For most people, building a house is the biggest investment in life. All the more important that the steps, from planning to the finished house, are well and sensibly organized. In the following article you will learn the necessary steps if you want to build a solid house.
Plan the financing
The first and one of the most important steps in building a house is planning the costs and financing; until you have clear how and if you can afford the house, the whole project is uncertain.
There is much more to consider than just the cost of land and construction: there is no need to pay rent, but other running costs such as heating and electricity are always present.
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It is especially important that you compare different offers. Even if your house bank offers the supposedly best financing, you should definitely keep an eye out for comparable offers; after all, we are usually talking about six-figure costs here.
Nowadays, you have the best comparison possibilities on the Internet: Once you have found your favorite provider here, you can always make personal contact. However, it is practical if your financial institution has local proximity; especially when building a house, there are often things to clarify that require personal contact.
The choice of site
Even if the choice of the plot is made before the actual house planning, you should consider your ideas of the later house: Not only the size and location plays a role, but also a possible slope.
Another criterion is whether the property is already developed, i.e. whether all connections to electricity or sewerage are already in place. If this is not the case, you should factor in significant additional costs.
The house planning
The planning of a solid house is usually more complex than for a prefabricated house. You don’t have one company to take care of everything. Nevertheless, you can plan a solid house sensibly and in a structured way to keep the overview.
The architect is decisive here: with him you plan the complete house, from the technology to the design. In many cases, this can also help you with the rest of the process, because you need to hire a whole range of different builders and tradespeople to build a house: From roofers to tilers, this can become a few.
Check the contracts
To avoid unpleasant surprises afterwards, you should check all contracts before signing them: Construction or trades companies often use deliberately misleading or inaccurate wording and hope for a mistake on your part that will cost several thousand euros again.
When in doubt, it also helps to ask for advice from a professional who knows about construction contracts. The more is agreed in the contract, the smaller is the chance of later disagreements.
Determine the exact costs
Once the planning, which includes not only the materials and floor plans used, but also energy aspects such as heating and insulation, has been completed and the relevant documents are ready, the exact costs can be determined.
These total costs include both land and development costs as well as ancillary building costs such as the architect, structural engineer, surveying and building permit. As a rule, the cost should not differ significantly from the maximum cost calculated at the beginning, although lower prices are of course always good.
Hiring craftsmen
Now the construction can begin: If you haven’t hired a general contractor, you should put the jobs out to bid to the businesses you need. This includes plumbers, electricians, painters or roofers.
Of course, you can be choosy here too: take a close look at the possible companies and find out about good or bad experiences with the relevant provider. After all, it’s your new house – saving money doesn’t make sense at every turn.
Stay on the ball until you move in
Even if your house is slowly gaining shape, you should always stay informed about the process. Not only initiating possible improvement measures, but also taking out insurances and ordering the interior material are part of your tasks to ensure a smooth process.
Overview
The following overview is intended to give you a concise overview of the individual steps in the planning of the solid house.
- Planning the financing
- Site search and purchase
- Planning the actual house ( architect etc. )
- Thoroughly review construction contracts
- Accurate cost calculation
- Engaging the necessary craftsmen
- Keeping an eye on the construction process until you move in
In the next article you will learn which materials are suitable for the construction of a solid house and how to combine fair prices with quality to maximize later living comfort and safety.