If you don’t want to bury your dream of having your own four walls, you have to build cheaper
If you still don’t want to use glass wool, you can also use natural materials.
When it comes to building things are getting worse and worse. This is shown by a joint study by Bauherren-Schutzbund e.V., the insurance company AIA AG and the Institute for Building Research, according to which both the number of damage to the building and the average amount of damage has doubled since 2009 and 2002, respectively. There were particularly high rates of increase in thermal insulation.
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4,837 professional liability claims in the construction sector were evaluated for the research report. The data material was made available anonymously by AIA AG,
those from the period from 2002 to 2013 with one over the investigation period essentially the same
remaining number of policyholders. These are 1,718 in detail
Completed claims and 3,119 claims still being processed that are included in the
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The current “Analysis of the development of building damage and building damage costs” shows:
the doubling of the number of insurance claims in the period from 2009 to 2013 is a reflection of the dramatic development of structural damage in residential construction the average structural damage costs increased from 33,000 euros in 2002 to 67,000 euros in 2013 the analyzed 4,837 structural damage represents a total damage amount of 215 million The average value in dispute of 42,000 euros in construction disputes documents the high risk of litigation costs for private clients
The basis of the research report is the evaluation of 4,837 professional liability claims – and thus a very large nationwide database for the analysis of claims in the construction sector. If the basis for calculating the number of policyholders of AIA AG remains essentially the same, it can be seen that the number of building damage and the average building damage costs have risen sharply. 22% of structural damage occurs during the construction period and a total of 54% in the first to third year of the warranty period. The results of the study on the percentage distribution of the damage patterns tend to agree with the results of the investigation by the Institute for Building Research e.V. Hanover “Construction quality in the construction of single and two-family houses – evaluation of construction-accompanying quality controls by the building owner’s advisors of the BSB”.
In view of the complexity of the construction process, there is a sharp increase in structural damage affecting several components. In addition to the typical damage patterns that have existed for many years in building sealing, fire and noise protection and the airtightness of the building envelope, particularly high rates of increase have been recorded in the field of thermal insulation and building services. The evaluation of construction-accompanying quality controls indicates that construction defects – if not recognized and eliminated in good time – later lead to structural damage, the costs of which are many times higher than the costs of eliminating the defects. According to a joint study by the Institute for Building Research and the BSB, the main causes of defects are 21% planning errors, 25% construction management errors, 45% errors in construction, 6% material defects and 3% unpredictable influences.
For 20 years, the association has been offering private builders, property buyers and homeowners nationwide independent advice on construction and building law and support from a network of independent building owner consultants and trusted lawyers of the BSB.to kill a mockingbird essay assignment
According to a current member survey by the BSB, 82% of the association members agree to a quality control during construction. The spectrum of quality controls extends from advice and support during construction, the quality control of the execution of the construction work, the documentation of the construction site inspections, the state of the construction and the deficiencies found, to technical support during the construction acceptance.
Nevertheless, the persistently high number of construction defects as well as the sharp rise in building damage and building damage costs show that, from the consumer’s point of view, there is an urgent need for further action to enforce the contractual claim to professional and fault-free execution of the construction work. That is why the BSB actively participates in the dialogue about high construction quality with everyone involved in the construction.
The study “Analysis of the development of building damage and building damage costs” and surveys by the Building Owners Protection Association also highlight the existing great legal uncertainty, the increasing risk of litigation costs for private builders and the high potential for conflict in the building sector. Numerous construction contracts contain pitfalls – such as missing security deposits, unbalanced payment plans, incomplete construction and service descriptions and missing regulations on construction time – as well as consumer-hostile contract clauses. An evaluation by the BSB of 1,800 legal mandates with consumers shows that property developers, general contractors and general contractors are involved in conflicts with more than 50% – architects with 14%, individual trades with 17%, special specialists with almost 9% and insurance companies with 7%.
Expansion of consumer protection urgently needed Because there are no legal regulations on consumer protection for building contracts and property developer contracts in Germany, the potential for conflict in construction and the legal risks for private builders and buyers are growing. “The Builders Protection Association therefore supports the agreements in the coalition agreement to expand consumer protection for private builders and especially to strengthen consumer rights in building contract law,” says Peter Mauel, 1st Chairman of the BSB. From the consumer’s point of view, it is essentially about legal regulations for the introduction of a right of withdrawal for construction contracts, security services for consumers, a statutory obligation to describe services for entrepreneurs, stipulations on the construction time and the transfer of planning documents and technical evidence. “Defect-free construction and security for private builders in old and new buildings, for property buyers and home owners is and will remain an important concern of the BSB”, affirmed Peter Mauel.
The research report “Analysis of the development of building damage and building damage costs” can be downloaded free of charge from our homepage at www.bsb-ev.de/presseservice. Bad construction is delaying construction work
The later the defect is discovered, the more uncomfortable the situation. Because then a chain reaction begins: If, for example, the screed is not yet dry and the next trade is laying the new parquet, the structural damage is already preprogrammed. Now – after the defect has been found – the parquet must be taken out again, the screed dry out and a new floor must be laid. This in turn delays the further expansion of the property, which can be displayed by the subsequent craftsman.
Limitation periods for botched construction
The worst is structural damage that only becomes apparent after building acceptance or years later, for example through a leaky roof covering. The removal is then relatively expensive, since large areas of entire components are usually already damaged and are no longer easily accessible. In addition, in the worst case, the warranty periods have already expired or the relevant construction company no longer exists.
