ᐅ Request for feedback on various prefabricated house manufacturers
Created on: 14 Jan 2021 17:48
N
Noa2020
Hello everyone,
We are new to this forum.
We recently purchased a plot of land and now want to build a house. We plan to visit several providers and request quotes. We have appointments with Schwörerhaus, Okal Haus, Weberhaus, and Bien-Zenker. Does anyone have experience with these companies and can recommend any of them?
We look forward to an active exchange.
Best regards
We are new to this forum.
We recently purchased a plot of land and now want to build a house. We plan to visit several providers and request quotes. We have appointments with Schwörerhaus, Okal Haus, Weberhaus, and Bien-Zenker. Does anyone have experience with these companies and can recommend any of them?
We look forward to an active exchange.
Best regards
E
erazorlll1 Feb 2021 22:22Noa2020 schrieb:
Hello everyone,
we are new to the forum.
We recently purchased a plot of land and now want to build a house. We plan to meet with several providers and request quotes. We have appointments with Schwörerhaus, Okal Haus, Weberhaus, and Bien-Zenker. Has anyone had experience with these companies and can recommend one?
We look forward to an active exchange.
Best regards If you have specific questions, feel free to ask. @11ant was kind enough to find my posts regarding our search.
We actually visited all the major prefab house providers at two different model home parks (Stuttgart & Mannheim).
We then had discussions with: https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/baufirma-im-grossraum-stuttgart-gesucht.28802/post-397684
11ant schrieb:
What do you mean by company philosophy? – they even change it themselves at single-brand providers with their advertising agencies.
Argh, annoying. I knew right away what you meant but still spent a long time searching. @erazorlll looked for the designer for his plans https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/grundrissoptimierung-Doppelhaushälfte-am-hang-mit-192m-Wohnfläche.35270/ in a truly impressive information marathon – visible at about a dozen points, though in a thread he didn’t start himself, specifically: among others in post #72 (page 12) and #125 (page 21) of https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/baufirma-im-grossraum-stuttgart-gesucht.28802/ Thanks for the reminder, I really should update our floor plan. Although there will be further changes during the detailed design phase 🙄
Maybe I’ll summarize everything in a separate thread since the build hasn’t started yet.
Last year we built with Nordhaus, a small but high-quality builder from the Bergisches region. However, I believe they operate within a radius of about 250 meters (160 miles), so they are not represented in every model home village. They don’t build 500 houses a year but rather between 50 and 100, so you don’t just become a number.
The salesperson turned out to be a construction technician, not a career changer, former car dealer, or fast-food worker trying to make big money in real estate. There was no pressure to sign a contract (possibly because the salespeople are permanently employed and don’t work on commission).
The wall construction consists of wood fiber insulation and Fermacell panels, no drywall or polystyrene, with a wall thickness of 31cm (12 inches).
The home technology includes an air-to-water heat pump with underfloor heating and a standard controlled mechanical ventilation system. Unlike many others, the ventilation unit is installed in the ceiling, which frees up more wall space in the technical room and allows for air outlets in the ceiling (so no grilles in the floor).
The downside is that from a marketing perspective, it’s not exactly polished to a high gloss, and there are no special bonus offers like getting a free iPad in April, a Weber grill in August, or other gimmicks.
Most likely, however, there is a long waiting time. From my last conversation with our salesperson at the time, it sounded like they can hardly keep up with the work...
The salesperson turned out to be a construction technician, not a career changer, former car dealer, or fast-food worker trying to make big money in real estate. There was no pressure to sign a contract (possibly because the salespeople are permanently employed and don’t work on commission).
The wall construction consists of wood fiber insulation and Fermacell panels, no drywall or polystyrene, with a wall thickness of 31cm (12 inches).
The home technology includes an air-to-water heat pump with underfloor heating and a standard controlled mechanical ventilation system. Unlike many others, the ventilation unit is installed in the ceiling, which frees up more wall space in the technical room and allows for air outlets in the ceiling (so no grilles in the floor).
The downside is that from a marketing perspective, it’s not exactly polished to a high gloss, and there are no special bonus offers like getting a free iPad in April, a Weber grill in August, or other gimmicks.
Most likely, however, there is a long waiting time. From my last conversation with our salesperson at the time, it sounded like they can hardly keep up with the work...
lesmue79 schrieb:
Last year we built with Nordhaus, a small but solid provider from the Bergisches region. However, I believe they only build within a radius of about 250 meters (160 miles).From my perspective, apart from using a timber frame instead of masonry, this is practically a typical regional general contractor.https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
There are many local builders who construct timber frame houses following good carpentry traditions. Around here, for example, in Quisdorf and Fehmarn. If I wanted a house like that, which would be somewhat more expensive than traditional masonry, I would always prefer these local builders over the large manufacturers because their processes are more transparent and straightforward. With the big companies, I’m not sure what the costs are after the initial consultation, but with the locals, I do. K.
In 2018, we visited quite a few manufacturers of prefabricated and solid houses. However, we never contacted Okal Haus. Among our final four options, three were prefab house manufacturers (Weberhaus, Schwörerhaus, Bien-Zenker) and one was a solid house provider (Viebrockhaus). We wanted a custom-designed house; whether it was prefab or solid construction was only a secondary consideration for us.
