Hello,
we want to build a KfW 40 plus house with a prefab home provider that has not yet been decided. Some elements, such as the photovoltaic system including storage, the prefabricated basement, the garage, the staircase, and possibly a few other items will be outsourced because it simply makes more sense.
Now to the actual process (after purchasing the plot).
1. Should we look for an architect/energy consultant ourselves, or does the architect from the prefab home company take over this role even if the basement, photovoltaic system, etc. are ordered externally?
2. Should we find an expert to simply support us during the construction? For this, should we rather choose someone from a home builders’ association or someone like a "prefab home expert"?
3. Obtain quotes from the prefab home companies, the basement builders, the photovoltaic installer, etc. For this purpose, I have already created a checklist to ensure that not too many additional costs appear during selection but that everything is included in the initial offer (otherwise it would be hard to compare). Of course, we will carry out a preliminary selection to be absolutely sure. What is a sensible order here? For example: prefab home provider first, then basement builder, then photovoltaic company, then exterior work, then staircase builder?
4. Decision on the prefab home company and revision or extension of the contracts such as the scope of work through additional clauses and everything that is not fairly balanced.
5. Then price negotiation. Should professional help be sought here as well and, if so, who? Would that person also be involved during the process?
6. Signature and starting signal for construction. The architect should have the floor plans, etc. ready before that for the building permit / planning permission application.
It would be great to get lots of input here so we are better prepared! Many thanks in advance!
we want to build a KfW 40 plus house with a prefab home provider that has not yet been decided. Some elements, such as the photovoltaic system including storage, the prefabricated basement, the garage, the staircase, and possibly a few other items will be outsourced because it simply makes more sense.
Now to the actual process (after purchasing the plot).
1. Should we look for an architect/energy consultant ourselves, or does the architect from the prefab home company take over this role even if the basement, photovoltaic system, etc. are ordered externally?
2. Should we find an expert to simply support us during the construction? For this, should we rather choose someone from a home builders’ association or someone like a "prefab home expert"?
3. Obtain quotes from the prefab home companies, the basement builders, the photovoltaic installer, etc. For this purpose, I have already created a checklist to ensure that not too many additional costs appear during selection but that everything is included in the initial offer (otherwise it would be hard to compare). Of course, we will carry out a preliminary selection to be absolutely sure. What is a sensible order here? For example: prefab home provider first, then basement builder, then photovoltaic company, then exterior work, then staircase builder?
4. Decision on the prefab home company and revision or extension of the contracts such as the scope of work through additional clauses and everything that is not fairly balanced.
5. Then price negotiation. Should professional help be sought here as well and, if so, who? Would that person also be involved during the process?
6. Signature and starting signal for construction. The architect should have the floor plans, etc. ready before that for the building permit / planning permission application.
It would be great to get lots of input here so we are better prepared! Many thanks in advance!
E
Eigenheim_20113 Jun 2020 12:42Well, I don’t personally know anyone here. I’m not aware of individual experience or expertise. Also, it must be said that most experiences come from just one provider (see the reply about Hanse Haus).
I have to question a lot in order to distinguish between well-founded, broad knowledge and subjective opinion. I mean, I’ve been reading forums, watching YouTube videos, and listening to podcasts (over 8 hours a day) for about two months now. I would say I’ve accumulated at least some basic knowledge. And to replace any incorrectly learned information with correct facts, this is necessary. It’s not that I disagree with people entirely, but much of it is just personal opinion.
And based on some opinions in this thread, I apparently shouldn’t request any custom changes because they wouldn’t be implemented anyway, as they fall outside the standard. That sounds more than illogical to me. Sorry, but that’s just not how I think or act.
I have to question a lot in order to distinguish between well-founded, broad knowledge and subjective opinion. I mean, I’ve been reading forums, watching YouTube videos, and listening to podcasts (over 8 hours a day) for about two months now. I would say I’ve accumulated at least some basic knowledge. And to replace any incorrectly learned information with correct facts, this is necessary. It’s not that I disagree with people entirely, but much of it is just personal opinion.
And based on some opinions in this thread, I apparently shouldn’t request any custom changes because they wouldn’t be implemented anyway, as they fall outside the standard. That sounds more than illogical to me. Sorry, but that’s just not how I think or act.
N
nordanney3 Jun 2020 12:45Eigenheim_2011 schrieb:
And you also have to consider that right now, some people might perhaps be hesitant about building a house due to Corona. The child construction grant and building subsidy are no longer available, so I don’t believe that all order books will be full in the coming years. At least that’s my opinion... or is there any evidence, real evidence, or is it all just personal opinion and theory? At the moment, it’s just theory. The reality looks different right now. Not an opinion, but professional experience. I partly work with developers who are also general contractors. Having order books filled for two years is comfortable. If things were more predictable, some customers could book 3 to 4 years ahead.
