ᐅ Prefabricated House or Traditional Solid Construction Companies – Budget
Created on: 13 May 2020 12:56
C
Cary2020
Hello everyone. As you can see, I am new here and looking for advice. We are 25 and 27 years old, both employed, and our monthly net income is 3100 € (approximately $3,400). We have no equity saved up (we are already aware of the risks). Now, by coincidence, we have found a plot of land. It’s the only one in the area that meets our expectations (small, no more than 500 m² (6000 sq ft)). It was more or less a “random find.” Although we had agreed that we wanted to build a house someday, we hadn’t expected it to happen so soon. We want to build at the edge of the Harz mountains, in Lower Saxony. That’s the basic info.
Over the past few days, we have spent a lot of time researching the topic but have not reached any concrete conclusions yet. We have had initial phone appointments with banks; even without equity, it’s not impossible, and some very reputable, well-known banks were involved. We have further appointments with first companies and additional banks planned for next week. However, I would also like to connect with “regular” homeowners to get realistic assessments because we probably belong to this group ourselves.
Does anyone have experience with building a house at our income level? Is it feasible not only on paper but also in reality?
Then the big question arises: do we want a traditional solid house (brick and mortar) or a prefab house? Twenty years ago, when my parents built their home, prefab houses had a bad reputation. Nowadays, that seems to have improved significantly. Basically, we are still undecided. We see major advantages with prefab houses in the absence of moisture problems, clearly the price (is that really the case?), and according to experience reports, there is less shoddy workmanship. I’m hoping to learn from your experiences here.
The last point, of course, will be contacting companies. I am a bit hesitant about regional developers and would prefer to get in touch with larger firms like Viebrockhaus (probably quite expensive), Massa Haus, Arge, etc. Here too, I hope to have an initial exchange with you.
As you can see, we are just starting out and would like to bring some orientation to our confusion of thoughts. Thanks in advance for your help.
Over the past few days, we have spent a lot of time researching the topic but have not reached any concrete conclusions yet. We have had initial phone appointments with banks; even without equity, it’s not impossible, and some very reputable, well-known banks were involved. We have further appointments with first companies and additional banks planned for next week. However, I would also like to connect with “regular” homeowners to get realistic assessments because we probably belong to this group ourselves.
Does anyone have experience with building a house at our income level? Is it feasible not only on paper but also in reality?
Then the big question arises: do we want a traditional solid house (brick and mortar) or a prefab house? Twenty years ago, when my parents built their home, prefab houses had a bad reputation. Nowadays, that seems to have improved significantly. Basically, we are still undecided. We see major advantages with prefab houses in the absence of moisture problems, clearly the price (is that really the case?), and according to experience reports, there is less shoddy workmanship. I’m hoping to learn from your experiences here.
The last point, of course, will be contacting companies. I am a bit hesitant about regional developers and would prefer to get in touch with larger firms like Viebrockhaus (probably quite expensive), Massa Haus, Arge, etc. Here too, I hope to have an initial exchange with you.
As you can see, we are just starting out and would like to bring some orientation to our confusion of thoughts. Thanks in advance for your help.
N
nordanney13 May 2020 14:04Cary2020 schrieb:
And please don’t just focus on financing, but also on our "conflict" between solid (masonry) houses and prefab houses. We also need experiences there because we are completely unsure. There is no conflict. You can live very comfortably in both types of houses. By the way, a prefab house can also be built solidly. All the houses in the German row house developments are prefab—they deliver ready-made concrete walls. You probably mean timber frame construction, which is also good.
The difference: prefab houses have the “shell construction” completed in two days. The interior work then takes just as long as with traditional construction. The downside is delivery times of maybe 1.5 years. If you start planning now, both types of houses will probably be ready to move into at the same time.
Cary2020 schrieb:
Speculation doesn’t help us much, we prefer exact experiences—no offense meant here. This is not speculation but based on experience. And experience shows about €2,000 per square meter (approximately $215 per square foot) of living area, plus additional construction-related costs (e.g., €50,000) and landscaping, etc.
Then you quickly reach around €300,000 plus extras.
H
HilfeHilfe13 May 2020 14:09With that income, the volume is clearly too high. And building a 120 sqm (1300 sq ft) house... ? Why not buy one instead?
nordanney schrieb:
the German terraced housesWas that a Freudian slip?A
Alessandro13 May 2020 14:44Wouldn’t you regret later building a house with only 120 sqm (1,292 sq ft) just because you like the plot and can’t afford a bigger house at the moment? If I were to take that risk, I would build a house that I can expand or extend at some point in the future.
I’ll simply say: stay away from this project.
You build so tightly on a budget, you have to say no to everything, both during the house construction and in your private life.
Just going out for a beer with friends or using a 10-visit swimming pool pass is no longer possible.
Meanwhile, your friends are building their houses on a solid foundation with the features you would have liked to have, but you had to say no.
Ask around how many homeowners here, under very different circumstances, broke out in a sweat just walking to the mailbox, knowing another bill was waiting.
You build so tightly on a budget, you have to say no to everything, both during the house construction and in your private life.
Just going out for a beer with friends or using a 10-visit swimming pool pass is no longer possible.
Meanwhile, your friends are building their houses on a solid foundation with the features you would have liked to have, but you had to say no.
Ask around how many homeowners here, under very different circumstances, broke out in a sweat just walking to the mailbox, knowing another bill was waiting.
Have you ever thought about how your income might be affected if you have children and one of you switches to part-time work or has to pay for childcare fees?
Otherwise, prefabricated wooden houses tend to be somewhat more expensive than masonry houses.
Best regards,
Sabine
Otherwise, prefabricated wooden houses tend to be somewhat more expensive than masonry houses.
Best regards,
Sabine