ᐅ Initial Discussions with Prefabricated House Manufacturers – Any Tips?
Created on: 16 Jan 2018 15:28
M
Marcello
Hello,
We have our first two meetings with prefab home builders coming up in the next 10 days: Weberhaus and Hanse Haus. Bien-Zenker will follow later. We are still considering Town & Country, but that will probably only be an option if the others really mess up.
My question to experienced homeowners who have already been through this somewhat exciting process (admittedly, it’s a bit nerve-wracking) is: what can we expect during the meeting? I am familiar with the content and know that it will easily take about two hours, but are there any pitfalls even in this initial introduction? Are there things I absolutely should mention, but more importantly, are there things I should definitely avoid saying at this early stage? I would really appreciate any tips and useful insights based on your experience.
We have our first two meetings with prefab home builders coming up in the next 10 days: Weberhaus and Hanse Haus. Bien-Zenker will follow later. We are still considering Town & Country, but that will probably only be an option if the others really mess up.
My question to experienced homeowners who have already been through this somewhat exciting process (admittedly, it’s a bit nerve-wracking) is: what can we expect during the meeting? I am familiar with the content and know that it will easily take about two hours, but are there any pitfalls even in this initial introduction? Are there things I absolutely should mention, but more importantly, are there things I should definitely avoid saying at this early stage? I would really appreciate any tips and useful insights based on your experience.
Just think about how many hours you spend researching, discussing, and test-driving when choosing a vehicle.
A single planning appointment for a kitchen often takes around 4 hours, and afterwards you have the layout and colors, maybe appliances, but no interior furnishings yet. You even repeat this process several times for price comparison.
What I mean is, fundamental decisions deserve time investment. Spending two hours debating ridge height and the number of floors is absolutely fine. You will regularly encounter such "time consumption" during a home building project, unless you are buying a developer-built property.
A single planning appointment for a kitchen often takes around 4 hours, and afterwards you have the layout and colors, maybe appliances, but no interior furnishings yet. You even repeat this process several times for price comparison.
What I mean is, fundamental decisions deserve time investment. Spending two hours debating ridge height and the number of floors is absolutely fine. You will regularly encounter such "time consumption" during a home building project, unless you are buying a developer-built property.
Alex85 schrieb:
What I mean is that fundamental aspects deserve time investment. Spending two hours discussing ridge height and the number of storeys is absolutely fine. You will regularly encounter such “time expenditure” during a home building project, unless you are buying a developer property.Thank you. However, I think you may have misunderstood something. It’s not about MY time, but about the seller’s time. And whether, in general, the first sales meeting should focus on getting stuck on one detail or rather cover the broad range of topics (like many of those already mentioned in this thread). Two hours is already not much time just for that. Regarding ridge height alone, I have already spent about two hours here in the forum, approximately 1.5 hours on calls with people who know a bit about it, 2-3 hours of discussion within the family, and several evenings thinking deeply about the possible consequences of making changes to the floor plan, depending on whether case (a), (b), or (c) applies. While time is always precious during the preliminary planning stage (time is always precious), we definitely don’t cut corners there.
So, to rephrase my question briefly, because maybe I didn’t express it clearly enough before: How should I approach a complicated zoning/land use plan issue (regarding ridge height/building height – concerning the decision between two full storeys with a flat roof or one full storey plus a second floor with a 1.60m (5 ft 3 in) knee wall with either a shallow mono-pitched or hipped roof) during the first meeting? Should I give this topic major focus right away, or should I first tackle all the other (seemingly millions of) questions that have already been very helpfully raised here?
In my opinion, the initial consultation is very much about gut feeling. The outcome should be: Can we work with these people, or are they out? For my wife and me, answering this question requires a sense of professionalism—are they listening, is the backup plan workable, do they become pushy… The exact words from a salesperson: “Oh, so you want a small place?” That one was out!
So clearly state your must-haves and any issues with the backup plan, then see what happens. My genuine advice is to pay close attention to your feelings. Karsten
So clearly state your must-haves and any issues with the backup plan, then see what happens. My genuine advice is to pay close attention to your feelings. Karsten
Going with your gut feeling is understandable, but it might not be reliable later if problems arise. At that point, having a good expert and possibly a lawyer is what really matters.
In the initial meeting, you should definitely mention that you will be hiring your own construction supervisor or building inspector. If the builder refuses this – saying something like “we’ve never done it that way” – you should walk away.
Regarding the original question: In my opinion, the zoning plan (development plan) is already important. How is the builder supposed to make an appropriate offer if they don’t know the requirements?
In the initial meeting, you should definitely mention that you will be hiring your own construction supervisor or building inspector. If the builder refuses this – saying something like “we’ve never done it that way” – you should walk away.
Regarding the original question: In my opinion, the zoning plan (development plan) is already important. How is the builder supposed to make an appropriate offer if they don’t know the requirements?
(Take a look at the posts where I have added "Likes"—this way, you can see what I consider worth agreeing with without me having to quote everything.)
You are laypersons, meaning you are allowed to be a bit unsure. From the plot, only take the size, footprint, and number of floors into account. Details like precisely balancing the eaves height do require appropriate time and attention, but not during the initial introductory discussion.
These are matters that can certainly be discussed with candidates from round 1, but not within round 1 itself. Because they only become important with those candidates from round 1 who will be seen again in round 3.
In other words, I agree with the views of previous speakers, but differentiated according to the importance of the rounds. At the first dance, the rings are not exchanged—that is, don’t put yourself under pressure to produce approval-ready designs in the first round.
In this sense, it also does not matter at this point what style the house will have. Whether the eaves and ridge heights fit later is not important in round 1—rather, it is about whether, for example, a five-degree change in roof pitch already leads to an additional cost that would put an otherwise catalog house at the price level of a custom design.
House sellers generally perform at about the same level of incompetence as real estate agents. The idea that there might be development plan-reading experts among them is almost amusing.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
You are laypersons, meaning you are allowed to be a bit unsure. From the plot, only take the size, footprint, and number of floors into account. Details like precisely balancing the eaves height do require appropriate time and attention, but not during the initial introductory discussion.
These are matters that can certainly be discussed with candidates from round 1, but not within round 1 itself. Because they only become important with those candidates from round 1 who will be seen again in round 3.
In other words, I agree with the views of previous speakers, but differentiated according to the importance of the rounds. At the first dance, the rings are not exchanged—that is, don’t put yourself under pressure to produce approval-ready designs in the first round.
In this sense, it also does not matter at this point what style the house will have. Whether the eaves and ridge heights fit later is not important in round 1—rather, it is about whether, for example, a five-degree change in roof pitch already leads to an additional cost that would put an otherwise catalog house at the price level of a custom design.
House sellers generally perform at about the same level of incompetence as real estate agents. The idea that there might be development plan-reading experts among them is almost amusing.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/