ᐅ Is Membership in a Private Home Builders Association Worthwhile?
Created on: 12 Jan 2018 09:51
M
Marcello
Hello,
Yesterday, I came across the Association of Private Homeowners through a trade magazine, the Verband Privater Bauherren e.V. I called their Berlin office today and was informed that members benefit from discounts.
My specific questions were about (a) legal support for reviewing contracts either with architects or prefabricated house suppliers and (b) independent construction and quality inspections during the building process.
Can anyone share personal experience regarding whether membership offers worthwhile advantages? The monthly membership fee is reasonable, but I don’t want to waste money unnecessarily. My main interest is especially in the two services mentioned above.
Thank you.
Yesterday, I came across the Association of Private Homeowners through a trade magazine, the Verband Privater Bauherren e.V. I called their Berlin office today and was informed that members benefit from discounts.
My specific questions were about (a) legal support for reviewing contracts either with architects or prefabricated house suppliers and (b) independent construction and quality inspections during the building process.
Can anyone share personal experience regarding whether membership offers worthwhile advantages? The monthly membership fee is reasonable, but I don’t want to waste money unnecessarily. My main interest is especially in the two services mentioned above.
Thank you.
I did this during the middle of our last construction project and have now canceled it during the current build.
For the first build, I brought someone from the Association of Private Homeowners for the final inspection. He was able to spot and point out a few minor issues, but since it was already the final acceptance, almost everything was already completed. Otherwise, as a layperson, you finish the build with a slightly better feeling when an architect has at least nodded and said, "this looks good."
For this build, we didn't use it at all. The relaxed style of our building contract here in the countryside, where things are known to move differently, wouldn’t have matched the thorough inspection by an expert, I’m quite sure of that. We accepted that risk because we had a good feeling about the contractor.
However, I’m sure this doesn’t apply to most building contracts. Also, with the Association of Private Homeowners, you actually pay extra for every service you use, so I’m not really sure anymore why we did it back then. For the second build, we haven’t used any of those services so far.
For the first build, I brought someone from the Association of Private Homeowners for the final inspection. He was able to spot and point out a few minor issues, but since it was already the final acceptance, almost everything was already completed. Otherwise, as a layperson, you finish the build with a slightly better feeling when an architect has at least nodded and said, "this looks good."
For this build, we didn't use it at all. The relaxed style of our building contract here in the countryside, where things are known to move differently, wouldn’t have matched the thorough inspection by an expert, I’m quite sure of that. We accepted that risk because we had a good feeling about the contractor.
However, I’m sure this doesn’t apply to most building contracts. Also, with the Association of Private Homeowners, you actually pay extra for every service you use, so I’m not really sure anymore why we did it back then. For the second build, we haven’t used any of those services so far.
M
moeSzyslak28 May 2023 12:33Allthewayup schrieb:
We had considered that before building but decided to rely on construction legal protection instead, based on similar experiences shared online, just in case things went completely wrong. Yes, but by then it’s already too late. I’m hoping to avoid exactly that by involving an expert at the right time, or at least significantly reduce the risk. As an additional measure, construction legal protection might still make sense.
Allthewayup schrieb:
Many former homeowners can also quite easily break down a detailed construction specification into its components. Hindsight is always 20/20.
But that doesn’t help me now, and legally it doesn’t hold much weight either.
Allthewayup schrieb:
If I were to choose a small general contractor, I would always have the construction contract reviewed by a specialist lawyer. Most are willing to negotiate their fees. Okay, specialist lawyers can be found through the mentioned institutions. Whether they’re any good probably depends on the individual.
Allthewayup schrieb:
Nowadays, I would also obtain a credit report for the company I want to build with. Many already complain about lost orders, etc. Financial trouble can come quickly if lifestyles have been maintained beyond means. Some companies even offer that proactively. However, it provides only limited insight.
For one, it’s just a snapshot that can change within a few months.
For another, I only pay according to construction progress, so the financial risk is somewhat capped.
But last but not least, my question was more about checking and securing quality, or reviewing the paperwork in advance.
M
moeSzyslak28 May 2023 12:41kati1337 schrieb:
I had arranged that halfway through the last construction project, and I’ve now canceled it halfway through the current one.
For the first build, I brought someone from the Private Homeowners Association to the final inspection. They were able to spot and point out a few minor issues, but since the final acceptance was already done, most things were already closed off. Otherwise, as a layperson, you leave the building process with a slightly better feeling when an architect has nodded and said “looks good.”
For this current build, we didn’t use that service at all. The relaxed nature of our construction contract here in the countryside, where things tend to work differently, probably wouldn’t have gone well with the thorough inspection by an expert, I’m pretty sure of that. We accepted that risk because we had a good feeling about the contractor.
But I’m sure that doesn’t apply to most construction contracts. Also, with the Private Homeowners Association, you usually pay extra for any services you use, so looking back, I’m not quite sure why we even did it back then. For the second build, we haven’t used any of their services so far. Thanks for the description! At the very end is obviously a bit late…
You can easily fall into that trap emotionally, of course.
