Hello,
we want to build a KfW 40 plus house with a prefab home provider that has not yet been decided. Some elements, such as the photovoltaic system including storage, the prefabricated basement, the garage, the staircase, and possibly a few other items will be outsourced because it simply makes more sense.
Now to the actual process (after purchasing the plot).
1. Should we look for an architect/energy consultant ourselves, or does the architect from the prefab home company take over this role even if the basement, photovoltaic system, etc. are ordered externally?
2. Should we find an expert to simply support us during the construction? For this, should we rather choose someone from a home builders’ association or someone like a "prefab home expert"?
3. Obtain quotes from the prefab home companies, the basement builders, the photovoltaic installer, etc. For this purpose, I have already created a checklist to ensure that not too many additional costs appear during selection but that everything is included in the initial offer (otherwise it would be hard to compare). Of course, we will carry out a preliminary selection to be absolutely sure. What is a sensible order here? For example: prefab home provider first, then basement builder, then photovoltaic company, then exterior work, then staircase builder?
4. Decision on the prefab home company and revision or extension of the contracts such as the scope of work through additional clauses and everything that is not fairly balanced.
5. Then price negotiation. Should professional help be sought here as well and, if so, who? Would that person also be involved during the process?
6. Signature and starting signal for construction. The architect should have the floor plans, etc. ready before that for the building permit / planning permission application.
It would be great to get lots of input here so we are better prepared! Many thanks in advance!
we want to build a KfW 40 plus house with a prefab home provider that has not yet been decided. Some elements, such as the photovoltaic system including storage, the prefabricated basement, the garage, the staircase, and possibly a few other items will be outsourced because it simply makes more sense.
Now to the actual process (after purchasing the plot).
1. Should we look for an architect/energy consultant ourselves, or does the architect from the prefab home company take over this role even if the basement, photovoltaic system, etc. are ordered externally?
2. Should we find an expert to simply support us during the construction? For this, should we rather choose someone from a home builders’ association or someone like a "prefab home expert"?
3. Obtain quotes from the prefab home companies, the basement builders, the photovoltaic installer, etc. For this purpose, I have already created a checklist to ensure that not too many additional costs appear during selection but that everything is included in the initial offer (otherwise it would be hard to compare). Of course, we will carry out a preliminary selection to be absolutely sure. What is a sensible order here? For example: prefab home provider first, then basement builder, then photovoltaic company, then exterior work, then staircase builder?
4. Decision on the prefab home company and revision or extension of the contracts such as the scope of work through additional clauses and everything that is not fairly balanced.
5. Then price negotiation. Should professional help be sought here as well and, if so, who? Would that person also be involved during the process?
6. Signature and starting signal for construction. The architect should have the floor plans, etc. ready before that for the building permit / planning permission application.
It would be great to get lots of input here so we are better prepared! Many thanks in advance!
N
nordanney3 Jun 2020 14:17Eigenheim_2011 schrieb:
When buying a car, I already know what I’m choosing. I don’t buy a standard model and then wonder why the 360° camera suddenly costs an extra 5,000€ (about $5,400). I never said I wanted to install the screed myself; I just want a cost estimate in the offer that is at least 90% final, with little or no unexpected costs, achieved through savings, some DIY work, and self-contracting. Don’t get carried away with unnecessary condescension—that’s not how I operate. We’re not in kindergarten here. Sometimes you need to exaggerate a bit to emphasize the criticism. No offense intended.
To get your costs under control, you have two options based on the same fundamentals (excluding unskilled labor, which usually doesn’t work well).
1. Professional planning of your individual house including all special requests, with a detailed quantity takeoff and cost calculation
1a. Build on option 1 and look for a general contractor (whether a solid construction or prefabricated house—possibly the basement separately)
1b. Contracting individual trades separately
2. Professional planning of a suitable standard house for you including all special requests
You can use either planning approach and optimize costs through DIY work, but not just by helping out—rather by taking on (part of) specific trades yourself. For beginners, simpler tasks are usually flooring and painting or fine sanitary installation and underfloor heating installation. With more craftsmanship skills, other parts are possible as well. However, with a general contractor or prefab home provider, the potential savings are significantly lower than with individual contracting of trades.