Having your own architect reduces the risk of botched construction
“Many problems with defects (and later disputes) in new buildings can be traced back to the fact that many building owners no longer commission their own architects,” says Kai Warnecke from the owners’ association. Only one percent of the building projects are still being implemented in the traditional way with planning and construction supervision by an architect. And if the new building is carried out by property developers and general contractors, the architect is not on the side of the client, but of the entrepreneur.
Professional construction supervision makes construction botch unlikely
The architect in particular can assist the builder in the last official construction phase, “Service phase 9 – Project supervision and documentation” (if agreed) and check the relevant components again for defects at the end of the warranty period. Builders can also use an independent construction supervisor This type of construction supervision costs around 3,000 to 6,000 euros. In view of the enormous costs of remedying defects, which could quickly exceed 20,000 euros and more, the experts say this is a good investment from the owners association.
Prevent botched construction beforehand
Many defects in construction can also be avoided through detailed agreements before the conclusion of the contract. “Construction and service descriptions contain many pitfalls that the layman cannot see through,” warns Eva Reinhold-Postina from the Association of Private Builders in Berlin. Therefore, you should attach importance to a detailed building description that precisely defines the materials and products used. The more details are clearly agreed in the contract before the start of construction, the less reason there will be later for complaints and expensive repairs.
Have Baupfusch remedied immediately
The special attention paid to the construction site by the architect or construction supervisor also benefits the trades. Because if you detect defects at an early stage or if they do not even appear due to regular checks on the construction site, that also benefits the construction workers. According to Martin Pfeiffer, professor at the Hanover University of Applied Sciences and former managing director of the Institute for Building Research, a current study by the institute and the Building Owner Protection Association in Berlin shows that an average of around 11,000 to 12,000 euros can be saved for remedying defects the planners or companies concerned would have to be liable.
When paying according to the progress of construction, the builder has a means of pressure
When paying, it is important to pay attention to the type of payment: “In order to have leverage in the event of defects, builders should always only pay their developers according to construction progress,” advises Warnecke. Under no circumstances should you stipulate payment according to time periods in the contract. Because with such regulations you have to pay, even if the company has not continued building in the meantime. The client then makes an advance payment, so to speak, which he loses in the event of bankruptcy. A competent lawyer should draft the contract if no architect is employed. The client should also document the progress on the construction site. For this purpose, bookkeeping is recommended, which is supported by photos.
Uncover botched construction at the building inspection
During the acceptance, the builder should never forego the formal acceptance. In doing so, he has the opportunity to discover defects and refuse to accept the building. A new acceptance takes place after the defect has been eliminated. Only then will the contractor receive his final payment. With a waiver of the formal acceptance, the client forgives this leverage.
A UFO in which vehicles drive in and out? Yes, there is – in the Eifel town of Fliessem: under the sloping UFO construction on six feet with twelve wheels is Wolfgang Daldrop’s vehicle inspection center. “I built it back then so that you would be better noticed here,” says the technician. And indeed: when the UFO with its 26 meters diameter was standing in 1997, it could be seen for miles – and attracted tourists and onlookers from all over Germany and abroad, as the 66-year-old says.
Today the original construct, which weighs around 20 tons with a satellite dish on top, can no longer be seen so well from a distance. The industrial park has grown, trees and bushes have grown. At night, the structure with the building below is still illuminated in different colors – and remains an attraction in the Eifel district of Bitburg-Prüm.
The idea for the UFO building was born out of a wine and beer mood. “We drank a little too much and then saw little green men everywhere. And then we thought they needed a home too,” says Daldrop, who was born in the Ruhr area, laughing. He firmly assumes that there are other creatures in the universe. “It would be nice if a second UFO suddenly stood next to mine.”
The aliens could also land on his circular house, which he built next to the UFO construct. This has a diameter of eleven meters and is nine meters high. “There’s a roof terrace with enough space,” he says.
The dream of owning your own house is usually more expensive than originally planned. So that the house construction project does not completely exceed the available budget, you have to make a few compromises. Many home builders rely on their own contribution – a risky decision that has already brought numerous builders to the edge of their physical and mental resilience. Where there are more sensible savings opportunities – these tips make building a house cheaper.
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Those who want to build a house often take the dream villas from glossy brochures as a model. “And so, long before construction began, many had a clear idea of which noble bathtub should adorn their bathroom,” knows Eva Reinhold-Postina from the Association of Private Builders (VPB) in Berlin. But the budget usually doesn’t allow for that.
When the dream home is beyond budget
The disillusionment comes on the bank: The costs for the dream house and the possible financial framework do not match. If you don’t want to bury your dream of having your own four walls, you have to build cheaper. “This is easily possible with clever planning without any loss of quality”, promises the architect and specialist book author Thomas Drexel from Augsburg.
Do not overestimate personal contribution to the construction
Some builders rely on their own contribution when saving. After all, according to calculations by the Building Owner Protection Association, you can save between 10,000 and 25,000 euros when building a single-family house by doing some work yourself. The downside of this so-called “muscle mortgage”: You have to toil for several hundred hours on the construction site – in addition to the actual job and all the other everyday obligations. Very few can do that.
In addition, personal performance can take revenge if you want to assert warranty claims later. Then it is often no longer possible to prove unequivocally that the construction company and not the landlord himself messed about and you are left at your own expense.
