ᐅ No Construction Start Date from the Home Builder! What Can We Do?

Unfortunately, we were misled by the sales talk of a prefabricated house builder saying, "you will have moved in by the end of the year." We do not have a fixed construction start date in the contract! Is this legal? Can we possibly challenge it?

We are now being stalled. The company claims that production of the house will only start once the foundation slab has been approved. We are responsible for the foundation slab ourselves, but as long as I don’t know when the house will be delivered, we won’t pour a foundation slab that might just weather away.

Has anyone had a similar experience?

why should a piece of concrete just weather away?

Which supplier?

Good morning,

If you are already experiencing major misunderstandings before construction even begins and feel pressured into decisions, I strongly recommend hiring an independent building expert or construction supervisor.

There can often be interface issues, especially when the base construction (building slab/foundation) is done by the client and the house is provided by the general contractor or similar. For example, who prepares the drainage plan after the sewer and stormwater pipes are installed?

If you are having a timber frame wall system, it is possible that it will not be produced or assembled until the foundation slab has the required dimensions. Changing the foundation slab is often impossible, whereas adjusting the timber frame connections (for a fee) is usually possible.

And it is certainly better if the foundation slab has time to reach its final strength before the house is set on top of it 🙂

What specific concerns do you have about the foundation slab failing or having problems?

If the construction plans are accurate, then go ahead with the foundation slab—the sooner, the better.
If you feel uncertain, consider hiring a construction supervisor. It is also advisable to have the contract reviewed by a lawyer. These costs are manageable compared to the total price.

You should always hire a construction supervisor if you are not a professional in the field. In my opinion, this is not about feeling uncertain, but rather about minimizing the risk of poor workmanship during the build.

The contract or an appendix to it usually specifies when your project is scheduled. For the prefabricated home builders we spoke with, scheduling typically begins once you have the building permit / planning permission, financing confirmation, and final selections completed. However, if you, for example, manage the foundation slab yourself, the scheduling might be different and may only start after the foundation slab has been inspected and approved.

In general, production for a prefabricated house starts shortly before the installation date. The components are also manufactured within just a few days. Before that, you simply wait for your turn.