Hello everyone, we are Ina and Philipp. We both want to take the next step and build our own home.
We are intentionally moving away from the big city back to the countryside (Ina comes from a rural area). Perhaps some of you remember we have posted here before and shared some bad experiences with looking for land. Thanks to your advice, we quickly figured out what to watch out for. We want to actively share our journey toward homeownership here and are grateful for any tips and tricks.
What is the current status?
We are currently in contact with an owner (over 70 years old) of a plot of land who is willing to sell us 1,400 square meters (15,070 square feet) for 50,000 euros. All utility connections except for gas are already available at the site. The land is currently farmed as agricultural land. The plot is located next to a low-traffic federal road.
Yesterday, we spoke with potential neighbors. They also bought from this gentleman in 2011 and are still very satisfied with the quality of living and housing in the area. The neighbors were in the same situation back then—the land was also used as farmland.
Next Tuesday, we have an appointment with the bank. We will discuss whether to finance the land or possibly pay in cash. The advisor told us on the phone yesterday that we should generally consider paying for the land in cash rather than financing it.
If everything goes well, we will call the owner on Tuesday and hopefully tell him that we want to buy the land. He said yesterday he would then send us all the documents.
We have a specific idea we want to realize: a bungalow (the neighbor’s house is already a bungalow) modeled after a Swedish-style home.
Currently open questions:
Do you already have any advice on what we should pay attention to?
I (Philipp) have some doubts and would prefer to finance the land because the €50,000 should serve as equity/reserve for building the house.
There is a sewage access point right at the edge of the property. The owner said—if I understood correctly—that he would also talk to the water utility company to see if we would not have to buy that part of the land.
Thank you very much for reading this far. We wish you a nice weekend and will continue to report here openly and regularly. We appreciate any feedback or suggestions on things we can clarify early on.
We are intentionally moving away from the big city back to the countryside (Ina comes from a rural area). Perhaps some of you remember we have posted here before and shared some bad experiences with looking for land. Thanks to your advice, we quickly figured out what to watch out for. We want to actively share our journey toward homeownership here and are grateful for any tips and tricks.
What is the current status?
We are currently in contact with an owner (over 70 years old) of a plot of land who is willing to sell us 1,400 square meters (15,070 square feet) for 50,000 euros. All utility connections except for gas are already available at the site. The land is currently farmed as agricultural land. The plot is located next to a low-traffic federal road.
Yesterday, we spoke with potential neighbors. They also bought from this gentleman in 2011 and are still very satisfied with the quality of living and housing in the area. The neighbors were in the same situation back then—the land was also used as farmland.
Next Tuesday, we have an appointment with the bank. We will discuss whether to finance the land or possibly pay in cash. The advisor told us on the phone yesterday that we should generally consider paying for the land in cash rather than financing it.
If everything goes well, we will call the owner on Tuesday and hopefully tell him that we want to buy the land. He said yesterday he would then send us all the documents.
We have a specific idea we want to realize: a bungalow (the neighbor’s house is already a bungalow) modeled after a Swedish-style home.
Currently open questions:
Do you already have any advice on what we should pay attention to?
I (Philipp) have some doubts and would prefer to finance the land because the €50,000 should serve as equity/reserve for building the house.
There is a sewage access point right at the edge of the property. The owner said—if I understood correctly—that he would also talk to the water utility company to see if we would not have to buy that part of the land.
Thank you very much for reading this far. We wish you a nice weekend and will continue to report here openly and regularly. We appreciate any feedback or suggestions on things we can clarify early on.
R
readytorumble28 Aug 2019 08:07Sounds good and reasonable.
Take a close look at what is not included in the price.
Floors: From €2,000 (laminate in EL) up to easily €25,000, anything is possible.
Wall covering and painting: Maybe around €3,000 in EL (but plan for three weeks off), if hired out probably €10,000 to €15,000.
Earthworks: Impossible to estimate, but definitely five figures.
Outdoor areas: €10,000 to €25,000 are quickly spent. The €10,000 applies in EL. Patios, entrance platforms, access paths, splash protection strips, lawn...
Also, of course, check what is included in the price. Which heating system (running costs), ventilation system, electric roller shutters, underfloor heating (likely standard), number of sockets/switches, etc.
Take a close look at what is not included in the price.
Floors: From €2,000 (laminate in EL) up to easily €25,000, anything is possible.
Wall covering and painting: Maybe around €3,000 in EL (but plan for three weeks off), if hired out probably €10,000 to €15,000.
Earthworks: Impossible to estimate, but definitely five figures.
Outdoor areas: €10,000 to €25,000 are quickly spent. The €10,000 applies in EL. Patios, entrance platforms, access paths, splash protection strips, lawn...
Also, of course, check what is included in the price. Which heating system (running costs), ventilation system, electric roller shutters, underfloor heating (likely standard), number of sockets/switches, etc.
P
philipp199028 Aug 2019 08:11readytorumble schrieb:
Sounds good and reasonable.
Take a close look at what is not included in the price.
Floors: From 2000€ (laminate in EL) up to easily 25,000€ are possible.
Wall covering and painting: In EL maybe around 3000€ (but plan for 3 weeks off), if contracted out probably 10,000–15,000€.
Earthworks: Impossible to estimate but certainly a five-figure amount.
Exterior landscaping: 10,000–25,000€ go quickly. The 10,000€ applies in EL. Terraces, entrance platforms, pathways, splash guards, lawn...
Also, check what is included in the price. Which heating system (operating costs), ventilation system, electric shutters, underfloor heating (likely standard), number of power outlets/switches, etc. As soon as everything is clear, I will present it here transparently. This way, people who probably all start like we did—and of course we—will benefit from it.
philipp1990 schrieb:
The cost estimate we have is 255,000€ turnkey including the foundation slab. For 132.32 square meters (1,424 square feet). Who provided this offer? A general contractor? Do you have their scope of work description?
philipp1990 schrieb:
Does anyone here have a floor plan for a bungalow or an idea where I can find one for 4 people, possibly with a small office? That’s what an architect is for. With a general contractor or construction manager, a design is usually included in the price.
P
philipp199028 Aug 2019 08:25kaho674 schrieb:
Who made the offer? A general contractor? Do you have their scope of work?
That’s the architect’s responsibility. With a general contractor or construction manager, a design is included in the price.We met this gentleman at the show home. His business card says he is a sales representative and branch manager. Whether he is a construction manager or general contractor is a good question.
We received the offer at the show home. I assume he is a general contractor; we would use Bien-Zenker for the main build and he would subcontract the rest regionally. Attached is the table with the breakdown. We were also told everything is based on building services; we can propose alternative trades if it’s cheaper or reduce material costs by supplying the materials ourselves.
philipp1990 schrieb:
We received the offer at the show home. I assume he is the general contractor; we would choose Bien-Zenker for the construction, and he would outsource the rest regionally. Attached is the table with the breakdown. We were also told everything is based on building services, but we can propose alternative trades if it’s cheaper or reduce the material cost by providing the materials ourselves. However, that is a 110m² (1,184 sq ft) house (net floor area).
P
philipp199028 Aug 2019 09:52Tamstar schrieb:
But that is a 110 m² (1,184 sq ft) house (net floor area).Yes, that's correct. We are now planning a slightly larger house with an additional room.