ᐅ Initial Consultation Appointment with the Prefabricated House Manufacturer
Created on: 19 Jun 2017 18:38
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Illexchubby
Hello everyone,
My girlfriend and I have decided to fulfill our dream of owning a home. We chose to build a prefabricated house and have already provisionally reserved a plot of land that meets our location and price expectations.
Our plan was (and is) to sit down with prefab house manufacturers, show them our development plan and regulations, and then work together on possible floor plans that meet our individual wishes. We also hoped to get some initial quotes to help us plan and estimate the financing of the whole project.
It’s quite a rough approach for the beginning, I know, but this was primarily meant to help us decide for or against the reserved plot and, of course, to better estimate whether we can afford it.
Over the last few months, we have visited many model home parks and have narrowed down to 3-4 preferred manufacturers.
We recently scheduled our first appointment for a consultation. By the way, it was with a “top” manufacturer, at least according to recent reviews from sources like FocusMoney.
At the start of the meeting, the representative neither introduced herself nor her company in any way. It quickly became clear that the main purpose of the meeting was just to present us with an initial offer. We had sent our plot plan in advance, requesting a review and feedback regarding the location and orientation, but we received no response on that. When I asked about it, she just said she showed it to an architect, who did not see any issues. We flipped through some catalogs, and when I pointed out a floor plan that roughly matched our ideas, it was immediately noted for inclusion in the offer. Then she asked me which heating system I wanted. But who would know that at the first meeting? She then mentioned that for this size, about 160m² (1720 square feet) over two floors, it basically only makes sense to build to KfW55 standards and use an air-source heat pump. When I asked how flexible the floor plans could be, she said we would handle that with the architect later, when the time comes. However, it turned out that I can only see the architect if I sign a preliminary contract because, according to her, the planning involves high costs and the company needs a certain level of security. I also learned that this manufacturer does not have in-house architects but commissions them externally.
Is this the usual process? I feel like I can't buy a plot without at least a floor plan or rough draft, right? At the kitchen showroom, they design my kitchen for the space before I sign anything! I always thought you first look at the building site with the architect in person…
Am I mistaken? Is this just wishful thinking on my part? What can I realistically expect?
Thanks a lot for your answers.
Best regards,
Dennis
My girlfriend and I have decided to fulfill our dream of owning a home. We chose to build a prefabricated house and have already provisionally reserved a plot of land that meets our location and price expectations.
Our plan was (and is) to sit down with prefab house manufacturers, show them our development plan and regulations, and then work together on possible floor plans that meet our individual wishes. We also hoped to get some initial quotes to help us plan and estimate the financing of the whole project.
It’s quite a rough approach for the beginning, I know, but this was primarily meant to help us decide for or against the reserved plot and, of course, to better estimate whether we can afford it.
Over the last few months, we have visited many model home parks and have narrowed down to 3-4 preferred manufacturers.
We recently scheduled our first appointment for a consultation. By the way, it was with a “top” manufacturer, at least according to recent reviews from sources like FocusMoney.
At the start of the meeting, the representative neither introduced herself nor her company in any way. It quickly became clear that the main purpose of the meeting was just to present us with an initial offer. We had sent our plot plan in advance, requesting a review and feedback regarding the location and orientation, but we received no response on that. When I asked about it, she just said she showed it to an architect, who did not see any issues. We flipped through some catalogs, and when I pointed out a floor plan that roughly matched our ideas, it was immediately noted for inclusion in the offer. Then she asked me which heating system I wanted. But who would know that at the first meeting? She then mentioned that for this size, about 160m² (1720 square feet) over two floors, it basically only makes sense to build to KfW55 standards and use an air-source heat pump. When I asked how flexible the floor plans could be, she said we would handle that with the architect later, when the time comes. However, it turned out that I can only see the architect if I sign a preliminary contract because, according to her, the planning involves high costs and the company needs a certain level of security. I also learned that this manufacturer does not have in-house architects but commissions them externally.
Is this the usual process? I feel like I can't buy a plot without at least a floor plan or rough draft, right? At the kitchen showroom, they design my kitchen for the space before I sign anything! I always thought you first look at the building site with the architect in person…
Am I mistaken? Is this just wishful thinking on my part? What can I realistically expect?
Thanks a lot for your answers.
Best regards,
Dennis
I
Illexchubby23 Jun 2017 16:57Hello everyone,
first of all, thank you all for the high level of participation on this topic. It somehow shows that opinions differ widely and various experiences come together – but that’s not a problem and is actually a good thing. I started this topic because our first appointment didn’t go as we had imagined, and I wanted to know if it was just bad luck or if that is the current reality and state of affairs. In some of the posts, I get the impression that some people feel personally offended – which, honestly, I can’t quite understand. This should only be an exchange of experiences.
