Week 29

Christmas break so no work expected - i.e. normal progress.

Week 28

Same story, no progress.

Roof tiles are still packed up and in the garden; no idea why.
Rainwater tank still not fitted.
The extra window openings in the kitchen were done but in slightly the wrong place. The extension of a window opening was not done, no explanation why.
The only change I saw was some minor cuttings for the electric cables.

A positive is that the windows will be ordered from Schüco tomorrow with a 4 week delivery time.

Another contractor came to see the house with a view to potentially taking over - but said it was too risky for him and highlighted some mistakes that would have to be fixed first.

The architect wants more money as he now has to keep working on the project longer than expected.

The kitchen maker wants more money as the delivery will now be done in 2012 and so no longer with 2011 prices.

A reminder letter from BG Bau came threatening thousands in charges ... the contractor was supposed to have filled it out and returned it already - obviously not.

Anyone know a good lawyer?

Week 27

Another week and ... well, apparently the roof tiles have arrived on site (though not fitted at all).

Week 26 - 6 months later

Another 7 days elapsed, and 1 day of physical work done. Roof is sealed, and a hole is dug for the Regenwasserzisterne. But there is no sign of a zisterne or any roof tiles.

Good news is that we have a new window-maker who seems a lot better and can do what the other cowboy said was impossible.

Week 25

Another week, another pathetic amount of progress and unfulfilled promises.

Week 24

Telecom cable has been entered into the tube, can't see much else done.

However the Architect has had a big argument with the Fensterbauer - neither able to admit that they had done anything wrong, and both too proud such that the only resolution would have been one of them admitting to making a mistake (not likely).

The end result is that the Fensterbauer threw his toys out the pram and decided that he didn't need the business.

Great huh?

The Architect asked me how I would have handled being accused of making mistakes ... I said "we agree to disagree and focus on the next steps rather than the past", a concept that seems to be alien to some people.

Connection cables done.

The cables/pipes for water, electricity and telecom are now laid under the driveway.

Week 23

L-Stein now in place at the required places on the property borders.

Week 22

Work on the water/electricity/telephone channel has finally begun.

Week 21

Not so much visual changes to see this week.

Scope Change

Every project manager's nightmare, yet another scope change to the house - smaller office, smaller wash room and bigger living room.

Week 20 #2 (Dachstuhl)

Finally we have the Dachstuhl in place, and the earth filled in up to the first floor level.

Week 20 #1

More slow progress.

Week 19

Slow progress.

Week 18

Rohbau doesn't look finished to me.

Week 17

Another small delay, scaffolding needed (why don't these people think of these things from experience?) - otherwise things ok.
Rohbau now finished next week.

We decided to add some extra windows in the kitchen, will cost an extra 1-2 grand.
We decided to make the living room larger and L-shaped and abandon the idea of having a small living room and a small office.
We decided to put the Luftwarmwasswerpumpe outside, will cost and extra grand - hopefully we can now re-use this room as the office/library/spare room/cinema room.
We decided to add some storage (a loft) above the play-room/hall/bathroom.

Luckily, still within budget (the guy may be slow, but he is comparatively cheap when I hear other people's stories!).

Week 16#2

First floor going up now, Rohbau (whatever that means!) should be finished by next week.

Week 16

I think next will be the concrete going onto the first floor.

Electricity also now on site.

Week 15 #2

The builders seem to be quite efficient - within 4 days we have the outside walls completed and work commenced on the ceiling.

They are struggling as the contractor has not provided building electricity or water to allow them to the cut the wooden ceiling ready for the concrete (whatever that means!). They have even asked if they could buy electricity from the neighbours!!!!

So nice to finally see progress from the mish-mash of Italian, Bulgarian and Turkish builders.

Week 15

We see some walls going up now.

Week 14

Again small progress.

Week 13

Some minor progress, but Architect not happy with the lack of co-ordination about insulation materials (as this is an energy efficient house) and the insulation material used.

Week 12

Another week and again no progress.

Week 11

No progress.

Week 10

Well, at least there has been progress in moving the neighbour's sewage pipe, but not finished and nothing else that was promised was done.

Time to get tough.

Week 9 (Fortschritt?)

Another week, another on-site Jour Fixe, and still all I see is a hole in the ground.

But I am told that the neighbour's sewage pipe will be removed tomorrow and am told that next week I will see work on my foundations.

Week 8 (Loesung?)

So, the Eigentuemer recognises that it is his problem and his expense.

He will get an offer to move the pipe from my Construction company (other companies won't do it for insurance reasons as it concerns 2 properties). It is not possible to combine pipes so there is oe connection to the main city sewage pipe (unless the council turns a blind eye .... hmmm).

