ᐅ Request for Quotes: Tips for Hiring a Local General Contractor?

Hello dear forum,

We are planning to build and have already received individual quotes from local general contractors (GCs) as well as from prefabricated house manufacturers, in order to compare options.

My partner prefers solid construction, while I personally lean towards wood because of environmental reasons, but I can also very well imagine solid construction. Our joint preference, however, is more towards a local GC rather than a prefab manufacturer.

So far, all quotes from local GCs, whether solid or wood construction, have clearly exceeded those from prefab house providers. However, I have often read that local GCs are at least on par price-wise.

Do you have any tips on how to find local GCs whose prices are closer to those of prefab house manufacturers? Or should I basically forget about that? In terms of scope of work, we have naturally compared like with like.

PS: We want to build in the Main Kinzig district, close to the Fulda district.

It is more likely that the quotes are not comparable. As a layperson, it is also difficult to get an overview of this. How high are the quotes for what exactly?

If we compare only the shell house, meaning the exterior structure with heating, electrical installations, and screed, there are significant price differences.

The local general contractors charge prices that are about 20,000 to 30,000 euros more expensive for the basic framework of the house.

Another question: How can a layperson make a reasonable comparison?

Thirteen schrieb:

How can a layperson make a proper comparison?

A classic Excel spreadsheet.
List the providers along the top row and all individual items down column A. Then mark accordingly in each provider’s column.
The more detailed, the better.
Is the foundation slab included? Okay. Is the excavation for the foundation slab included as well? What about the disposal of the excavated material? Is it complete or limited to, for example, xy cubic meters? And so on.

We will try that. As for the foundation slab/floor work, these have not been included in any calculations so far, since we are building with a basement and will outsource this separately. This means we are currently only comparing the house itself.

Thirteen schrieb:

What tips do you have for finding local general contractors (GCs) who offer prices comparable to those of prefab home providers? Or is that basically impossible? In terms of construction scope, we have, of course, compared apples to apples.

Are you looking for an off-the-shelf house, meaning a catalog home, or a custom-designed house by an architect?

With a catalog home, you can only compare prices if the scope of work described by all GCs is comparable—which is probably never the case. More precisely, this only works once you get pricing for all additional work and special requests as well. But even then, it won’t be 100% reliable.

With a custom-designed house by an architect, you provide the detailed scope of work upfront, so each GC quotes exactly for the house you want. This ensures complete transparency.