ᐅ Prefabricated House Manufacturers: Validity of Their Quotes and Promotions?
Created on: 24 Feb 2018 10:52
S
Skyfire
Hello everyone,
I’m looking for your advice again.
Here is the situation:
We have an offer from a prefabricated house manufacturer. We like the floor plan, the features, and the price seems right. Our gut feeling is good, and we can imagine building a timber frame house with them. The consultant is very competent, fair, and has promptly fulfilled or tried to fulfill all our wishes.
As an alternative, although with a time delay due to vacation, we requested an offer from a regional masonry house builder. We also like their floor plan (slightly less ideal but still good), and the company as well as the materials used make a very good impression. They have recently built numerous houses in our area (including for friends), and these turned out very well. So, if the price fits, we could also imagine a project with them. The architect and company owner also seem very competent and are very friendly.
In the end, it would basically come down to the traditional debate of masonry versus timber frame.
The problem is the following:
The offer from the timber frame provider, supported by vouchers and promotions, is officially valid until 28.02.2018, and we potentially have an appointment next week to sign the contract.
The offer from the masonry builder, in response to my inquiry, will last until the end of next week. Not all offers or prices from subcontractors are available yet.
The risk is missing out on the timber frame offer and having the masonry option exceed our budget (the builder hinted it might just fit). Or taking the timber frame option with the risk of regretting it later and being tied to the contract.
How should I proceed here? Do you have any tips? Should we try to negotiate an extension for the timber frame offer?
I don’t want to rely on a right of withdrawal or similar. That could cost money, and secondly, it’s not really fair. The consultant from the prefabricated house company has been very fair, nice, and the best in his field in the prefab sector.
Thank you very much.
Best regards,
Steffen
I’m looking for your advice again.
Here is the situation:
We have an offer from a prefabricated house manufacturer. We like the floor plan, the features, and the price seems right. Our gut feeling is good, and we can imagine building a timber frame house with them. The consultant is very competent, fair, and has promptly fulfilled or tried to fulfill all our wishes.
As an alternative, although with a time delay due to vacation, we requested an offer from a regional masonry house builder. We also like their floor plan (slightly less ideal but still good), and the company as well as the materials used make a very good impression. They have recently built numerous houses in our area (including for friends), and these turned out very well. So, if the price fits, we could also imagine a project with them. The architect and company owner also seem very competent and are very friendly.
In the end, it would basically come down to the traditional debate of masonry versus timber frame.
The problem is the following:
The offer from the timber frame provider, supported by vouchers and promotions, is officially valid until 28.02.2018, and we potentially have an appointment next week to sign the contract.
The offer from the masonry builder, in response to my inquiry, will last until the end of next week. Not all offers or prices from subcontractors are available yet.
The risk is missing out on the timber frame offer and having the masonry option exceed our budget (the builder hinted it might just fit). Or taking the timber frame option with the risk of regretting it later and being tied to the contract.
How should I proceed here? Do you have any tips? Should we try to negotiate an extension for the timber frame offer?
I don’t want to rely on a right of withdrawal or similar. That could cost money, and secondly, it’s not really fair. The consultant from the prefabricated house company has been very fair, nice, and the best in his field in the prefab sector.
Thank you very much.
Best regards,
Steffen
H
HilfeHilfe24 Feb 2018 21:04Never let yourself be pressured. We had a similar case here in the forum, and now it’s going back and forth with lawyers. Always have the scope of work thoroughly checked as well.
sven.conzi24 Feb 2018 21:37Nordlys schrieb:
Many valid points have been made. No pressure, no stress. Tell the consultant we will only sign after we have compared options. If their vouchers end up being worthless, so be it.
Moving on. What exactly is being offered? A house? Your house? Is the calculation based on your plot? Are excavation works properly estimated? Do you have everything included? Foundation slab? Drainage, utility connections?
A prefabricated house doesn’t have to be bad, it is dry, includes well-considered technology, and can also be aesthetic. But I would be surprised if it was cheaper than a solid construction. My life experience differs. Karsten Is there already a soil report for the plot?No soil survey exists; I spoke with a geologist and asked for his opinion. However, he said he would need the manufacturer’s documentation to prepare a report.
Excavation and utility connections have been roughly estimated by us, but no calculation has been provided by the supplier. We have a sloped building site with a 2-meter (6.6 feet) drop from the highest to the lowest point.
I inquired with the utility provider about connections; they have to be tapped in the middle of the street and will be charged based on actual costs. No calculation has been made for the work on the property.
For the foundation slab, the supplier roughly estimated about 10,000, which would be a foundation slab without insulation and offered or tendered separately.
Best regards
Steffen
Excavation and utility connections have been roughly estimated by us, but no calculation has been provided by the supplier. We have a sloped building site with a 2-meter (6.6 feet) drop from the highest to the lowest point.
I inquired with the utility provider about connections; they have to be tapped in the middle of the street and will be charged based on actual costs. No calculation has been made for the work on the property.
For the foundation slab, the supplier roughly estimated about 10,000, which would be a foundation slab without insulation and offered or tendered separately.
Best regards
Steffen
Skyfire schrieb:
There is no soil survey available; I spoke with a geologist and asked for his opinion. However, he said he would need the manufacturer’s documents to prepare the survey.
Earthworks and utility connections are roughly estimated on our side, but no calculations have been provided by the supplier. We have a sloped building site with a 2-meter (6.6 feet) drop from the highest to the lowest point.
I asked the utility providers about the connections; they have to be tapped at the street center and will be charged based on actual costs. No calculations have been made for the work on the property.
For the foundation slab, the supplier suggested a rough estimate of 10,000 without insulation. This would be a foundation slab without thermal insulation, which is offered or quoted separately.
Regards
SteffenYou have connection costs from both suppliers. Everything on-site must be covered by you. What does the scope of work specification say about the installed elements that you as laypersons can understand? Number of sockets and electrical circuits, sanitary installations, number of square meters of tiling and at what height? Are painting works included or to be done on-site? Container, toilet, and waste disposal? Foundation? Heating? Energy saving regulations? Front door? And so on. These can make huge differences in price, potentially adding several (tens of) thousands to either the prefabricated house or the solid build. No scope of work specification is the same as another!
sven.conzi24 Feb 2018 23:03ypg schrieb:
You will have connection fees with both providers. Anything on-site must be covered by you. How does the construction specification describe the installed elements that you, as non-experts, can evaluate? Number of sockets and electrical circuits, sanitary fixtures, number of square meters of tiles and at what height? Are painting works included or to be done on-site? Container, toilet, and waste removal? Foundation? Heating? Energy saving regulations? Front door? And so on. These can be huge differences that make a prefabricated house or a solid house several (tens of) thousands more expensive. No two construction specifications are the same!Window burglary protection, what type RC2 / RC2 n? For a soil survey, our geologist only needed the location, i.e., building area and plot. It cost around 900€ including soil analysis. Without the survey, the architect wouldn’t have proceeded.B
borderpuschl26 Feb 2018 08:23You also need to be careful because the foundation slab requires a stable and load-bearing base. That means if you have a sloping site, the ground must be filled and compacted with appropriate material. In such cases, the planned budget of around 10,000 euros for the foundation slab can easily be used up just for this preparation, with the slab cost coming on top. Without knowing the size of the house, I also think that 10,000 euros for the foundation slab alone is not very realistic (unless it’s an offer from a well-known prefab home manufacturer).
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