Dear Homebuilding Community,
I have already read some exciting discussions here. However, I can’t help but share our building project with you to get your opinions. Perhaps our situation might also help other readers.
We already have a beautiful plot of land in southern Schleswig-Holstein (near Hamburg), where we want to build a spacious single-family home for a family of four, possibly five, with the option for Grandma to move in later. And by spacious, I really mean spacious: We approached the architect with a concept of about 300 m² (3,229 sq ft) of living space plus a basement and brought our dream home to paper. Including terraces, the total area is now an impressive 360 m² (3,875 sq ft). It’s large, and we know that. We’re currently in the planning approval phase.
First, some details about the house and property:
- 2,700 m² (29,063 sq ft) plot
- 360 m² (3,875 sq ft) living space plus basement
- Ground source heat pump with probes
- Photovoltaic system ~10 kWp
- Battery storage
- Central ventilation system
- Underfloor heating
- KNX smart home system for lighting, heating, ventilation, security
- Detached double garage
- Sauna house with whirlpool in the garden
- Meets KfW55 energy standard
- Watertight concrete shell (“white bathtub”)
- Built-in wardrobes
Everything falls into the category of high-end equipment.
Now our dilemma:
We started with a planning budget for cost groups 300 + 400 (shell + interior work and technical equipment) of €1.25 million (approximately $1.35 million; €3,500/m² or about $325/sq ft). This was the budget we planned with. Now the architect suddenly says the planned costs have almost doubled to about €2.1 million (approximately $2.27 million). The reason given: the square meters increased (the architect included some rooms in the basement as living space), and our wishes have continuously evolved along the way (dormers, double garage, outdoor kitchen, casemates, etc.). We’ve received a cost breakdown, but I have no way to evaluate whether the painter’s costs overall, or the price for a window or door, are reasonable.
Well – that’s clearly way over our budget, and we’re now cutting costs significantly. We’ve already removed the casemates, blinds, many built-in wardrobes, and still aren’t close to the budget we originally set. Apparently, we’ll have to downgrade from “high-end” to “standard” finishes and possibly shrink some rooms considerably.
The electrical planning has been the biggest surprise: After an initial quotation with very crazy prices, I now have a new “basis for discussion” on electrical costs. For electrical work (materials + installation), €220,000 (around $238,000) has been estimated so far—still excluding the photovoltaic system, battery storage, server, blind motors, KNX programming! Attached is a small excerpt from the planned costs. I can’t imagine these costs being realistic.
I know the square meters are extreme, and large areas like the entrance hall are not efficiently used. However, we started from the assumption that with a budget of about €1.5 million (planning + construction) we could build the absolute dream house.
Are we that far off? Is it not possible to realize such a project with this budget?
Thank you very much for your opinions and assessments! I’m also curious about your suggestions on what you would do or where you would cut costs.
Best regards!
I have already read some exciting discussions here. However, I can’t help but share our building project with you to get your opinions. Perhaps our situation might also help other readers.
We already have a beautiful plot of land in southern Schleswig-Holstein (near Hamburg), where we want to build a spacious single-family home for a family of four, possibly five, with the option for Grandma to move in later. And by spacious, I really mean spacious: We approached the architect with a concept of about 300 m² (3,229 sq ft) of living space plus a basement and brought our dream home to paper. Including terraces, the total area is now an impressive 360 m² (3,875 sq ft). It’s large, and we know that. We’re currently in the planning approval phase.
First, some details about the house and property:
- 2,700 m² (29,063 sq ft) plot
- 360 m² (3,875 sq ft) living space plus basement
- Ground source heat pump with probes
- Photovoltaic system ~10 kWp
- Battery storage
- Central ventilation system
- Underfloor heating
- KNX smart home system for lighting, heating, ventilation, security
- Detached double garage
- Sauna house with whirlpool in the garden
- Meets KfW55 energy standard
- Watertight concrete shell (“white bathtub”)
- Built-in wardrobes
Everything falls into the category of high-end equipment.
