Chapter 2: Construction Permit
Previously on The Construction Diary, I talked about the first steps that my partner and I took to buy our dream home. After going through the demolition process, we’ve got some very good news: Construction Permit has been granted!
This means we are one step closer to building and moving into our dream home.
It hasn’t been all magic and excitement, however, as there was a lot of paperwork. Yes, that dreaded thing we all fear! Paper work and administration is a necessary evil, especially when it comes to the bigger things in life – like building a house. There are multiple applications, permits, and other things you’ll need to complete, especially when working with monumental property.
Monumental properties are unique and protected, so there are a number of loopholes you need to jump through and red tape you need to cut.
So, in this chapter, I’ll give you some advice and tips to help you with monumental property applications and building permits.
Once the demolition works on our house were completed, we started to put together the requirements for the construction permit. My partner and I began by discussing our floor plans with the Monumental Authority to help make the application process as smooth as possible – rather than getting repeated rejections. I can’t recommend this enough when working with a Monumental Property – it will make your life so much easier.
As we patiently waited, we also began our financing applications. We did this with the hope that as soon as we received the building permit, we could start building our home without delays. Luckily the financing process is much faster, about two weeks, but getting the documents prepared isn’t as efficient.
There are a number of documents you need for your financing application, and it takes a bit of time to complete. We decided to speak to a Finance Company as they were able to provide us with a few banking choices so we could find the best option for us.
Meanwhile, we also began outsourcing our suppliers for the construction materials, as well as finding contractors to help with the foundation, sanitation and plumbing, and electrical fittings.
All in all, there are a lot of moving parts, so try to make life as easy as possible for yourself. So now you know the process that my partner and I went through, here are my top tips that will hopefully help you to make your dream a reality.
Dealing with the Monumental Authority
When it comes to obtaining your construction permission for a monumental property, you need sign off from two different governing bodies; the Monumental Authority and the Building Authorities. The Monumental Authority has much tighter regulations, so it pays to coordinate with them before submitting your application. It’s much less stressful sending an application knowing it’s likely to be approved.
Plus, the Monumental Authority will need to speak to the Building Authorities, so consulting with them prior to your application will help to speed up the process.
Financing Applications
Complete your financing application at the same time as your building permit applications. Provided everything goes well, you should be able to start construction as soon as possible without delays!
I highly recommend talking to a Finance Company rather than going directly through banks; this will save you a lot of time and nerves. If you are based in Germany and have any questions about documents needed for the application, you could contact me and I will be glad to help you in any way I can.
Get your Contractor Ducks in a Row
As cute as it would be, I’m not talking about actual ducks here. Good contractors and suppliers are very hard to book on short notice, so begin booking these services as soon as possible. This is your home, after all, so do yourself a favour and try to get the best supplies and contractors.
I highly recommend booking these workers at least 6 months in advance. Otherwise, your permits could arrive along with your financing, but you’ll have no one to actually complete the project!
Watch out, since I will also be writing more details about our suppliers and contractors in the upcoming article soon!
Get Organised
One of the best things you can do to help limit your stress is to get organised. Start by creating a database of your key contacts, then create a budget and expense tracker. Make sure you put everything in these documents – big and small. Then, go a little old school and get a storage box (or two). There will be countless paper receipts, invoices, quotes, and other documents you will need to hold on to. Keeping them will make submitting this information to the bank in future much smoother.
Building your first home is an amazing experience, but it’s also unavoidably stressful. Especially when it comes to your dream home. Don’t let all your scrimping, saving, and hard work go to waste. Follow these tips and you’ll be able to stress a little less, and enjoy the magic of building your dream home a little more!
Keep an eye out for chapter 3 to see as our dream home becomes closer to becoming a reality!
In the meantime, you could check the rest of my blog for some more interesting articles HERE.
