Since we now have two fairly detailed quotes from prefabricated house suppliers for our desired home, we would like to know what costs we should expect for a masonry-built house.
With prefabricated house suppliers, it is quite easy to get a non-binding cost estimate.
But how do I approach this with a masonry house?
In our area, there are two construction companies offering turnkey builds; however, one is currently on company holidays and I have heard little positive feedback about the other.
Since I don’t necessarily need a turnkey solution, other companies might also be an option.
For an initial cost calculation, should I go directly to an architect, or can I simply take the floor plans and basic data from the prefabricated houses to a general contractor?
In connection with masonry construction, I often read about general contractors, but I’m not entirely clear on what services they provide. Is this clearly defined, or does it depend on the agreement with them?
If I approach a builder, will they most likely only offer the shell construction?
At the moment, I’m not quite sure how to proceed with the whole process—maybe you can help me clarify.
Thank you very much.
With prefabricated house suppliers, it is quite easy to get a non-binding cost estimate.
But how do I approach this with a masonry house?
In our area, there are two construction companies offering turnkey builds; however, one is currently on company holidays and I have heard little positive feedback about the other.
Since I don’t necessarily need a turnkey solution, other companies might also be an option.
For an initial cost calculation, should I go directly to an architect, or can I simply take the floor plans and basic data from the prefabricated houses to a general contractor?
In connection with masonry construction, I often read about general contractors, but I’m not entirely clear on what services they provide. Is this clearly defined, or does it depend on the agreement with them?
If I approach a builder, will they most likely only offer the shell construction?
At the moment, I’m not quite sure how to proceed with the whole process—maybe you can help me clarify.
Thank you very much.
Sorry for the late reply, but while it’s still possible, I’m taking occasional short breaks from the house building topic.
After a meeting with a construction company, I now have a rough estimate of what our house built with solid construction (around 10-15% more expensive than a prefab house) might cost. The next step recommended to me is to work with an architect to complete the house design (if I decide to go with solid construction). After that, I would return to the construction company with the plans to check their feasibility and make any necessary adjustments. The house would then be built as a turnkey project. However, the architect would no longer be involved during the construction phase, and the construction company would act as the general contractor.
Next week, I have another appointment with a different turnkey solid construction builder. I don’t expect a significant price difference based on an initial rough estimate. However, this general contractor has their own architect, which naturally has advantages and disadvantages. We’ll see what they have to say.
Maybe a few words about KfW.
It seems that prefab house builders tailor their homes specifically to meet KfW funding requirements in order to attract buyers with these subsidies.
Now that financing interest rates are almost on par with KfW rates, in my opinion, at least for solid construction, you should consider whether it’s still worth using this funding.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t build energy-efficiently, but you can skip the KfW certification and focus on insulation, heating system, and other priorities according to your own preferences without having to strictly meet KfW standards. How do you see this?
After a meeting with a construction company, I now have a rough estimate of what our house built with solid construction (around 10-15% more expensive than a prefab house) might cost. The next step recommended to me is to work with an architect to complete the house design (if I decide to go with solid construction). After that, I would return to the construction company with the plans to check their feasibility and make any necessary adjustments. The house would then be built as a turnkey project. However, the architect would no longer be involved during the construction phase, and the construction company would act as the general contractor.
Next week, I have another appointment with a different turnkey solid construction builder. I don’t expect a significant price difference based on an initial rough estimate. However, this general contractor has their own architect, which naturally has advantages and disadvantages. We’ll see what they have to say.
Maybe a few words about KfW.
It seems that prefab house builders tailor their homes specifically to meet KfW funding requirements in order to attract buyers with these subsidies.
Now that financing interest rates are almost on par with KfW rates, in my opinion, at least for solid construction, you should consider whether it’s still worth using this funding.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t build energy-efficiently, but you can skip the KfW certification and focus on insulation, heating system, and other priorities according to your own preferences without having to strictly meet KfW standards. How do you see this?
I share your view on KfW.
Regarding the structural engineer (BU) and external architect: good luck finding someone who will create a plan for you but not handle site supervision. Have fun with that.
A proper structural engineer should have their own planner, whether an architect or engineer, who is authorized to submit documents to the building authority (building permit / planning permission).
I don’t think a solid construction will necessarily be more expensive than a prefabricated house. K.
Regarding the structural engineer (BU) and external architect: good luck finding someone who will create a plan for you but not handle site supervision. Have fun with that.
A proper structural engineer should have their own planner, whether an architect or engineer, who is authorized to submit documents to the building authority (building permit / planning permission).
I don’t think a solid construction will necessarily be more expensive than a prefabricated house. K.
Bleeker schrieb:
what our house built in solid construction would roughly cost (about 10-15% more than a prefabricated house),This scale doesn’t sound like an actual “higher price” to me, but rather like “more transparency in the builder’s scope of work.” At most, I would attribute half of this price difference to truly different costs and/or profit expectations with genuinely comparable specifications.Nordlys schrieb:
Regarding the general contractor and an independent architect: good luck finding one who creates a plan but doesn’t provide construction supervision, etc.Yes, detailed working drawings and construction supervision definitely need to come from the same source. Otherwise, as @chrisw81 experienced, you might end up with an unintended bathroom decoration made of drywall boxings for pipes and the like. From the point of “approved design planning” onward, the general contractor often skips the execution planning; conversely, it’s very helpful for execution planning to know the tradespeople involved. So if the independent architect is responsible for execution planning, they should also handle the contracting process—preferably also by appointing a general contractor.https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
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