You are absolutely right, and that is also one of the next steps we will probably take – thank you for the advice.
I have not said at any point that I expect all of this!! I said that I would wish for it. It was always just about getting information on what is realistic to expect! And apart from that, the initial post by ONeil clearly shows that something like this is definitely possible. The advice I really expect can be done in about 3 hours of work: just a site visit and a personal assessment/recommendation. To call me cheeky for such an expectation honestly seems cheeky to me on your part. Do you realize how many hours of "free" advice people receive every day in furniture stores or car dealerships? And we are talking about much larger sums when it comes to a house! If a homebuilder still doesn’t provide that before signing a contract, it can probably only be because they’re fully booked and don’t need to, not because it’s cheeky from the customer.
I have no idea how you come to that, but I’m not too proud of anything at all! Is that your advice to a layperson who only started dealing with the whole topic a few weeks ago? Just look at the development plan and think hard…?
It’s not about just managing somehow. We are investing an amount of money that we will probably pay off over >30 years, so of course we want to exclude as many risks (that we don’t know about) as possible.
No, I didn’t/haven’t, that’s why I started this thread. That’s why I’m asking people here who have already gained this experience.
first of all, thank you all for the high level of participation on this topic. It somehow shows that opinions differ widely and various experiences come together – but that’s not a problem and is actually a good thing. I started this topic because our first appointment didn’t go as we had imagined, and I wanted to know if it was just bad luck or if that is the current reality and state of affairs. In some of the posts, I get the impression that some people feel personally offended – which, honestly, I can’t quite understand. This should only be an exchange of experiences.
ypg schrieb:
But I gave you the advice, for example, to consult an architect. This is the usual approach, especially for a challenging plot or for clients who want to be on the safe side.
Now, we could just go around in circles, as you have already explained your concern in your original post.
We can’t change things.
You are absolutely right, and that is also one of the next steps we will probably take – thank you for the advice.
kaho674 schrieb:
Expecting free advice is bordering on cheekiness.
I have not said at any point that I expect all of this!! I said that I would wish for it. It was always just about getting information on what is realistic to expect! And apart from that, the initial post by ONeil clearly shows that something like this is definitely possible. The advice I really expect can be done in about 3 hours of work: just a site visit and a personal assessment/recommendation. To call me cheeky for such an expectation honestly seems cheeky to me on your part. Do you realize how many hours of "free" advice people receive every day in furniture stores or car dealerships? And we are talking about much larger sums when it comes to a house! If a homebuilder still doesn’t provide that before signing a contract, it can probably only be because they’re fully booked and don’t need to, not because it’s cheeky from the customer.
kaho674 schrieb:
As a client, you should not be too proud to think things through yourself, especially if you need to watch your budget. You want to know if the plot is suitable? Look at the development plan.
I have no idea how you come to that, but I’m not too proud of anything at all! Is that your advice to a layperson who only started dealing with the whole topic a few weeks ago? Just look at the development plan and think hard…?
kaho674 schrieb:
Many buyers have already managed hillside locations.
It’s not about just managing somehow. We are investing an amount of money that we will probably pay off over >30 years, so of course we want to exclude as many risks (that we don’t know about) as possible.
Steffen80 schrieb:
@TE: Do you even have an idea what’s going on in the market right now?!!! Nobody… who is even remotely competent and reputable is waiting for you.
No, I didn’t/haven’t, that’s why I started this thread. That’s why I’m asking people here who have already gained this experience.
I
Illexchubby23 Jun 2017 17:09ypg schrieb:
And, for the last time, I repeat myself, a design takes several weeks because it needs to develop gradually.
For a rough estimate, a standard production house off the shelf is enough!
Visit your plot, let it and the surroundings sink in, check the zoning plan (I think you have already done this), and place some standard house models from the internet that you like on it. Draw a bit and see if your rough ideas fit. Don’t underestimate yourselves.
Next, contact an architect. You can still build with a general contractor later.
That’s how everyone does it!This is ultimately a post that reflects my conclusion as well and describes how we will proceed. Thank you very much, ypg!
And please don’t hold my questions and ideas against me. This is all new territory for us, and we obviously misjudged some things. I believe there are worse ways than gathering information in a forum about the conditions before jumping in blindly. We are open to advice and will move forward based on this.