It ultimately needs to go in the Grundbuch, which takes up to 6 weeks!, but for now we have a mini contract which we can sign to allow construction to continue.

He will agree to take expenses, I will agree to let the pipe go through my land and allow him access in case of problems. Meanwhile, work on the land is still on hold.

Jasper der Baumeister

Jasper working the Bagger and helping dig the foundations.

It's NotAr Problem?

The Notar has confirmed that there is no Baulast and that the pipe has been laid illegally - so, how do I convince the new owner of the house behind to fork out to re-route pipes that he wasn't told would be problematic?

I'm gonna have to give him a call - I think my conversational German could really be put to the test here talking about legal stuff, planning permissions, sewage pipe connections etc.

:-(

I just hope he is not on summer vacation for x weeks because every delay means more rent in the current place.

Week 7 (Literally, "oh s**t")

This little pipe is causing massive problems - this sewage pipe, running through my building site, from the house behind ... simply should not be there. Construction on my site will soon have to stop until the problem is resolved.
At a time of summer vacations for many stakeholders, this could cause delays.

Logically, how else is the house behind going to get its sewage to the main town connection sewage pipe behind my property (considering that my land used to be its garden).
However, somehow it was never registered with the city council (which happened a lot in the 60's, never enforced) - and my contract to purchase the land has no 'Baulast' giving them the right to have a pipe through my property.

The owner of the house thinks he bought the house legally and it is not his problem either (just wait til I block his sewage pipe!!!!).
The original owner/builder is probably no longer around.

Great, I am going to have a nasty disupte with my new neighbour before I have started construction.

Somehow I will have to redirect his pipe around my new house and through my garden (unless I am nasty and refuse), but he is going to have to pay for it!!!! I kinda feel sorry for the guy, he just spent ****loads on a new house only to find after the fact
a) his garden is actually not his garden after all, it is my land
b) he has a building site at his back door
c) his nice expensive view is going to be part-blocked by my house

and now
d) he is going to have to pay to re-route a sewage pipe which he never imagined would be a problem
not to mention
e) he will have to fork out some money to share the cost of fencing our properties off!

Someone, remind me why I had this crazy notion to build a house ... in a foreign country ... with more laws & rules than inhabitants!

First problem

Apparently some sewage pipes, from the house behind, are illegally(?) on my site.

Meeting the council on site tomorrow as a matter of urgency.

Week 6 (Lazy Bagger!)

Yippee!!!!

Finally we see some Erdarbeit on site.

Japanese Knotweed

It seems that we have Japanese Knotweed on the site, I'm sure there wasn't any there before - but it is evil stuff and spreads from its rhizomes very easily.

Seems to be evil stuff but the Architect thinks it is nothing to worry about (maybe because he is Japanese?).
The Olympic sites have had to spend over 70 million quid eradicating Japanese Knotweed.

http://www.wiseknotweed.com/japanese-knotweed-information/why-is-japanese-knotweed-a-problem/
http://www.channel4.com/4homes/build-renovate/structural-problems/japanese-knotweed-identifying-and-removing

Could have come from the

Week 5

Another week goes by and ... well, we have +10m of fencing to "secure the site".
We also now have some red stakes in the ground from the Vermesser (Surveyor).
Not that much progress it seems.

Kitchen planned!

Nearly 6 months after we started (but still on track) we have finally agreed on layout, applicances, price, colours etc for our new kitchen.

About 22k, which has to be self financed, 25% up-front and the rest after installation. Not cheap, but it's considered a big kitchen and we didn't want to scrimp on such an important room!

Week 4

Expecting to see this week
1. the site secured
2. the work on 'rohbau' commencing
3. the 'Bauschild' affixed on site
4. the 4 bordering neighbours informed of what will happen

Instead we see ... only a portaloo! and one neighbour informed (no answer from others, but personally I wouldn't open the door to these guys either!).

Apparently there has been some delay with the Vermesser (?) who marks out the land.
Not sure why, within 4 weeks, this couldn't have been sorted already.

Next week we are promised that the this will all be done and the 'Bagger' will be on site. Also it seems that the 8 week Rohbau planning had anyway a buffer built in so that, weather permitting, we are still on track.

Verbal contract agreed

A good offer of EUR 310,000 to build the house and car-port. Shook hands with Mr Guel on a verbal contract and he agreed to:
a) start work immediately, taking the risk himself that he wouldn't get paid
b) provide an offer for extra items (e.g. rainwater tank, fence, electric gate, bi-fold door).

Kitchen Planning

First meeting with a kitchen planning company:EBK