ᐅ Best comparison of prefabricated house builders based on a specific project?
Created on: 3 Feb 2017 10:29
J
JfkJo87Hello dear home-building forum,
After much consideration, we are now starting the adventure of building a house. Initial discussions with banks are already underway, and we have begun visiting exhibitions and trade fairs.
Unfortunately, our searches within the forum did not lead us to any posts that answer our question.
In quiet moments, we find ourselves wondering, “How do you best compare prefabricated house manufacturers based on a specific project? Do you need a detailed plan (drawings, specifications, etc.) for this?”
Maybe someone has an idea of the best approach for this.
Thank you and best regards
After much consideration, we are now starting the adventure of building a house. Initial discussions with banks are already underway, and we have begun visiting exhibitions and trade fairs.
Unfortunately, our searches within the forum did not lead us to any posts that answer our question.
In quiet moments, we find ourselves wondering, “How do you best compare prefabricated house manufacturers based on a specific project? Do you need a detailed plan (drawings, specifications, etc.) for this?”
Maybe someone has an idea of the best approach for this.
Thank you and best regards
JfkJo87 schrieb:
In quiet moments, we catch ourselves wondering, “What’s the best way to compare prefabricated house manufacturers for a specific project? Do we already need a detailed plan (drawings, specifications, etc.) for that?”Oh, from Saulgau – I almost would have said: then you are right at the source (assuming well-paid jobs). But unfortunately, Kampa has now taken over the space, and even they no longer have much to do with the tradition behind the name. In the prefab home industry, (warning: pun intended) "not a stone is left upon another": many well-known names (like "Grundig" in hi-fi) are now owned by completely different parties than 20 years ago. Therefore, one should take statements from satisfied homeowners with caution if they built with manufacturers before the turn of the millennium, as many of those companies now only exist in name on the market.
Prefab houses have also lost their old advantage of reducing exterior wall footprint; energy-saving regulations have leveled much of that playing field. What remains is that these units are engineered with millimeter precision, especially regarding detail connections. The advantage in construction time has also endured.
Large model home exhibitions can be found in Fellbach, Mannheim, Mülheim-Kärlich (near Koblenz), Cologne, and Wuppertal.
Due to the long-standing trend toward customized design, manufacturers now only offer "building proposals" in their catalogs instead of fixed model ranges as before. Essentially, manufacturers have become general contractors, much like their competitors who build with solid materials.
If you’re ultimately deciding between two manufacturers, I would tend to favor the one with an affiliated in-house basement construction division, but it’s not a decisive factor.
You don’t need a detailed plan yet to visit a sales representative. However, the building specification accounts for a large part of the price. Manufacturers differentiate this through equipment packages (“lines”) and often offer their houses in different finishing stages (shell, partial finish, turnkey, sometimes even finished at the base level with the attic interior completed later when children arrive). But nowadays, there is hardly any difference in this regard between timber panel construction and masonry-based construction.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
11ant schrieb:
Large home shows can be found in Fellbach, Mannheim, Mülheim-Kärlich (near Koblenz), Cologne, and Wuppertal. Oops, I completely forgot Bad Vilbel.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
The exhibition in Ulm is fine, but the one in Fellbach is on a whole different level. We are building with an architect, but we’ve often visited these kinds of exhibitions to gather ideas.
I’ve almost always wondered why there’s so much activity around the newer, attractive houses, while the somewhat older ones are quieter. Young families flock through these exhibitions and often decide where to buy based on that initial impression. When I look at the brochures on display, the companies have already built hundreds of different houses, and I always find one that suits my taste. They can all build beautiful houses, but just try asking what the displayed model actually costs—you’ll be surprised :-) So, is it really the right decision to choose a house just because the one on display matches your taste?
Personally, I believe that is often the wrong approach. I would look around in my area and ask who has built a prefabricated house, who with, and whether they were satisfied. I would drive through new housing developments and maybe ring the doorbell of a “nice house” to talk to the owners (which is exactly how I found my architect).
Don’t ask yourself “HOW” to compare, but first ask “WHAT” you want to compare. Prices are incredibly difficult to compare because you first need a basis that is actually comparable. One builder might offer a heat pump, another triple-glazed windows, and so on. One provides a realistic quote, while another earns money through excessive claims. You won’t find that out just by looking at a housing development.
The important things are the soft factors. What is the quality like? How does the company handle claims? How did the (construction) process go? How cooperative were they with changes? Were there any problems or unforeseen extras?
You only learn this by talking to people who are further along in the process than you. Don’t be shy—I would be happy if someone came to me after I finish building, liked what they saw, and wanted to learn more!
Best regards from Biberach
I’ve almost always wondered why there’s so much activity around the newer, attractive houses, while the somewhat older ones are quieter. Young families flock through these exhibitions and often decide where to buy based on that initial impression. When I look at the brochures on display, the companies have already built hundreds of different houses, and I always find one that suits my taste. They can all build beautiful houses, but just try asking what the displayed model actually costs—you’ll be surprised :-) So, is it really the right decision to choose a house just because the one on display matches your taste?
Personally, I believe that is often the wrong approach. I would look around in my area and ask who has built a prefabricated house, who with, and whether they were satisfied. I would drive through new housing developments and maybe ring the doorbell of a “nice house” to talk to the owners (which is exactly how I found my architect).
Don’t ask yourself “HOW” to compare, but first ask “WHAT” you want to compare. Prices are incredibly difficult to compare because you first need a basis that is actually comparable. One builder might offer a heat pump, another triple-glazed windows, and so on. One provides a realistic quote, while another earns money through excessive claims. You won’t find that out just by looking at a housing development.
The important things are the soft factors. What is the quality like? How does the company handle claims? How did the (construction) process go? How cooperative were they with changes? Were there any problems or unforeseen extras?
You only learn this by talking to people who are further along in the process than you. Don’t be shy—I would be happy if someone came to me after I finish building, liked what they saw, and wanted to learn more!
Best regards from Biberach
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