1. Schwörerhaus: Before any discussions, Schwörerhaus was my favorite because, technically, they seemed the best to me. However, the salesperson never got back to us. Just before we completed our initial round of talks, he finally arranged a last-minute appointment at our home and apologized for being ill for four weeks and having to catch up on everything. Unfortunately, before the meeting, he didn’t address our requirements but kept talking about everything Schwörerhaus could do and how great they are. I already knew all that, which was why I had chosen them and why they were my favorite at the time. So, the conversation didn’t really advance things at first glance. At the end, I asked about the construction time. He said there was a long wait of 22 months. That was the key reason Schwörerhaus was no longer an option for us. Our city had imposed a 24-month construction deadline when we bought the plot from the previous owner, who failed to build within a 15-year development obligation. A two-month difference was too risky for me, especially since we still needed time for one or two more meetings.
2. Bien-Zenker: The salesperson was very likeable. They also offered the most attractive designs. Initially, they were ranked fourth among our favorites. However, gradually they convinced us more than the other builders. We particularly liked that the salesperson brought a €10,000 bonus at the contract signing meeting, which we hadn’t expected. However, it ultimately didn’t work out because they only presented us with a handwritten contract. No proper plans were included, and some discussed details were missing from the contract. Also, many important items were not specified in the paperwork. That felt too uncertain to me, and I feared additional costs might arise.
3. Viebrockhaus: Their catalog included attractive houses with a high-quality appearance. However, they initially declined us because we were outside their sales area. After I called again four weeks later and explained that our building plot was only about 50 km (30 miles) south of one of their construction areas, they agreed after a day of consideration to accept us, since they planned to expand their building area. They prepared by far the best presentation for us. Everything was detailed and readily available. The presentation near Mannheim was nearly perfect. There was even a guaranteed construction schedule of just nine months. They were always the quickest to respond to changes in offers. From the start, their cost estimate was accurate (other builders’ initial cost estimates were always far off — too low). My doubts arose only after visiting their show homes in Hirschberg. Somehow, they looked quite dilapidated. The interior finishing materials seemed cheap for model homes meant to showcase their quality. Everything appeared worn and dated. I thought that if they didn’t put more effort into presenting these properly, the style might not suit us, as we have somewhat upscale tastes.
4. Weberhaus: At first, Weberhaus was my wife’s favorite because a colleague of hers had built with them (although it was their smallest and least expensive model). They had even become part of the “Weber model house family” (in hindsight, that might explain why they spoke so positively about Weberhaus). Our other research also led us to believe Weberhaus was the “Mercedes” of prefab home builders — exactly what we wanted. However, we didn’t decide on them immediately, although we visited Weberhaus show villages twice before meeting with any other providers. Prices were at the higher end from the start, but we were willing to pay more for the “Mercedes” of prefab homes. The price subsequently rose even more because initial offers were far too low. We were told to expect a wait of 12–15 months before building could start. This seemed a bit long but still within the required timeframe imposed on our plot. Ultimately, we chose Weberhaus because we believed they offered a worry-free package, guaranteed an upscale home, and because they are advertising partners of SC Freiburg. However, at the final meeting, just as we were about to sign, doubts surfaced when the sales manager arrived and asked who the other competitors were. He then spoke badly about the other builders. For example, he claimed Bien-Zenker would provide walls made of Styrofoam that nothing could be attached to. He even showed us a wall section to demonstrate this, but we knew this wasn’t true since we had interior wall fixing boards from Knauf throughout the house that allowed secure attachments. He never mentioned this. I didn’t want to embarrass him, but we decided not to sign immediately and asked for time to reconsider. I needed to understand why he felt the need to discredit other companies and provide incorrect information. Eventually, though, we did sign with Weberhaus.
We moved into the house last November, even though not everything was finished (the correction of defects noted during handover — which filled eight A4 pages — is still ongoing after almost four months). They are not very fast with this. We also realized that Weberhaus is not the “Mercedes” of homebuilders. The work is not done by local companies but by workers from Eastern Europe. There are defects everywhere. Fixing these often requires multiple follow-up visits. Every time, something is forgotten that still needs to be installed. The electrical system has failed multiple times. For some issues, I have given up complaining, for example, the gutter was installed slanted with a 20 cm (8 inches) difference from top to bottom relative to the house edge. Since this is only an aesthetic issue and our neighbors can see it, we no longer care. They don’t have to fix this or some other matters anymore. The main thing is that we don’t want constant visits from tradespeople for repairs. It’s exhausting to always have to be home waiting for appointments.
Conclusion: Weberhaus definitely does not offer a worry-free package, nor is it a “Mercedes.” However, you can build with them and receive mostly basic to solid quality. Still, they will probably not be my first choice for the next house I build (probably when I retire).
Oh, and the 12–15 month timeline (starting from signing) eventually became 22 months. They had already said at contract signing that it would likely be 15 months. Six months later, Weberhaus informed us that due to high demand, it would take a few months longer. Perhaps the pandemic also had a negative impact on the construction schedule? Anyway — we’ve almost made it!
