Hi,
When we built last year, we largely based our choice of a construction company on the blog experiences shared by other homeowners. Even though some of those posts were 1-2 years old, I found quite a lot of information about the company we ended up using. If I look now, I don’t find anything new, just the same old posts from back then. In general, there seem to be very few blogs. Why is that?
In older blogs, it was often mentioned that construction companies find out when these blogs are written. Is everyone really that afraid of lawyers, or what? Is it no longer allowed to share the truth? We actually had very good experiences with our construction company and would be happy to share that, but we’re surprised no one posts about this anymore. Here in the forum, you really have to go all out, which is why I’d consider posting elsewhere.
The construction blogs here in the forum are kind of hidden, too. I only found them after more than a year...
When we built last year, we largely based our choice of a construction company on the blog experiences shared by other homeowners. Even though some of those posts were 1-2 years old, I found quite a lot of information about the company we ended up using. If I look now, I don’t find anything new, just the same old posts from back then. In general, there seem to be very few blogs. Why is that?
In older blogs, it was often mentioned that construction companies find out when these blogs are written. Is everyone really that afraid of lawyers, or what? Is it no longer allowed to share the truth? We actually had very good experiences with our construction company and would be happy to share that, but we’re surprised no one posts about this anymore. Here in the forum, you really have to go all out, which is why I’d consider posting elsewhere.
The construction blogs here in the forum are kind of hidden, too. I only found them after more than a year...
B
Bauexperte3 May 2016 10:05Payday schrieb:
We’ve actually had very good experiences with our builders and would be happy to share them, but we’re surprised that nobody posts such feedback anymore. Why haven’t you shared your positive experiences already? Your current building partner would surely appreciate that.
Payday schrieb:
Here on the forum, you seem to have to go all out right away ... What do you mean by that? You are satisfied, aren’t you?
Best regards, Bauexperte
Homeowners are not interested in the 99% that went well, but rather the 1% that didn’t work out. In the end, everyone so far has had a completed house, with varying degrees of stress and additional expenses. The things that didn’t go right are exactly what people don’t want to share, even though these issues are what really help with decision-making. A 100% positive story sounds fake (and it is, because it doesn’t reflect the truth).
B
Bauexperte3 May 2016 11:00Payday schrieb:
And what didn’t work is exactly what you’re not allowed to post, even though that is precisely what contributes to decision making. It’s all about the tone 😉Regards, Bauexperte
Payday schrieb:
Homeowners aren’t interested in the 99% that went well but in the 1% that didn’t. In the end, everyone so far has had a finished house, with varying degrees of stress and additional costs.I believe that (future) homeowners are also interested in the positive experiences.
The "1%" negative experiences can have so many different causes.
Take my case, for example: 95% of the problems were not caused by the construction company (apart from the 5% they caused, which they eventually resolved—see the construction expert’s comment: “Tone matters,” it wasn’t easy, but it was done). No, the issues came from the municipality, offices, authorities, utility companies, chimney inspectors, regulations, paperwork, costs threatening to spiral out of control, incredibly difficult scheduling, and an endless ordeal; sometimes also major workmanship problems outside the house at the access paths, etc.
I know my neighborhood quite well: EVERYONE there had their own set of issues. Everyone in their own way. Everyone different. But no one came through their building story without some mud splashed on their face and then looked after moving in like they just returned from a six-week holiday in the Caribbean with daily all-inclusive six-course meals.
What I want to say is: problem cases tend to be very individual. I don’t believe that systematic poor-quality construction companies can survive in the market.
Every builder has their own procedures, so every one has systematic weaknesses. All make mistakes. More or less.
Exceptions prove the rule, of course. What is poor for one works well for another.
One of the most important people on the building site is the homeowner(s).
The name says it all: you have to do something; you have to “govern,” act, react.
Best regards,
Thorsten
We also experienced some significant problems at the beginning of April, which I would actually like to share publicly. However, the established conditions here ultimately prevent me from doing so.
I also considered creating a build diary for some time but decided against it for various reasons and am only documenting for our own reference. This is partly due to the changed situation now (we are coordinating the trades ourselves). I have also noticed that most build diaries available online are somewhat outdated. In addition, only larger or nationally operating turnkey builders could be found online, but not the companies we dealt with.
I also considered creating a build diary for some time but decided against it for various reasons and am only documenting for our own reference. This is partly due to the changed situation now (we are coordinating the trades ourselves). I have also noticed that most build diaries available online are somewhat outdated. In addition, only larger or nationally operating turnkey builders could be found online, but not the companies we dealt with.
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