ᐅ Is Membership in a Private Home Builders Association Worthwhile?
Created on: 12 Jan 2018 09:51
M
MarcelloHello,
Yesterday, I came across the Association of Private Homeowners through a trade magazine, the Verband Privater Bauherren e.V. I called their Berlin office today and was informed that members benefit from discounts.
My specific questions were about (a) legal support for reviewing contracts either with architects or prefabricated house suppliers and (b) independent construction and quality inspections during the building process.
Can anyone share personal experience regarding whether membership offers worthwhile advantages? The monthly membership fee is reasonable, but I don’t want to waste money unnecessarily. My main interest is especially in the two services mentioned above.
Thank you.
Yesterday, I came across the Association of Private Homeowners through a trade magazine, the Verband Privater Bauherren e.V. I called their Berlin office today and was informed that members benefit from discounts.
My specific questions were about (a) legal support for reviewing contracts either with architects or prefabricated house suppliers and (b) independent construction and quality inspections during the building process.
Can anyone share personal experience regarding whether membership offers worthwhile advantages? The monthly membership fee is reasonable, but I don’t want to waste money unnecessarily. My main interest is especially in the two services mentioned above.
Thank you.
My advice based on personal experience: Definitely become a member of an association, but do so before signing any contract. Even the (free) review of the construction contract and service description offered by the Building Owners’ Association provides invaluable insights that you, as an inexperienced first-time homebuilder, would never think of. I do not recommend hiring a general "construction and quality control" service; it usually costs about 1% of the contract sum and, if there were ever a court case (which I hope you never have), you typically cannot recoup those costs. However, if you arrange for the construction advisor from the Building Owners’ Association to visit for interim inspections per individual appointment whenever progress payments are due after completed phases, you pay about €450 (approx. $480) per visit—roughly the same total amount as above—but in case of legal disputes, you might be able to recover this money. As I said—if necessary...
A big advantage: Almost no one ever questions the report from a construction advisor, which is very helpful.
There is also another approach: If you take into account everything, and really everything, and enforce all the recommendations that organizations like the Building Owners’ Association provide for free on their website, you won’t need such services. But from my point of view, this would require an enormous amount of your own time—time you likely don’t have if you are working full-time.
Therefore, in my opinion, membership is absolutely worth it. The annual membership fees are really minimal.
A big advantage: Almost no one ever questions the report from a construction advisor, which is very helpful.
There is also another approach: If you take into account everything, and really everything, and enforce all the recommendations that organizations like the Building Owners’ Association provide for free on their website, you won’t need such services. But from my point of view, this would require an enormous amount of your own time—time you likely don’t have if you are working full-time.
Therefore, in my opinion, membership is absolutely worth it. The annual membership fees are really minimal.
Thank you, berny, that helps me a lot. So, I would apply for membership with the Bauherren-Schutzbund, and what would be the very first step after that? I’m currently at the stage where my dream house is planned, and we are leaning toward a prefab house supplier (we had also considered a custom-built house with an architect in the meantime), but since we are working and have two small children at home, as well as being 300 meters (984 feet) away from the future construction site, the prefab house concept suits us well.
Just to be clear: I apply for membership, and then what do I do next? Should I ask the Bauherren-Schutzbund for advice on which suppliers are reliable? Or should I meet with 2 or 3 suppliers in person, have preliminary contracts drawn up, and then have them reviewed for free by the Bauherren-Schutzbund (Why is that actually free? That seems like a lot of effort compared to the low membership fees)?
Just to be clear: I apply for membership, and then what do I do next? Should I ask the Bauherren-Schutzbund for advice on which suppliers are reliable? Or should I meet with 2 or 3 suppliers in person, have preliminary contracts drawn up, and then have them reviewed for free by the Bauherren-Schutzbund (Why is that actually free? That seems like a lot of effort compared to the low membership fees)?
Exactly like this:
1. Become a member of, for example, a home builders’ protection association.
2. Then request a draft contract and a detailed description of the construction services from the house provider.
3. Contact a local contract lawyer and have the construction contract reviewed.
4. Contact a local home builders’ advisor and have the construction service description reviewed.
5. Try to have as many of their suggestions from the house provider included in the final contract and in the description of construction services. If necessary, add them as special services if the provider resists with an attitude of “we’ve always done it this way.” The construction services description, in particular, is often very reluctant to be changed. Pay special attention to the lawyer’s advice regarding payment schedules and the provision of a completion guarantee.
6. Important: Before signing the contract, you will be told all kinds of things, but later only what is written down counts. Once you have signed, from that point on you are essentially “at their mercy,” especially regarding possible additional charges—which always come up.
Why do they do the initial consultations for free? Quite simply: They are advisors and lawyers who later earn their money from you. The lawyer maybe (hopefully) not; but the home builders’ advisor certainly will. That’s perfectly fine; if, for example, you spend a total of 5,000 € on them, but through that you avoid major defects during construction (which might be patched over before your next visit), then it was money well spent.
Remember: There is definitely no home construction without defects; no company is 100% perfect. And right now, with everyone busy, small mistakes sneak in due to the rush, which you can never check from 300 km (190 miles) away (I, by the way, am over 500 km (310 miles) away).
Good luck!
1. Become a member of, for example, a home builders’ protection association.
2. Then request a draft contract and a detailed description of the construction services from the house provider.
3. Contact a local contract lawyer and have the construction contract reviewed.
4. Contact a local home builders’ advisor and have the construction service description reviewed.
5. Try to have as many of their suggestions from the house provider included in the final contract and in the description of construction services. If necessary, add them as special services if the provider resists with an attitude of “we’ve always done it this way.” The construction services description, in particular, is often very reluctant to be changed. Pay special attention to the lawyer’s advice regarding payment schedules and the provision of a completion guarantee.
6. Important: Before signing the contract, you will be told all kinds of things, but later only what is written down counts. Once you have signed, from that point on you are essentially “at their mercy,” especially regarding possible additional charges—which always come up.
Why do they do the initial consultations for free? Quite simply: They are advisors and lawyers who later earn their money from you. The lawyer maybe (hopefully) not; but the home builders’ advisor certainly will. That’s perfectly fine; if, for example, you spend a total of 5,000 € on them, but through that you avoid major defects during construction (which might be patched over before your next visit), then it was money well spent.
Remember: There is definitely no home construction without defects; no company is 100% perfect. And right now, with everyone busy, small mistakes sneak in due to the rush, which you can never check from 300 km (190 miles) away (I, by the way, am over 500 km (310 miles) away).
Good luck!
Marcello schrieb:
Ask the Homeowners’ Protection Association for advice on which providers are good? Such organizations can "only" advise you on the contractual level, meaning they can help protect you from hidden surcharge tactics and are familiar with the usual providers and how well they comply with construction and workmanship standards. However, a provider who is impeccable on this level might still have a tendency for architectural flaws or clumsy (but compliant) solutions. They are not, in any way, like restaurant reviewers for home builders—that is something you need to do yourself. Still, having expert support, even if "only" technical, is already very valuable. An "active" selection of providers is not their role—they review offers with you and for you, but you have to obtain the offers yourself (including deciding from whom you want to get quotes).
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