1. Schwörerhaus: Before any discussions, Schwörerhaus was my favorite because, technically, they seemed the best to me. However, the salesperson never got back to us. Just before we completed our initial round of talks, he finally arranged a last-minute appointment at our home and apologized for being ill for four weeks and having to catch up on everything. Unfortunately, before the meeting, he didn’t address our requirements but kept talking about everything Schwörerhaus could do and how great they are. I already knew all that, which was why I had chosen them and why they were my favorite at the time. So, the conversation didn’t really advance things at first glance. At the end, I asked about the construction time. He said there was a long wait of 22 months. That was the key reason Schwörerhaus was no longer an option for us. Our city had imposed a 24-month construction deadline when we bought the plot from the previous owner, who failed to build within a 15-year development obligation. A two-month difference was too risky for me, especially since we still needed time for one or two more meetings.
2. Bien-Zenker: The salesperson was very likeable. They also offered the most attractive designs. Initially, they were ranked fourth among our favorites. However, gradually they convinced us more than the other builders. We particularly liked that the salesperson brought a €10,000 bonus at the contract signing meeting, which we hadn’t expected. However, it ultimately didn’t work out because they only presented us with a handwritten contract. No proper plans were included, and some discussed details were missing from the contract. Also, many important items were not specified in the paperwork. That felt too uncertain to me, and I feared additional costs might arise.
3. Viebrockhaus: Their catalog included attractive houses with a high-quality appearance. However, they initially declined us because we were outside their sales area. After I called again four weeks later and explained that our building plot was only about 50 km (30 miles) south of one of their construction areas, they agreed after a day of consideration to accept us, since they planned to expand their building area. They prepared by far the best presentation for us. Everything was detailed and readily available. The presentation near Mannheim was nearly perfect. There was even a guaranteed construction schedule of just nine months. They were always the quickest to respond to changes in offers. From the start, their cost estimate was accurate (other builders’ initial cost estimates were always far off — too low). My doubts arose only after visiting their show homes in Hirschberg. Somehow, they looked quite dilapidated. The interior finishing materials seemed cheap for model homes meant to showcase their quality. Everything appeared worn and dated. I thought that if they didn’t put more effort into presenting these properly, the style might not suit us, as we have somewhat upscale tastes.
4. Weberhaus: At first, Weberhaus was my wife’s favorite because a colleague of hers had built with them (although it was their smallest and least expensive model). They had even become part of the “Weber model house family” (in hindsight, that might explain why they spoke so positively about Weberhaus). Our other research also led us to believe Weberhaus was the “Mercedes” of prefab home builders — exactly what we wanted. However, we didn’t decide on them immediately, although we visited Weberhaus show villages twice before meeting with any other providers. Prices were at the higher end from the start, but we were willing to pay more for the “Mercedes” of prefab homes. The price subsequently rose even more because initial offers were far too low. We were told to expect a wait of 12–15 months before building could start. This seemed a bit long but still within the required timeframe imposed on our plot. Ultimately, we chose Weberhaus because we believed they offered a worry-free package, guaranteed an upscale home, and because they are advertising partners of SC Freiburg. However, at the final meeting, just as we were about to sign, doubts surfaced when the sales manager arrived and asked who the other competitors were. He then spoke badly about the other builders. For example, he claimed Bien-Zenker would provide walls made of Styrofoam that nothing could be attached to. He even showed us a wall section to demonstrate this, but we knew this wasn’t true since we had interior wall fixing boards from Knauf throughout the house that allowed secure attachments. He never mentioned this. I didn’t want to embarrass him, but we decided not to sign immediately and asked for time to reconsider. I needed to understand why he felt the need to discredit other companies and provide incorrect information. Eventually, though, we did sign with Weberhaus.
We moved into the house last November, even though not everything was finished (the correction of defects noted during handover — which filled eight A4 pages — is still ongoing after almost four months). They are not very fast with this. We also realized that Weberhaus is not the “Mercedes” of homebuilders. The work is not done by local companies but by workers from Eastern Europe. There are defects everywhere. Fixing these often requires multiple follow-up visits. Every time, something is forgotten that still needs to be installed. The electrical system has failed multiple times. For some issues, I have given up complaining, for example, the gutter was installed slanted with a 20 cm (8 inches) difference from top to bottom relative to the house edge. Since this is only an aesthetic issue and our neighbors can see it, we no longer care. They don’t have to fix this or some other matters anymore. The main thing is that we don’t want constant visits from tradespeople for repairs. It’s exhausting to always have to be home waiting for appointments.
Conclusion: Weberhaus definitely does not offer a worry-free package, nor is it a “Mercedes.” However, you can build with them and receive mostly basic to solid quality. Still, they will probably not be my first choice for the next house I build (probably when I retire).
Oh, and the 12–15 month timeline (starting from signing) eventually became 22 months. They had already said at contract signing that it would likely be 15 months. Six months later, Weberhaus informed us that due to high demand, it would take a few months longer. Perhaps the pandemic also had a negative impact on the construction schedule? Anyway — we’ve almost made it!
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