ᐅ Prefabricated House Manufacturers: Validity of Their Quotes and Promotions?
Created on: 24 Feb 2018 10:52
S
Skyfire
Hello everyone,
I’m looking for your advice again.
Here is the situation:
We have an offer from a prefabricated house manufacturer. We like the floor plan, the features, and the price seems right. Our gut feeling is good, and we can imagine building a timber frame house with them. The consultant is very competent, fair, and has promptly fulfilled or tried to fulfill all our wishes.
As an alternative, although with a time delay due to vacation, we requested an offer from a regional masonry house builder. We also like their floor plan (slightly less ideal but still good), and the company as well as the materials used make a very good impression. They have recently built numerous houses in our area (including for friends), and these turned out very well. So, if the price fits, we could also imagine a project with them. The architect and company owner also seem very competent and are very friendly.
In the end, it would basically come down to the traditional debate of masonry versus timber frame.
The problem is the following:
The offer from the timber frame provider, supported by vouchers and promotions, is officially valid until 28.02.2018, and we potentially have an appointment next week to sign the contract.
The offer from the masonry builder, in response to my inquiry, will last until the end of next week. Not all offers or prices from subcontractors are available yet.
The risk is missing out on the timber frame offer and having the masonry option exceed our budget (the builder hinted it might just fit). Or taking the timber frame option with the risk of regretting it later and being tied to the contract.
How should I proceed here? Do you have any tips? Should we try to negotiate an extension for the timber frame offer?
I don’t want to rely on a right of withdrawal or similar. That could cost money, and secondly, it’s not really fair. The consultant from the prefabricated house company has been very fair, nice, and the best in his field in the prefab sector.
Thank you very much.
Best regards,
Steffen
I’m looking for your advice again.
Here is the situation:
We have an offer from a prefabricated house manufacturer. We like the floor plan, the features, and the price seems right. Our gut feeling is good, and we can imagine building a timber frame house with them. The consultant is very competent, fair, and has promptly fulfilled or tried to fulfill all our wishes.
As an alternative, although with a time delay due to vacation, we requested an offer from a regional masonry house builder. We also like their floor plan (slightly less ideal but still good), and the company as well as the materials used make a very good impression. They have recently built numerous houses in our area (including for friends), and these turned out very well. So, if the price fits, we could also imagine a project with them. The architect and company owner also seem very competent and are very friendly.
In the end, it would basically come down to the traditional debate of masonry versus timber frame.
The problem is the following:
The offer from the timber frame provider, supported by vouchers and promotions, is officially valid until 28.02.2018, and we potentially have an appointment next week to sign the contract.
The offer from the masonry builder, in response to my inquiry, will last until the end of next week. Not all offers or prices from subcontractors are available yet.
The risk is missing out on the timber frame offer and having the masonry option exceed our budget (the builder hinted it might just fit). Or taking the timber frame option with the risk of regretting it later and being tied to the contract.
How should I proceed here? Do you have any tips? Should we try to negotiate an extension for the timber frame offer?
I don’t want to rely on a right of withdrawal or similar. That could cost money, and secondly, it’s not really fair. The consultant from the prefabricated house company has been very fair, nice, and the best in his field in the prefab sector.
Thank you very much.
Best regards,
Steffen
sven.conzi24 Feb 2018 17:18Skyfire schrieb:
So far, we haven’t had anything checked.
Is this also necessary with reputable, large providers? I had assumed that if something was wrong here, it would be widely known by now.We initially had the contract and construction specifications from Bien and Zenker reviewed (and supplemented) and ultimately chose architects with a general contractor and also had those documents checked. With the latter, additions were not a problem. Well spent money.
With major providers, it's less about hidden traps and more about the comparability of the offers. The key question is: What additional costs must I, as the builder, inevitably pay during construction that are not included in the quoted price? Only when I have a rough idea of this can I reasonably compare the prices of different offers.
Fuchur schrieb:
it’s about comparing the offersAs I understand it, prefabricated house manufacturers and traditional builders construct two different types of buildings, both equally appealing. Comparison is always somewhat difficult, though you can, of course, discuss the features included.
But choosing a house from a catalog also fits with voucher promotions. To each their own.
Many valid points have been made. No pressure, no stress. Tell the consultant that we will only sign after comparing options. If their vouchers end up being worthless, that’s just how it is.
Moving on. What is being offered? A house? Your house? So, is it calculated for your plot of land? Are the earthworks sufficiently pre-estimated? Do you have everything included? Foundation slab? Drains, connections?
A prefabricated house doesn’t have to be bad; it is dry, uses well-planned technology, and can also be aesthetically pleasing. But I would be surprised if it were cheaper than solid construction. My life experience tells me otherwise. Karsten
Moving on. What is being offered? A house? Your house? So, is it calculated for your plot of land? Are the earthworks sufficiently pre-estimated? Do you have everything included? Foundation slab? Drains, connections?
A prefabricated house doesn’t have to be bad; it is dry, uses well-planned technology, and can also be aesthetically pleasing. But I would be surprised if it were cheaper than solid construction. My life experience tells me otherwise. Karsten