ᐅ Quotes from General Contractors – Are Large Price Differences Normal?

Created on: 7 Sep 2021 20:51
K
KnibbelDibbel
Hello dear forum members,
we are currently looking for a general contractor for our construction project (semi-detached house, two stories plus a half attic).
We have received an offer of 340,000, but have also gotten initial rough estimates from three other companies ranging from 410,000 to 450,000.
Is it common for offers to vary that much?
Is a price of 340,000 considered “cheap”?
Of course, we will examine the detailed scope of work descriptions more closely, but what factors could justify such large differences?

Would you also be concerned if someone offered a fixed price without a time limit?

Best regards
Tolentino8 Sep 2021 15:52
Does Helma still offer the 100,000 EUR shell house? Or has the price increased to 121,400 EUR?
T
Tom1978
8 Sep 2021 15:55
Tolentino schrieb:

Does Helma still offer the 100,000 EUR shell house? Or has the price now increased to 121,400 EUR?

That one was harsh!!!!!!!!!!!! (thirty words)
Y
ypg
8 Sep 2021 16:44
Tom1978 schrieb:

That was harsh!!!!!!!!!!!! (thirty words)

Thirty words would be a bit much 😉
Tolentino schrieb:

Does Helma still offer the 100,000 EUR shell house? Or has it increased to 121,400 EUR?

I don’t know. But if their advertising still mentions 100,000 EUR, then it’s probably still valid for now. Price increases have always happened over time, even though the catalog price hasn’t changed. It’s a subtle process. The description of the building services is simply modified. The turnkey version used to really exist. I’m curious when the 30 cm (12 inches) of earthworks will no longer be included in the building service descriptions. For some, it’s already down to 20 cm (8 inches). Not everyone has an outdoor water tap anymore; many also have to book the container and portable toilet separately, and soon the kitchen’s tile backsplash will be removed, as it can be ordered as a horizontal countertop edge in the kitchen planning instead.
Tolentino8 Sep 2021 16:49
My father-in-law worked as a subcontractor for a former employer for many years. He also said that a 100 square meter (1,076 square feet) house is still a house. It’s perfectly suitable for living and raising children.

I find it awful when services are cut out. Of course, it increases the costs, but then I try to include a little more value for the higher price passed on, so the customer doesn’t feel like they’re paying just for a skeleton.
Y
ypg
8 Sep 2021 16:56
@Tolentino
Take a look at sausage and cheese packaging: you rarely find exactly 100 grams. Often, they include a 20% bonus offer, but afterwards they reduce the content by 10 grams compared to before.
Tolentino8 Sep 2021 17:07
Yes, and 150 grams for 150% of the price feels better to me and does not cost the manufacturer proportionally more. Win-win – that’s my approach...