Illexchubby schrieb:
...The consultation I truly expect for free is covered by 3 hours of work. Just a site visit and a personal assessment/recommendation. And to call me rude because of such an expectation is frankly rude on your part. Do you realize how many hours every day people get free advice at furniture stores or car dealerships? Well, that’s really funny, because we actually have a furniture store. So I happen to know exactly what you’re talking about. And that’s the annoying part—everyone thinks advice should be free. Well, supply and demand take care of that by themselves.
But anyway, I didn’t want to offend you. Sorry if my words were a bit harsh. You’re still at the very beginning—that’s where we all started. So let me put it another way. I think it’s rare for someone to spend 3 hours wandering around your plot of land with you at the start, without ever getting anything back for it. Also, I still don’t understand what exactly the problem is with the plot? Is there a soil report? If yes, does it say anything suspicious? What is the builder supposed to tell you about your land?
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Illexchubby26 Jun 2017 16:21Exactly, then you know what I mean. Sure, free consultations can be really annoying. I completely agree that it will balance out naturally through supply and demand. I think we can check that off.
No problem at all, I’m not picky. I just didn’t want to leave it like that.
Exactly, there is a soil report. According to it, around 1.5m (5 feet) of soil needs to be replaced. The responsible municipality covers this replacement. To arrange this, they need a rough floor plan of the “desired house” on the property. Only after the municipality has this, another soil expert is commissioned to drill specifically at the spots where the building will stand. And I would just like to have an expert’s opinion on that. We also want to know whether we can build a basement in this case, or maybe even have to. That then leads to possible additional costs, and so on…
These are important factors for us that we would have liked to know before buying the plot.
But as I said, we are now hiring an architect, and they will take a look at everything.
No problem at all, I’m not picky. I just didn’t want to leave it like that.
Exactly, there is a soil report. According to it, around 1.5m (5 feet) of soil needs to be replaced. The responsible municipality covers this replacement. To arrange this, they need a rough floor plan of the “desired house” on the property. Only after the municipality has this, another soil expert is commissioned to drill specifically at the spots where the building will stand. And I would just like to have an expert’s opinion on that. We also want to know whether we can build a basement in this case, or maybe even have to. That then leads to possible additional costs, and so on…
These are important factors for us that we would have liked to know before buying the plot.
But as I said, we are now hiring an architect, and they will take a look at everything.
Illexchubby schrieb:
Exactly, there is a soil report. According to it, about 1.5m (5 feet) of soil needs to be replaced. The responsible municipality will cover the cost for this replacement. To arrange this, they require a rough floor plan of the desired house on the plot. Only after the municipality has this will another soil expert be commissioned to drill specifically at the spots where the building is planned to stand. Imagine your building site as a swimming pool, with the different soil layers like liquids (or modeling clay balls) of varying viscosity. Connected tubes, see physics books. The idea that you can precisely cut out an area under the building to improve the soil, and that all forces will "stay" there quietly without interacting with the surrounding particles, seems highly naïve to me. Even replacing soil with tapered sides at 75 or even 60 degrees only works to a limited extent. If the soil is unsuitable, it is unsuitable over a wide area.
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Illexchubby schrieb:
...
Exactly, there is a soil report. According to it, about 1.5m (5 feet) of soil replacement must be done. The responsible municipality will cover the cost for this replacement. To arrange this, they need a rough floor plan of the preferred house on the plot. Only after the municipality has this will another soil expert be appointed to drill specifically at the locations where the house is supposed to stand. And I would just like to get an expert opinion on this....You don’t actually need the floor plan, but rather the approximate dimensions of the house and, of course, roughly where it will be positioned. Usually, there is a building envelope/planning permission boundary that doesn’t leave much room for flexibility. But of course, if you move templates of driveways/garage and house around, you can roughly determine the house’s placement, which the geologist can then refer to. Being off by one or two meters (yards) doesn’t matter.
A figurative comparison:
If you want to just stay fit, you go to the gym, get shown the general exercises, and then train on your own.
If you have physical problems, you go to the doctor, who after some examinations refers you to a radiologist; with the radiologist’s scans and evaluation, you go back to the doctor, who then gives you training guidelines.
Your fitness is your house, your body is the plot, the radiologist is the geologist, the doctor is the architect, and the gym is the house building company.
You should always consult the geologist; the house builder can read the foundation recommendations without the doctor — uh, architect. But some homeowners are completely unsure how to visualize their house on the plot. In that case, they should consult a professional — here: an architect. As you now know.
Regards, Yvonne
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