Now our dilemma:
We started with a planning budget for cost groups 300 + 400 (shell + interior work and technical equipment) of €1.25 million (approximately $1.35 million; €3,500/m² or about $325/sq ft). This was the budget we planned with. Now the architect suddenly says the planned costs have almost doubled to about €2.1 million (approximately $2.27 million). The reason given: the square meters increased (the architect included some rooms in the basement as living space), and our wishes have continuously evolved along the way (dormers, double garage, outdoor kitchen, casemates, etc.). We’ve received a cost breakdown, but I have no way to evaluate whether the painter’s costs overall, or the price for a window or door, are reasonable.
Well – that’s clearly way over our budget, and we’re now cutting costs significantly. We’ve already removed the casemates, blinds, many built-in wardrobes, and still aren’t close to the budget we originally set. Apparently, we’ll have to downgrade from “high-end” to “standard” finishes and possibly shrink some rooms considerably.
The electrical planning has been the biggest surprise: After an initial quotation with very crazy prices, I now have a new “basis for discussion” on electrical costs. For electrical work (materials + installation), €220,000 (around $238,000) has been estimated so far—still excluding the photovoltaic system, battery storage, server, blind motors, KNX programming! Attached is a small excerpt from the planned costs. I can’t imagine these costs being realistic.
I know the square meters are extreme, and large areas like the entrance hall are not efficiently used. However, we started from the assumption that with a budget of about €1.5 million (planning + construction) we could build the absolute dream house.
Are we that far off? Is it not possible to realize such a project with this budget?
Thank you very much for your opinions and assessments! I’m also curious about your suggestions on what you would do or where you would cut costs.
Best regards!
M
Myrna_Loy31 Aug 2022 10:08Pinkiponk schrieb:
Maybe the electrician charges that much, regardless of his time and material costs, because you’re building such a large house? It’s just a guess, as I knew from my father, who ran a crafts business (not electrical), that he charged "almost estate owners" more money regardless of effort than he did from a single retired lady. Not exactly. It’s more that the electrician bases his pricing on the catalogs from Busch Jaeger, Feller, and not Berger. A modern villa has electronic equipment that has little to do with a regular “smart home”. Invisible speakers for sound systems and motion detectors in every room, alarm systems—most of us are only familiar with the entry-level models. This applies all the way to door hardware and the design of the technical rooms. Cables and pipes are not wrapped and sealed with simple foam insulation; instead, they get a stainless steel cover. Just like a Bentley’s window regulator isn’t made of ABS plastic with a seam. And then there’s the saying: “Even small animals produce waste.” 🙂
Trockentest schrieb:
@Lassemann that is a really beautiful house! I like it a lot! Since you are from the Hamburg area, would you be willing to share which architect or general contractor you used to build the house?Which one are you planning to build with, and is it possible that they also build in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern for @cryptoki?https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
11ant schrieb:
Which builder are you planning to use, and is it possible that they also build with MVP for @cryptoki? the one and only 11ant is back 😀
G
Gerddieter2 Sep 2022 00:04Trockentest schrieb:
I know the square meters are already extremely large, and big areas like the entrance hall aren’t really useful space. But we started with the idea that with a budget of around €1.5 million (construction + planning), we could build the absolute dream house.
Are we way off here?
Yes – totally off.
If you really want the full package like photovoltaic panels, controlled residential ventilation, KNX, basement with a waterproof concrete shell (“white tank”), etc., then with that budget you’ll get about 200 sqm (2,150 sq ft) plus basement. And that’s a general contractor (GC) price – no wooden-aluminum windows or $200 hardwood flooring included.
And honestly – trying to save money on blinds for a 360 sqm (3,875 sq ft) house is the wrong place to cut costs.
I recommend a complete reset and re-planning – your kitchen-living-dining area alone would be the size of many entire houses...
GD
S
Stefan0012 Sep 2022 08:07Something different: Do you also have exterior views that you would like to share?
I would be glad to see the facade of the design, regardless of whether there is a chance it will actually be built.
I would be glad to see the facade of the design, regardless of whether there is a chance it will actually be built.
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