ᐅ Building a House at 21 Years Old... Too Young?

daniel400 schrieb:

I just like this well-thought-out, fast yet very precise construction method of the houses. I think it also has a lot to do with modern building techniques.

I had suspected as much: prefabricated houses are not more carefully designed, and they only appear fast (because the builder only sees the crane unloading the finished walls). This also applies to the less common brick, expanded clay, and other wall panels, so it is not specific to timber frame construction. Modern construction methods were once new; today’s external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) on many solid buildings are, technically, on par with the insulated cavity wall systems of classic prefabricated houses.

rick2018 schrieb:

I would rather wait one or two more years. Then the crisis will have reached the construction industry. If you still have a stable job then, you can build more affordably.

Order books may soon decline, but I expect the trend toward less desirable plots of land (steep slopes, cul-de-sac heads, pile foundations, contaminated sites, pentagonal plots at hammerheads, proximity to highways, postage-stamp-sized semi-detached homes) to at least continue if not increase.

daniel400 schrieb:

That’s why we want to thoroughly gather information on Sunday at a model home exhibition.

“Model home exhibition” and “thoroughly” is almost a contradiction, as these exhibitions reflect the market in a distorted way: the most recommendable providers (regional solid builders, local carpenters) are hardly represented. You mostly see an overrepresentation of classic timber panel prefabricated manufacturers, the big-name franchises or cooperatives in solid stone construction, and occasionally a block builder in between.

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https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/

11ant schrieb:

A "show home park" and "thorough" are almost contradictory, since show home parks tend to present a distorted view of the market: the most recommended providers (regional solid masonry builders, local carpenters) are hardly represented there. Instead, you see a disproportionate number of classic timber frame prefab builders, well-known large brick-and-mortar companies from cooperatives or franchises, and occasionally a insulated concrete form builder in between.

What do you think would be the first proper step? Should I only request quotes from regional providers? I really don’t have much experience and want to gather as much information as possible from you. I also try to find many answers to my questions online, but the information is always insufficient.

@11ant The plot of land is apparently already owned. Therefore, the development of land prices and quality does not matter here. Only the construction costs are relevant.

rick2018 schrieb:

@11ant The plot of land is apparently already owned. Therefore, the development of land prices and quality does not matter here. Only the construction costs are relevant.

Correct, the plot of land is already owned.

P.S.: Actually, many "show homes" should rather be called "fake homes" – firstly because there often should be a note saying "illustration shows optional features," but not least because many show homes were not really built by the companies promoting their products there. Visitors usually assume naively that the houses were built by the firms using them and that they reflect the current standards of their construction service descriptions. In fact, this is unfortunately not the case: while the first users are indeed the builders, the houses remain unchanged after modifications, and instead of being demolished, once they have served their purpose they are often rented out to a competitor. It can even happen that a company brand switches from "prefabricated" homes to "solid construction" homes but keeps its older show homes. If you see a BMW at an Audi dealership, you know you are in the used car section and that it is a third-party product – but in a show home park, visitors trust the brand logos on the flags.

daniel400 schrieb:

What do you think is the right first step? Only get quotes from regional suppliers?

For "masonry" construction, I would clearly prefer regional / owner-managed suppliers; apart from a few exceptions, I see small carpenters no better than the industrial panel builders were fifty years ago. Regardless of the construction method, I see the first step as actively defining your desired house – otherwise, you will be sold whatever "happens" to fit your budget, especially since the big players in the industry will empty your wallet down to the millimeter.

rick2018 schrieb:

The plot is probably already owned. Therefore, the development of land prices and quality does not matter here. Only pure construction costs.

In this case, yes – but I always write with the 900% silent readers lurking in the background in mind, and for the general decision "now or 2022" without land yet, the situation would look different.

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https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/

Model home parks are important.

You see rooms, sizes, furnished catalog floor plans, and then you realize, oh, the bed is too narrow, the door doesn’t open properly, etc.

You can coordinate tastes and ideas with your partner. By the time you choose the fixtures, you know that square shapes are a no-go for her, and pink tiles are a dealbreaker for you.

In model home parks, you deal with salespeople who all want one thing: your money.
If you don’t get a salesperson who just throws around clichés, you can still learn some interesting things.

Ask a salesperson what is standard and what incurs extra costs. A female salesperson, or rather consultant, walked through the house with us and explained that a certain door was discontinued, bathroom tiles were standard, and so on.
She also shared some information about the house, wall construction, and the company.

Otherwise, as 11ant wrote, you really have to laugh when the salesperson knocks on the wall praising the great construction, but two years ago a different company worked on that house.

Talk to other home builders to get information.