ᐅ Which consultants and analyses are appropriate during the construction phase?

Good evening,

Please forgive me if this topic has already been addressed. Feel free to close it and kindly provide a link to the relevant discussion.

Regarding our concern:

We have the opportunity to purchase an almost 1000qm (10,764 sq ft) plot of land and a prefabricated house from the developer. The building site is located north of Potsdam.

The plot is currently fully covered with trees and shrubs. Additionally, there is a shed on the property. Around the offered plot, there are already detached houses and bungalows, some of which were completed only a few months ago.

If it is relevant, the plot measures 30 meters (98 feet) in width and 33 meters (108 feet) in depth.

Now, we have several questions.

We would like to know how suitable the ground is for construction. (Is it even advisable to carry out such testing given the initial conditions?) Who performs these soil assessments, and when should they be conducted? Does this specialist only deal with soil conditions or other aspects as well?

We also want to drill/build a well. Whom should we hire for this, and are there any recommendations on when and how this should be done?

We were informed that with relatively old tree growth, it is advisable to cut all of them down because the root systems can damage water pipes and similar infrastructure over time. Therefore, our question is: Are all trees on the site allowed or able to be cut down regardless of their age or condition? Or do we need to consult another person or authority for approval?

During the construction phase, errors by the workers may occur. Whom should we hire to supervise the construction to ensure that everything proceeds according to our wishes and to document any defects or make sure these are rectified?

Thank you very much in advance for taking the time to consider our questions.

DennisW schrieb:

Good evening,

please forgive me if this topic has already been answered. Feel free to close this thread and kindly provide a link to the relevant discussion.

Regarding our inquiry:

We have the opportunity to purchase a nearly 1000 m² (10,764 sq ft) plot of land and a prefabricated house from the developer.
The construction site is located north of Potsdam.

The plot is currently fully covered with trees and shrubs.
There is also a shed on the property.
The surrounding area already has single-family homes and bungalows, some completed only a few months ago.

If relevant, the plot is 30 meters (98 ft) wide and 33 meters (108 ft) deep.

Now we have several questions.

We would like to know how suitable the soil is for building. (Does it even make sense to investigate this under the current conditions?)
Who carries out these soil assessments, and when should they be done?
Does this person only evaluate the soil, or do they cover other aspects as well?

We would also like to drill/build a well.
Who do we need to hire for this, and are there recommendations on when and how this should be done?

We were told that with relatively old trees it might be advisable to cut them all down because the root systems could damage water pipes and similar infrastructure over time.
Therefore, the question:
Is it allowed or possible to cut down all the trees on the property regardless of their age or condition?
Or must another person or authority be consulted for this?

During the construction phase, mistakes by workers can happen.
Who should we hire to oversee the building process to ensure everything proceeds according to our wishes and to document any defects, as well as to ensure these are corrected?

Thank you very much for taking the time to help with our questions.

We will be building soon in the south of Potsdam (Fichtenwalde). We are working with an owner’s representative service. We have only heard positive feedback from other homeowners. And the price, 1% of the house cost for 13 appointments, is great.

If you buy from the developer, clearing, soil investigation, builder’s liability insurance, and so on are their responsibility. Wells are typically protected as existing structures, but creating new ones is almost impossible. The authority responsible for a permit would usually be the district administration.

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DennisW schrieb:

We have the option to purchase a plot of land of nearly 1000 square meters (about 0.25 acres) and a prefabricated house from the developer.

DennisW schrieb:

We would like to know how suitable the building site is. (Does that even make sense given the initial conditions?)

Like @11ant said:
Developer house → the developer is the builder. You are buying. Everything concerning the house and land before handover is neither your concern nor your responsibility. It’s that simple.

DennisW schrieb:

We would like to know the condition of the building ground.

The developer is responsible for managing the building ground. If you have concerns about soil contamination, ask the "locals" what used to be there.

DennisW schrieb:

We would like to drill / have a well built.

Having a well is not usually a deal-breaker, so it’s irrelevant before purchasing the plot.

DennisW schrieb:

We were advised that with relatively old trees it is advisable to cut them all down because the roots can damage water pipes and similar over the years.

Pipes don’t run throughout the entire plot, so cutting down all trees would be excessive if you want to keep some.

DennisW schrieb:

Are all trees on the site allowed / able to be cut down regardless of when and how?

This depends on local regulations or municipal bylaws. The developer will take care of this.

DennisW schrieb:

Who should we hire to oversee during construction that everything proceeds according to our wishes and to document any defects or ensure they are fixed?

A building advisor or owners’ representative is often recommended, and many have been very satisfied with this. If you feel uncertain otherwise, it’s a good idea. Though it is not absolutely necessary.

@DennisW For the well, you should check how deep the usable groundwater is. In Fichtenwalde, you need to drill at least 100 meters (330 feet) deep. It’s usually not worth it. Also, Fichtenwalde is a water protection area.

When it comes to trees, you always need to apply for permission. Sometimes it’s straightforward, but in places like Fichtenwalde it can be more complicated due to a local tree protection ordinance.