ᐅ Is it practical to build a prefabricated house using a solid construction floor plan?
Created on: 23 Sep 2024 22:50
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Skya2020
Hello everyone,
We have just purchased a plot of land in NRW. The previous owners had already hired an architect to fully oversee the construction using traditional masonry methods and have already paid over €50,000 (about $54,000) for phases 1-6. There is already a building permit / planning permission, so construction could start almost immediately.
However, we are planning to build using prefabricated construction and are now wondering how to proceed best. The previous owners have offered to sell us their plans. Either way, we would still need to modify them (aside from the exterior dimensions) to fit our requirements.
The plot is on a slope, and there aren’t many options for building on it, so the design would likely be very similar either way.
Does it make sense to buy the plans from the previous owners and then work with the architect to incorporate changes before approaching prefab house manufacturers? Or are the floor plans not very useful due to the different construction method, making it more reasonable to hire a different architect for a new design?
And if you were to buy the plans—how much would you pay (they don’t really have a strong bargaining position)?
We are completely at the beginning of our home-building journey, so I apologize if this is a naïve question... We just don’t really know the best way to start.
We have just purchased a plot of land in NRW. The previous owners had already hired an architect to fully oversee the construction using traditional masonry methods and have already paid over €50,000 (about $54,000) for phases 1-6. There is already a building permit / planning permission, so construction could start almost immediately.
However, we are planning to build using prefabricated construction and are now wondering how to proceed best. The previous owners have offered to sell us their plans. Either way, we would still need to modify them (aside from the exterior dimensions) to fit our requirements.
The plot is on a slope, and there aren’t many options for building on it, so the design would likely be very similar either way.
Does it make sense to buy the plans from the previous owners and then work with the architect to incorporate changes before approaching prefab house manufacturers? Or are the floor plans not very useful due to the different construction method, making it more reasonable to hire a different architect for a new design?
And if you were to buy the plans—how much would you pay (they don’t really have a strong bargaining position)?
We are completely at the beginning of our home-building journey, so I apologize if this is a naïve question... We just don’t really know the best way to start.
Skya2020 schrieb:
Architectural firm with an associated construction company.How convenient – then more profit is made in construction when the planning department has not performed well.https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
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hanghaus202325 Sep 2024 17:21Do you also have the survey plan? The slope seems to be more towards the NW? Even the positioning on the plot can be questioned.
If the terrain allows, place the garage at the boundary.
If the terrain allows, place the garage at the boundary.
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MachsSelbst25 Sep 2024 21:49hanghaus2023 schrieb:
I shortened the house by 1 meter (3 feet) because otherwise your budget won’t be enough. That saves about 100,000.
(...) No, it doesn’t.
Because the 3,000 EUR per square meter (sq ft) is an average calculation based on a mix of expensive and cheaper rooms, fixed costs like design, delivery, travel to and from the site, and variable costs for materials and labor.
Whether the truck is full or half full, the travel cost is usually the same; in any case, the full truck is cheaper per quantity. Whether the craftsman is on site for 3 hours or 8, the travel cost remains the same.
Whether the bathroom is for a 100m² (1,076 sq ft) house or a 150m² (1,615 sq ft) house, it costs the same, and so on.
For those who don’t believe it... a 100m² (1,076 sq ft) bungalow costs significantly more per square meter with Town & Country than a 150m² (1,615 sq ft) city villa... why? See above...
hanghaus2023 schrieb:
Do you also have the survey plan? The slope seems to head more towards the NW? Even the positioning on the plot could be questioned.
If the terrain allows, place the garage on the boundary.
Unfortunately, I don’t have the survey plan. The road slopes quite steeply downhill almost directly to the north. The plot itself is 3–4 meters (10–13 feet) above street level and rises towards the east. If placing the garage there is possible, it’s definitely a good idea. That way, there would be more garden space, which would of course be nice. I will discuss this with the new architect.MachsSelbst schrieb:
No, it doesn’t.
Because the 3,000 EUR/m² (approximately 279 USD/ft²) figure is an average calculation, combining expensive rooms and cheaper rooms. Correct, but: do you really think that the meter here was cut only from the cheaper rooms?
Of course, it is a general average, and the same applies to the quoted statement about the saving potential.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
M
MachsSelbst25 Sep 2024 23:25I can’t give you a detailed answer on that.
But I have been working in custom mechanical engineering for 15 years, and this is how it works there...
If a customer thinks they will get a 10% lower price by buying 10% fewer square meters or 10% fewer functions, they are mistaken. That typically only saves about 2 to 3%.
Because, surprise, we mix our cost calculations. We sell base functions cheaply, optional features from the catalog at a higher price... Special custom features get really expensive, as we charge based on hourly rates and effort.
If the construction industry does things significantly differently, I would gladly nominate them for the Mother Teresa award... But I don’t think that will be the case.
This is how they calculate. And the architect knows this... And so does the general contractor...
But I have been working in custom mechanical engineering for 15 years, and this is how it works there...
If a customer thinks they will get a 10% lower price by buying 10% fewer square meters or 10% fewer functions, they are mistaken. That typically only saves about 2 to 3%.
Because, surprise, we mix our cost calculations. We sell base functions cheaply, optional features from the catalog at a higher price... Special custom features get really expensive, as we charge based on hourly rates and effort.
If the construction industry does things significantly differently, I would gladly nominate them for the Mother Teresa award... But I don’t think that will be the case.
This is how they calculate. And the architect knows this... And so does the general contractor...
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