Hello,
Since April, we have been looking for a construction company to build a single-family house. Our plan was to first gather some quotes or cost estimates. After all, this is a decision that should be well considered. However, many of the companies we contacted either do not provide an offer, stop responding, or do not reply at all. This is starting to make us suspicious. We are not planning anything unusual. A simple single-family house of about 130m² (1400 sq ft), with an air source heat pump, living room, kitchen, toilet, and utility room on the ground floor, as well as a bedroom, children’s room, bathroom, and office on the upper floor.
For example, we had a conversation with a local construction company that ended with the statement that we would receive an offer. We then heard nothing from them for weeks. When we called, we were only told the manager was out of the office, would call back later, or similar excuses. When we finally reached him, he just postponed again until we gave up asking.
Another company wanted to schedule a meeting with us. After I suggested a date by email, we received no further response.
Another said they would call the next day to arrange a meeting, but never called.
Yet another asked us to call at the beginning of the week to set up a meeting, which we did. Suddenly, they became dismissive and said they could not estimate costs without a completed design from an architect hired by us, and that was the end of it.
What are we doing wrong? Isn’t it normal to present your ideas and get a rough idea of the costs or whether it is achievable within the desired budget? We are becoming quite desperate.
Since April, we have been looking for a construction company to build a single-family house. Our plan was to first gather some quotes or cost estimates. After all, this is a decision that should be well considered. However, many of the companies we contacted either do not provide an offer, stop responding, or do not reply at all. This is starting to make us suspicious. We are not planning anything unusual. A simple single-family house of about 130m² (1400 sq ft), with an air source heat pump, living room, kitchen, toilet, and utility room on the ground floor, as well as a bedroom, children’s room, bathroom, and office on the upper floor.
For example, we had a conversation with a local construction company that ended with the statement that we would receive an offer. We then heard nothing from them for weeks. When we called, we were only told the manager was out of the office, would call back later, or similar excuses. When we finally reached him, he just postponed again until we gave up asking.
Another company wanted to schedule a meeting with us. After I suggested a date by email, we received no further response.
Another said they would call the next day to arrange a meeting, but never called.
Yet another asked us to call at the beginning of the week to set up a meeting, which we did. Suddenly, they became dismissive and said they could not estimate costs without a completed design from an architect hired by us, and that was the end of it.
What are we doing wrong? Isn’t it normal to present your ideas and get a rough idea of the costs or whether it is achievable within the desired budget? We are becoming quite desperate.
B
Bauexperte15 Oct 2015 20:19merlin83 schrieb:
... and consistently exceeded the contractor quotes provided by the architect by far.....---> however, in the wrong direction.Because you sent the tender on your professional letterhead....?Regards, Bauexperte
toxicmolotow schrieb:
The fact is that cooperation between a private client and a tradesperson simply leads to more problems than working on an equal footing with an architect.
.... I would Bauexperte schrieb:
Hello Mr./Ms. 'xyz',
I discovered your company through 'abc' and would like to schedule a consultation regarding the development of my plot in 'def' with a single-family home about 130 sqm (1400 sq ft) in size. Besides the documents specific to the plot, are there any other documents you require for the appointment?
That should work
Regards, Bauexperte This is exactly how I contacted people online; additionally, I had already included a soil survey report and photos of the building site.
When we wanted to have some peace at the prefabricated house exhibition, we said that we did not yet own a building site and just wanted to explore our options first.
Bauexperte schrieb:
Because you sent the tender on your professional letterhead ....?
Regards, Bauexperte No, I did not. I only asked the architect to contact the companies or to forward the architect’s tender (bearing only the architect’s letterhead) accordingly.
B
Bieber081515 Oct 2015 20:50@NullVier: I find your posts here very easy to read. Nowadays, in the Western world, some people seem to struggle with expressing themselves in full sentences, but anyone who can do so usually makes a good impression.
By the way, we received an offer for building a single-family house within three days after the initial consultation, even though we only mentioned: "We don’t have a plot of land yet but want to start building as soon as possible [brief key details of the planned house]." It apparently can work either way...
By the way, we received an offer for building a single-family house within three days after the initial consultation, even though we only mentioned: "We don’t have a plot of land yet but want to start building as soon as possible [brief key details of the planned house]." It apparently can work either way...
B
Bauexperte15 Oct 2015 20:50merlin83 schrieb:
I only asked the architect to contact the companies or to forward the architect’s tender (on the architect’s letterhead) accordingly.Then I can’t understand the different prices ...Regards, Bauexperte
Bieber0815 schrieb:
@NullVier: ...
By the way, we received a quote for the construction of a single-family home within three days after the initial consultation, during which we only mentioned: "We don’t have a plot yet, but want to build as soon as possible [brief key details of the desired house]." Apparently, it can work either way... That was the worst part for me... Some turnkey builders didn’t ask us what we wanted but just showed us what they had and what they expected us to like... And if you wanted 160m² (1,722 sq ft), they offered 130m² (1,399 sq ft) with the comment that this is already suuuper huge.
The ultimate low point was a design firm that showed us a finished house on the computer during the first meeting and wanted to sell us the plan for 3,000 euros.
Similar topics