Eigenheim_2011 schrieb:
Hmm, so are you saying that, for example, a Regnauer or Baufritz house is of poor quality or outdated? Could you please explain that further? No, Regnauer and Baufritz are not bad, but they are also not small companies. They are almost exceptions since they are apparently still run by the founding family. Most prefab house manufacturers from earlier times started as carpentry businesses around ninety to one hundred twenty years ago, experienced their boom in the 1960s, and then mostly missed the wave of innovation around the turn of the millennium (or they didn’t and survived). However, these "dinosaurs" have not completely disappeared; often they merged first, then went bankrupt, and were in the meantime taken over by private equity firms as brand names with nostalgic appeal, revived as sales lines within larger corporations.
In the late 1980s, owning a Kampa, Weberhaus, or something similar was like driving a luxury car when you advanced to an executive position in a major publicly traded company — such prestige is far less guaranteed today for many well-known names, if it still exists at all. The shine has definitely dulled. Some smaller providers are now going through this evolution from craftsman-style carpentry to industrial operation, including all the trial and error that comes with it.
That’s why my advice is: only choose from the smaller companies those that still want to stay grounded — and I mean this regardless of construction method. For example, even with solid construction general contractors, pick those with hands-on owners involved in the business.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
E
Eigenheim_20113 Jun 2020 14:32@nordanney I never said anything else or suggested lending a hand. That’s exactly what I meant: outsourcing 1-2 trades and managing the rest through one provider. For me, the main thing is having cost transparency, nothing more.
@11ant Thanks a lot. That’s exactly the impression I got from Kampa and similar companies. The Kampa representative really stuck in our minds because the name Kampa was mentioned about a thousand times.
@11ant Thanks a lot. That’s exactly the impression I got from Kampa and similar companies. The Kampa representative really stuck in our minds because the name Kampa was mentioned about a thousand times.
nordanney schrieb:
To get your costs under control, you have two options based on the same fundamentals (excluding unskilled helper work, which usually doesn’t work well). Are you possibly in the wrong thread? Did you mean this user: https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/welche-Rohbau-Firma-nehmen.35199/?
nordanney schrieb:
1. Professional planning of your custom house including all special requests with calculation of quantities involved
1a. building on 1, look for a main contractor (regardless of whether it’s a solid build or prefabricated house—basement may be separate)
1b. awarding individual trades 1b. yes and no: managed by the architect—self-management in my opinion is not suitable for first-time builders.
nordanney schrieb:
2. Professional planning of a suitable standard house for you including all special requests I only see one special request here—and that one is barely achievable: predicting the final price at the end of the building process.
Eigenheim_2011 schrieb:
The representative of K**** made a big impression on us because the name K**** was mentioned about a thousand times. Sales agents change their employers like underwear and at first have to memorize the current name themselves—mostly through repetitive mention. The best providers can be recognized by something missing: representatives.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
N
nordanney3 Jun 2020 15:0611ant schrieb:
Are you perhaps in the wrong thread? Did you mean the colleague:Sorry, you're right. I take back the student assistant work.E
Eigenheim_20114 Jun 2020 06:5911ant schrieb:
I see only one special request here—and that is hardly achievable: predicting the final price at the end of the long journey.Hmm, yes, I’m not expecting to hit zero exactly either. But I also didn’t want to face €100,000 (about $108,000) of unplanned expenses after the design selection phase. Do you think it’s possible to estimate the price more accurately before signing the contract by making a detailed list? For example, visiting the model homes or building studios of the respective home builders (which, according to their websites, is no problem), then choosing the tiles, sanitary fixtures, stairs, etc., and submitting these choices for a quote. That should work, right? It should also speed up the process for the home builder.
Would that be a viable approach?