Author: Sarah Völkl
Construction planning part II
Our fictional couple Sarah and Tom have to deal with the legal aspects of building a house. This second part deals with the construction site equipment, the building acceptance and the reporting of defects.
Do builders need building supervision?
When building a house, mistakes and coordination difficulties between the companies involved and the craftsmen often occur during the construction phase. This can lead to significant extra costs due to construction defects and construction delays. In order to prevent this risk, building owners can optionally commission a building supervision. You can find out more about building supervision and the associated services and costs in this article.
Housing for Refugees – Part II
For many refugees, moving to their own apartment is the start of a self-determined and future-oriented life. As the article “How refugees (have to) live – the way from the initial reception center to their own apartment” explains, this form of accommodation, in addition to maintaining privacy and the opportunity for social participation, enables the […]
Grants for barrier-free living
There are a variety of financial support options for low-barrier (re)building at federal and state level. You can read here which requirements have to be met and which subsidies are available.
Evaluate financing offers
The first major decision before building your own home is financing. In order to be able to efficiently evaluate the financing offers from their bank, builders should pay attention to the term of the fixed interest rate, possibilities for special payments and the absolute total construction costs. In this article we explain which criteria you can use to find satisfactory mortgage lending!
Company housing part I
The principle of company apartments can look back on a long history of success: by providing their employees with an apartment, companies make themselves attractive as an employer – including for qualified specialists. The number of workers’ apartments fell sharply after reunification. In times of an acute shortage of skilled workers and the dramatic situation […]
Cellar construction – yes or no? You should pay attention to this
A basement is practical in many ways and increases the market value of the house. But what are the costs associated with a basement and what about the construction company doing the work? All you need to know here!
Expert tips on photovoltaic systems
The purchase of a photovoltaic system has a positive effect on the energy balance of your house and is therefore becoming more and more popular among property owners. However, there are significant differences in the far-reaching offer. This article tells you what to consider before you buy.
granny flats
Multi-generational living or renting out a granny flat? What to look out for and all the pros and cons are in this article.
Construction planning part 1
Our fictional couple Sarah and Tom have to deal with the legal aspects of building a house. This first part deals with the building application, the preliminary building application and the right of withdrawal.
Housing for Refugees – Part I
In recent months, numerous images of overcrowded container villages, gymnasiums, tent cities or barracks converted to accommodate refugees have gone through the media. They make visible the discrepancy between the much-vaunted welcome culture and the strong commitment of civil society and the actual implementation of refugee policy. Not only the spatial situation, but also the […]
The development plan
Once the first hurdle, the search for a plot of land, has been overcome, construction begins. This follows the development plan. You can read here what the development plan means for an individual property.
Why does a passive house cost more?
The additional costs when building a house when you decide on a passive house are mainly made up of three factors: Insulation, heating and ventilation drive up the construction costs. We explain why these three measures are so important and what benefits you can enjoy from them.
Prefab bungalows in check
Bungalows offer many advantages for prospective homeowners. Since bungalows are built with only one floor, they are barrier-free and allow an individual room layout. The large roof area is also ideal for the installation of photovoltaic systems. The biggest disadvantage of the bungalow is probably the floor space required compared to multi-storey houses. Find out in this article whether building a bungalow is worthwhile for you.
house building trends
Bungalows, multi-generational living, wood as a building material and smart homes are currently particularly popular. What all these trends have in common is that the individual design wishes of builders can be implemented particularly well. Read here for what other reasons these house building fashions are so popular right now.
Ventilate properly and avoid mistakes
Airing is not just airing: It makes a big difference whether it is summer or winter, whether you are airing in the basement or in the bedrooms. Since fresh air is crucial for healthy living, we have created a table with all the DOs and DON'Ts for correct ventilation.
Building plots and soil surveys
When looking for a property, there are many aspects to consider that are not immediately obvious. For example, the contaminated sites and the load-bearing capacity of the soil, the soil report and previous use are aspects to be clarified - read more in this article.
BeCube
BeCubes are available in different designs and sizes. Depending on future use, they can be set up as a hobby room or guest house, for example, and are also produced in an ecologically sustainable manner.
Construction planning part III
Our fictional couple Sarah and Tom have to deal with the legal aspects of building a house. This third and final part deals with the addition of a garage and legal issues after the couple separated and Tom moved out.
Save construction costs with the right expansion stage
By choosing a lower expansion level, you can save a lot of construction costs. But not all personal contributions are equally worthwhile or feasible for everyone. What requirements should you bring with you and what are the risks of doing your own work?