I understand your concerns regarding loss of trust, but as long as you’re not an expert yourself and considering that everyone makes mistakes, there should be understanding on both sides for these measures.
Mistakes aren’t always deliberately hidden; some are simply the kind that experts notice but others miss for various reasons.
Allthewayup schrieb:
By now, I would also request a credit report from the company I want to build with. Many people are already complaining about projects being canceled, etc. Financial problems can arise quickly if living beyond one’s means. Credit reports are helpful, but the completion guarantee remains crucial.
kati1337 schrieb:
We took that risk because we had a good feeling about the contractor. Unfortunately, contractors of the “honest horse trader” type, @Nordlys to the delight, are a rarity.
moeSzyslak schrieb:
On the other hand, I only pay according to the construction progress. So at least the risk is limited to some extent. Be careful not to confuse payment with due date!
moeSzyslak schrieb:
But last but not least, my question was more about checking and ensuring quality, or rather, reviewing the paperwork in advance. You are quite far from Mainz in Brandenburg, but at least I would warmly recommend considering the homeowner’s training course by Mrs. Reibold-Rolinger.
I’m sure I’ve mentioned before that I’m not the only independent homeowner consultant.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
X
xMisterDx28 May 2023 13:35Based on experiences within my circle of acquaintances, I decided against hiring an expert.
Two acquaintances had one, and the most common comment was:
"Well, it’s not 100% accurate, but nobody will be able to fix that anymore anyway..."
All for a few thousand euros... well.
By the way, one of them ended up with water damage in the guest bathroom, which the inspector could not have predicted.
Besides, there’s always the question of whether you are prepared to face the consequences.
If you report defects, the first reaction is usually, "No, we did it correctly..."
Then construction is put on hold while the issue is resolved.
We couldn’t have afforded that anyway; financially it has already become quite tight.
So you just hope to get a house with only minor defects...
PS:
I also know someone who largely built their own house and comes from a technical/trades background, so I am not completely without any technical understanding.
If you sit in an office clicking together Excel spreadsheets all day, you might actually want to get some help. No idea.
Two acquaintances had one, and the most common comment was:
"Well, it’s not 100% accurate, but nobody will be able to fix that anymore anyway..."
All for a few thousand euros... well.
By the way, one of them ended up with water damage in the guest bathroom, which the inspector could not have predicted.
Besides, there’s always the question of whether you are prepared to face the consequences.
If you report defects, the first reaction is usually, "No, we did it correctly..."
Then construction is put on hold while the issue is resolved.
We couldn’t have afforded that anyway; financially it has already become quite tight.
So you just hope to get a house with only minor defects...
PS:
I also know someone who largely built their own house and comes from a technical/trades background, so I am not completely without any technical understanding.
If you sit in an office clicking together Excel spreadsheets all day, you might actually want to get some help. No idea.
A
Allthewayup28 May 2023 16:25The idea was that you probably have friends and acquaintances with whom you can discuss the topic of the construction specification. I didn’t assume that you would rely on construction knowledge from a previous life.
What you actually want is an independent expert who oversees the construction from the very beginning. Unfortunately, the term “expert” is not a protected professional title, and in the worst case, you might end up with just another “mouth to feed.”
We pay our expert around €200 per hour (approximately $215), but he is officially appointed and sworn in. What he says to the contractor also holds legal weight if necessary. Having him handle the entire construction supervision would cost five figures. Unfortunately, we had to hire him halfway through the process.
By now, I believe the most important factor is the preparation phase: the planning, choosing a reputable contractor, and the agreements in the construction specification as well as in the contract. This prevents most problems.
The expert is not on site eight hours every day and, for that reason, can mostly only react after the damage (usually) has been done.
I completely understand your intention; we were faced with no other choice. Today, we are wiser. Although our general contractor has an excellent reputation, we experienced several major issues, and the household harmony is somewhat disturbed. Today, we would wish we had secured ourselves “even better” against him.
Ultimately, this is all a matter of risk management:
1. Avoid risks
2. Minimize risks
3. Spread risks
4. Cover risks
What you actually want is an independent expert who oversees the construction from the very beginning. Unfortunately, the term “expert” is not a protected professional title, and in the worst case, you might end up with just another “mouth to feed.”
We pay our expert around €200 per hour (approximately $215), but he is officially appointed and sworn in. What he says to the contractor also holds legal weight if necessary. Having him handle the entire construction supervision would cost five figures. Unfortunately, we had to hire him halfway through the process.
By now, I believe the most important factor is the preparation phase: the planning, choosing a reputable contractor, and the agreements in the construction specification as well as in the contract. This prevents most problems.
The expert is not on site eight hours every day and, for that reason, can mostly only react after the damage (usually) has been done.
I completely understand your intention; we were faced with no other choice. Today, we are wiser. Although our general contractor has an excellent reputation, we experienced several major issues, and the household harmony is somewhat disturbed. Today, we would wish we had secured ourselves “even better” against him.
Ultimately, this is all a matter of risk management:
1. Avoid risks
2. Minimize risks
3. Spread risks
4. Cover risks
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