Author: Sarah Völkl
child locks
Mains sockets in particular, but also corners and edges of cupboards and tables as well as large glass surfaces pose a real danger to small children. In this article, we explain how you can childproof your house with a few simple and inexpensive tricks.
Construction diary part 2
There are many reasons to decide on a new building. For the Steinert family, the expected addition to the family is decisive. The small family did not want to buy an existing house because renovation work would cost just as much as building a new house.
The ancillary construction costs before the house is built
When buying a property, there are a number of additional costs. Even without a broker's commission, real estate transfer tax and notary fees are always due. Further costs are incurred for planning before the house is built. For a better overview, we have compiled all ancillary costs in a table before building the house.
Construction diary part 6
Financing your future home is one of the most unpopular topics among builders. Nevertheless, construction financing is often the linchpin for a successful house construction. So that everything goes according to plan, builders should also pay attention to hidden costs such as notary fees or real estate transfer tax when calculating the necessary equity and comparing the conditions for a loan.
Construction diary part 10
The foundation stone has been laid and the crucial phase is now beginning for the Steinert family's construction project. For the detailed planning of the house, regular consultation with the construction partner is necessary after the start of construction, for example to agree on the electrical plan, heating connections and the design of the kitchen. In order to avoid errors and consequential damage, the construction company was on site every day during the initial construction phase and monitored the work.
build a granny flat
Have you decided to incorporate a separate living unit into your house, a so-called granny flat ? Congratulations! To guide you on your way to building a granny flat, we’ve broken the process down into five easy-to-follow phases. So you can relax and be perfectly prepared for the concrete planning.
Seal of Approval for Buildings
The word healthy living is very trendy today. Many suppliers advertise that they build with particularly low emissions. Builders can use some seals of approval for buildings to check whether the providers keep what they promise. Here you will find an overview of the most important certificates and environmental labels.
Check electricity provider
Of course it is annoying to pay more with your own electricity provider than with the competition. Too attractive offers often have a catch. In this article, we explain which factors you should definitely pay attention to when comparing prices from different electricity providers.
Ecological and sustainable house construction
In this article, we provide information on what you need to pay particular attention to when building an ecological and sustainable house, whether providers really implement the advertised ecological standard and how you can save costs by taking the initiative in building a house in view of the higher investment in ecology and sustainability.
active house
The idea for the series production of active houses came from the B10 research project. The sustainably built active houses are now available in the cheaper 700 series and the high-quality 800 series. In this article, we explain how the construction of an active house works and what costs builders have to reckon with.
Modern design
Lisa, Markus and Felix have fulfilled their dream of owning their own home by building a modern house. While Lisa opted for a practical floor plan, Markus used wood as the building material for the construction of his modern house. Using the example of the three builders, we explain how you can build a modern house according to your ideas.
Construction diary part 5
The Steinert family has already given a lot of thought to the desired floor plan of their future home and made drafts of how the room layout should look. To ensure that static and technical aspects are taken into account in addition to aesthetics, our architect from Almondia sat down with you to revise the floor plan again and to finish it for handover to the construction company.
Where to find inspiration for your dream home
It's always good to let your ideas run free beforehand, which is then followed by the specification and appropriate combination of individual structural elements. In this article, we present six good architecture websites that can serve as a source of ideas and inspiration for builders to really let off steam in the early planning phase.
Construction diary part 9
A complete building application includes various documents such as building specifications, technical drawings and reports. The construction plan must also be presented to the neighbors for their approval. In the case of the Steinert family, it took 4 weeks for the building permit to be issued by the municipality. The family received support from their construction partner in compiling the documents required for the building application. Otherwise, builders are welcome to contact Almondia at any time with questions about the building application!
Please note: distance area calculation!
Anyone who builds must adhere to numerous rules and specifications, because even on their own property , you are far from allowed to do what you want. Rules on required distances to other buildings and property boundaries are particularly important.
ETICS – How do you insulate?
In order to meet the requirements of the EnEV and save energy at the same time, you as the builder have to decide on a suitable insulation variant. The most widespread are thermal insulation composite systems – better known as ETICS. Here you can find out the advantages and disadvantages of this form of insulation […]
Building line, building line, land area that can be built on? You need to know
Even if you own a piece of land, you are not allowed to build your house anywhere. Construction line and building line limit the decision-making scope of the builder-owner, so that the future dream house does not conflict with urban planning.
Construction diary part 1
In our construction diary, we accompany the Steinert family throughout the entire construction process. We report on smaller and larger hurdles in the search for the right property, the building application or the building financing and how these could be mastered together with the help of Almondia on the way to your own home.
Building with an architect
The construction of an architect's house can be associated with higher costs, but it enables builders to implement their individual wishes. Here we explain the advantages and disadvantages of building with an architect and who it is suitable for.
Construction diary part 8
In this part of the construction diary, the Steinert family deals intensively with the construction contract and the associated specifications. The service description records individual services, the dates for the completion of individual trades and the agreed quality of the services. So that the builders do not incur any further hidden costs during or after construction, they should check the construction contract and the specification for errors or incomplete information, with the Steinert family being supported by Almondia.