ᐅ Prefabricated house or solid construction – what is your opinion?
Created on: 7 Aug 2013 10:55
L
Leela
Hello!
We are currently exploring the topic of building a house, with plans to start next year. We are still very much at the beginning and have not yet decided whether to go with traditional solid construction or opt for a prefabricated house.
I’m interested in your personal opinions on this topic. What do you prefer, what are the advantages and disadvantages, and how did you make your decision?
Best regards,
Leela
We are currently exploring the topic of building a house, with plans to start next year. We are still very much at the beginning and have not yet decided whether to go with traditional solid construction or opt for a prefabricated house.
I’m interested in your personal opinions on this topic. What do you prefer, what are the advantages and disadvantages, and how did you make your decision?
Best regards,
Leela
Hello Dirk,
thank you for your quick reply!
The Excel spreadsheet is a great idea and my husband will start working on it this evening!
I assume I will receive the detailed descriptions of the construction services at the first appointments with the respective companies?
We have already researched additional construction costs thoroughly, but of course, there will probably be more expenses.
We just want to be well-informed beforehand so that an unexpected additional cost of 150,000 euros won’t suddenly lead to financial ruin. ^^
thank you for your quick reply!
The Excel spreadsheet is a great idea and my husband will start working on it this evening!
I assume I will receive the detailed descriptions of the construction services at the first appointments with the respective companies?
We have already researched additional construction costs thoroughly, but of course, there will probably be more expenses.
We just want to be well-informed beforehand so that an unexpected additional cost of 150,000 euros won’t suddenly lead to financial ruin. ^^
D
Doc.Schnaggls23 Jun 2014 12:44Hello,
usually, you will receive the construction specifications no later than the first appointment. It is important to make sure that everything is defined as precisely as possible. Phrases like “standard quality” or “typical craftsmanship,” for example, leave a lot of room for interpretation (see “Dacia” and “Porsche”...).
You can also request informational material by mail—reputable companies usually have no problem sending their often very detailed construction specifications.
I would also recommend visiting a new housing development and taking a look around. If you like any of the houses, you can certainly approach the residents and ask who built the house and what their experiences have been.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the construction contract should ideally include all your requests (custom features, floor coverings, etc.). Therefore, it is very useful to have a so-called preliminary selection before signing the contract in order to include the most important wishes (e.g., walk-in shower, built-in spotlights, etc.) in the contract.
For most builders, the final selection of features happens only after the contract is signed, so it is crucial to understand what additional costs or choices may still come up for the homeowners.
For example, despite a very comprehensive preliminary selection, when finalizing the features, we had to add just over 10% to the fixed price.
However, we had built in a buffer from the very beginning for this reason.
Best regards,
Dirk
usually, you will receive the construction specifications no later than the first appointment. It is important to make sure that everything is defined as precisely as possible. Phrases like “standard quality” or “typical craftsmanship,” for example, leave a lot of room for interpretation (see “Dacia” and “Porsche”...).
You can also request informational material by mail—reputable companies usually have no problem sending their often very detailed construction specifications.
I would also recommend visiting a new housing development and taking a look around. If you like any of the houses, you can certainly approach the residents and ask who built the house and what their experiences have been.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the construction contract should ideally include all your requests (custom features, floor coverings, etc.). Therefore, it is very useful to have a so-called preliminary selection before signing the contract in order to include the most important wishes (e.g., walk-in shower, built-in spotlights, etc.) in the contract.
For most builders, the final selection of features happens only after the contract is signed, so it is crucial to understand what additional costs or choices may still come up for the homeowners.
For example, despite a very comprehensive preliminary selection, when finalizing the features, we had to add just over 10% to the fixed price.
However, we had built in a buffer from the very beginning for this reason.
Best regards,
Dirk
Thank you! Those are really great tips!
Is it also possible to do the preliminary sample selection with companies specializing in solid construction and timber framing?
I heard from a supplier yesterday that after signing the contract, I would have to go to the Dutch border to the sample center and choose everything there. Is that common?
We are favoring the local supplier anyway (a good friend built with them two years ago) – I am curious to what extent it is possible to secure a fixed price contractually here.
Is it also possible to do the preliminary sample selection with companies specializing in solid construction and timber framing?
I heard from a supplier yesterday that after signing the contract, I would have to go to the Dutch border to the sample center and choose everything there. Is that common?
We are favoring the local supplier anyway (a good friend built with them two years ago) – I am curious to what extent it is possible to secure a fixed price contractually here.
D
Doc.Schnaggls23 Jun 2014 13:13I believe that most providers from both segments offer these preliminary sample inspections.
In our case, companies that did not offer them were immediately removed from the list of potential contractors.
Visiting the company’s headquarters is common, as due to the wide range of possible materials, not every consultant can have everything available locally.
Was the provider near the Dutch border by any chance called G....k?
Using a regional provider is a good idea, but the larger prefab home companies are not always locally available. In such cases, the longer trip can definitely be worthwhile.
If you like, I can send you the link to our construction blog, where we have recently posted a lot about choosing the “right” company.
Best regards,
Dirk
In our case, companies that did not offer them were immediately removed from the list of potential contractors.
Visiting the company’s headquarters is common, as due to the wide range of possible materials, not every consultant can have everything available locally.
Was the provider near the Dutch border by any chance called G....k?
Using a regional provider is a good idea, but the larger prefab home companies are not always locally available. In such cases, the longer trip can definitely be worthwhile.
If you like, I can send you the link to our construction blog, where we have recently posted a lot about choosing the “right” company.
Best regards,
Dirk
I would really like to read the construction blog! That would be nice!
The thing with the Dutch border was awesome. My husband was blown away! There you get a kitchen, garage, spa bathroom, Vespa, and iPad included for free!!!
We picked two manufacturers for the prefabricated house, B*Z* and Schw..
The local house building company would build with solid construction.
The thing with the Dutch border was awesome. My husband was blown away! There you get a kitchen, garage, spa bathroom, Vespa, and iPad included for free!!!
We picked two manufacturers for the prefabricated house, B*Z* and Schw..
The local house building company would build with solid construction.
B
Bauexperte23 Jun 2014 13:22Hello,
You are really just at the very beginning ... if the following answer is meant seriously!
Best regards, Bauexperte
You are really just at the very beginning ... if the following answer is meant seriously!
bswunde schrieb:I would like to see the provider who truly gives away something Not even the low-cost builders from the blue group do that. Furthermore, it is advisable to carefully review the contract terms with this provider.
The thing about the Dutch border was ridiculous. My husband was amazed! They offer kitchen, garage, spa bathroom, Vespa, and iPad FOR FREE there!!!
bswunde schrieb:The above also applies to B*Z* (contract terms); with Schw***r you have chosen a reputable provider.
We picked two providers for the prefabricated house, B*Z* and Schw..
The local house building company would build solidly.
Best regards, Bauexperte