One more note about demand overall. Here in the Lower Rhine region (35 minutes to downtown Düsseldorf, 20 minutes to the Ruhr area), even existing properties sometimes lead to bidding wars, as the demand for residential real estate is extremely high. Listings for reasonable houses stay online for only 12 to 24 hours, followed by negotiations with around 50 applicants over the terms. It’s the same situation with plots of land.
Eigenheim_2011 schrieb:
Since many build without a basement or are in other federal states, the batch size is definitely not >100. Even when stated with conviction, this is nonsense. You can be certain that those home providers who have a framework agreement partner for house-basement bundles consistently "take" well over 100 basements per year there. Similarly, you can almost be sure that home providers of your desired size around 200 houses per year do not have fixed basement partners. However, I clearly advise against such providers: in the segment of classic timber frame panel prefabricated houses, there are essentially three types of providers—one type is large providers (nationwide, high volumes, well-known names), and the other two are types of small providers. You have already correctly identified the disadvantage of the large ones; you are just a number there. Otherwise, they differ more in the degree of seriousness, especially in sales and pricing, than in the construction method. With the small providers, it is different: I can only recommend the owner-operated, regionally focused ones. Only house-crafted wood-frame homes come from these; these are artisanal carpenter houses. Often, these providers are also highly innovative—for example, recommendations from the forum are the Staudenschreiner or wir leben Haus. But these are typically providers with volumes well below 100, usually around 40 to 60. I strongly advise against those you consider the most suitable: providers focusing on 200 or more houses per year are semi-industrial in orientation and, apart from energy-saving regulations or even KfW/KfW efficiency standards, conceptually quite outdated. That means they build for you again—the same shacks that fifty years ago established the prefab house’s cardboard-box image (which still today serves as a selling point for many masonry builders)—except for the insulation standard and new heating technology. But all this is actually just mentioned in passing—I have not yet gained the impression that you are truly the type of builder who would choose a prefab house (on the other hand, I am quite sure that your preferences are firmly based on a series of misconceptions).
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
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Eigenheim_20113 Jun 2020 13:05@nordanney Ok, good order situation, I won't argue with that. It might be true. Do you think the FHA tells you how full their schedule is? Well, you could already tell from the construction timelines. But no company would reject a contract or say “I won’t take the €400,000 or whatever” unless it really isn’t feasible in terms of staff, etc.
We acquired the plot through a quiet bidding process near Munich. I know that all too well.
@11ant Yes, you’re right, and I’m not talking about the big providers and large-scale projects like basements, but rather small providers. Hmm, so you’re saying that, for example, a Regnauer house or a Baufritz is low quality or outdated? Could you please explain this further? As I said, I would like supported facts. Thanks already for the house names.
We acquired the plot through a quiet bidding process near Munich. I know that all too well.
@11ant Yes, you’re right, and I’m not talking about the big providers and large-scale projects like basements, but rather small providers. Hmm, so you’re saying that, for example, a Regnauer house or a Baufritz is low quality or outdated? Could you please explain this further? As I said, I would like supported facts. Thanks already for the house names.
I can share my sister’s experience. Her case involved a solid brick house. At first, they couldn’t find a suitable company because most contractors lost interest when they mentioned the “sloped site” (including a basement that is level with the garden) and “end-of-terrace house” (the other houses in the row have been there since the 1990s). Then they hired an architect for the planning, but even with a complete building permit/planning permission and all the necessary plans, no general contractor/tendering company wanted to take on the project. Many didn’t respond at all after several follow-up inquiries, while others sent excessively high rejection offers. In the end, they are now building through individual contracts with a structural engineer acting as site manager. The entire search took them two years.
And we are located in a rural area where most plots cost less than €50 per square meter (less than $55 per square meter)... so much for the market situation. Since, in my opinion, prefab house suppliers tend to be even less flexible than solid construction general contractors, I wouldn’t expect much interest in “more complex” projects.
And we are located in a rural area where most plots cost less than €50 per square meter (less than $55 per square meter)... so much for the market situation. Since, in my opinion, prefab house suppliers tend to be even less flexible than solid construction general contractors, I wouldn’t expect much interest in “more complex” projects.
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Eigenheim_20113 Jun 2020 13:29@Yosan Thanks for the input. At the moment, I can’t really say how the providers I will contact will behave.
I just don’t understand what is supposed to be so complicated about my project. I basically just want to save costs and possibly take alternative routes, or structure the offer in advance (for example, through preliminary sampling) so that I won’t end up with an additional 100,000€ (about $107,000) in customization costs.
Who wants to buy a pig in a poke? After signing, the company can basically set the prices however they want (to put it bluntly).
I just don’t understand what is supposed to be so complicated about my project. I basically just want to save costs and possibly take alternative routes, or structure the offer in advance (for example, through preliminary sampling) so that I won’t end up with an additional 100,000€ (about $107,000) in customization costs.
Who wants to buy a pig in a poke? After signing, the company can basically set the prices however they want (to put it bluntly).
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