ (approximately $215,000). With demolition and a basement included, it would be around 270,000 to 300,000€ (about $290,000 to $320,000)!!!
I find this extremely overpriced! In our town, there were terraced houses WITH land for 150,000€ (~$160,000). Of course, it’s not really comparable, but for that price, I could almost get two houses.
Is it even worth building a prefab house? Architects surely have portfolios with standard house designs you can choose from.
My parents also built a house. 160sqm (1,720 sq ft) of living space, architect-planned, and it cost less than the prefab house!? And it’s only about 300m (1,000 ft) away from here.
Sure, the salespeople tried to make their product appealing... but sometimes I thought what they said barely made sense.
- Brick cladding would be pointless
- Solar panels would be nonsensical
- The stove would be a luxury
We are newcomers and would appreciate any advice!
What kind of advice are you looking for exactly? Read through the various topics here about the costs of building a house, and you will get a good idea of what it costs.
Otherwise, if your parents’ house wasn’t built too long ago and they are satisfied, why not just build the same one?
And yes, a stove is a luxury.
Otherwise, if your parents’ house wasn’t built too long ago and they are satisfied, why not just build the same one?
And yes, a stove is a luxury.
Nowhere does it say that a prefabricated house is cheaper!
As a newcomer, I wish you lots of enjoyment and useful information here on the HBF.
Regarding the topic of solid construction versus prefabricated houses, or: what exactly is a prefabricated house, you will find many discussions in the forum.
Regards, Yvonne
As a newcomer, I wish you lots of enjoyment and useful information here on the HBF.
Regarding the topic of solid construction versus prefabricated houses, or: what exactly is a prefabricated house, you will find many discussions in the forum.
Regards, Yvonne
T
toxicmolotof21 Feb 2015 11:29The prices mentioned seem "normal" to me.
What do you mean, you can get something like that for 150,000 euros in that area? New build? Detached?
I just can’t imagine that.
We are also at 250,000 including additional building costs for 125 sqm (1,345 sq ft).
What do you mean, you can get something like that for 150,000 euros in that area? New build? Detached?
I just can’t imagine that.
We are also at 250,000 including additional building costs for 125 sqm (1,345 sq ft).
N
Newyorker21 Feb 2015 12:44First of all, thank you for the many quick responses.
So, the architect is no longer available, and there was a huge dispute. I definitely won’t be using them.
We have placed a stove in the living room. We heat the entire apartment with it. The central heating is almost always off. Of course, you also need to buy the equipment for cutting wood, but you get the hang of that quickly. That’s why I don’t see a stove as a luxury but rather as a cost-saving measure.
Well, I thought a prefabricated house would be cheaper.
150,000 for a terraced house WITH land! That’s why I find 250,000 to 300,000 for a prefabricated house WITHOUT land overpriced.
What about the question of renovation or demolition? If you read through the problems with the current house, would it even make sense to refresh this property or just build something new right away?
So, the architect is no longer available, and there was a huge dispute. I definitely won’t be using them.
We have placed a stove in the living room. We heat the entire apartment with it. The central heating is almost always off. Of course, you also need to buy the equipment for cutting wood, but you get the hang of that quickly. That’s why I don’t see a stove as a luxury but rather as a cost-saving measure.
Well, I thought a prefabricated house would be cheaper.
150,000 for a terraced house WITH land! That’s why I find 250,000 to 300,000 for a prefabricated house WITHOUT land overpriced.
What about the question of renovation or demolition? If you read through the problems with the current house, would it even make sense to refresh this property or just build something new right away?
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