ᐅ What to consider when receiving a quote for a prefabricated house?
Created on: 1 May 2012 15:53
H
haus1212B
Bauexperte1 May 2012 16:04Hello Herbert,
Maybe not a checklist, but a summary of the most important aspects in house construction – regardless of whether it is prefabricated or solid construction – is available.
Kind regards
haus1212 schrieb:
Is there anywhere a checklist that shows which points need to be checked in an offer from a prefabricated house manufacturer? What should you pay special attention to?
Maybe not a checklist, but a summary of the most important aspects in house construction – regardless of whether it is prefabricated or solid construction – is available.
Kind regards
T
Thomas46318 May 2012 10:50Well, there are quite a few things you should keep in mind when choosing a provider:
- Only choose a provider from your home country (otherwise, you can be fairly certain that warranty claims will end at the border, especially if we’re talking about Poland and similar countries).
- Ask the provider about: company size, annual turnover, number of permanent employees, references. Check which authorizations the company actually has registered in the commercial register — often budget companies do not have official authorization to build (as strange as that sounds). Ask which and how many construction machines the company owns.
- Check how long the company has been in business.
- Search the internet for the provider and its references. With a reputable company, you might still find some negative feedback, but usually there will be some form of settlement or claim resolution documented.
These are the most important points to consider when choosing a provider. If the company shuts down or gives unbelievable answers to some questions, it’s better to stay away.
Regarding the offer itself, pay attention to the following:
Which costs are included, and which will be charged separately on top of the house contract price?
What materials are being purchased? If it just says: exterior wall KG 10cm (4 inches) without specifying the details (what material, which properties), you should expect that the provider will choose the cheapest option available when in doubt.
Get all changes you want in writing, with signature and date (and if possible, also the costs) so you have documentation in case of problems.
Depending on the building’s energy efficiency level, it should be specified which airtightness (blower door test) the house must meet and what options there are if it fails to meet these requirements in order for you to get what you ordered. So make everything as detailed as possible to ensure legal security.
As for the money: in solid (masonry or concrete) construction, it is usually standard to only pay for what has been delivered according to construction progress — that means not everything at the beginning, because otherwise you will have no money left as leverage if the company stops work or goes bankrupt. The best approach with prefab houses is less clear. For example, Company Elk only charges planning and permit fees before construction and the full amount after completion. I don’t know how others handle this, but you should not agree to anything different easily.
I know this might sound ridiculous, but many people give their entire payment to the companies upfront and then wonder why the companies stop working after the shell is finished or do not take care of any damages but instead go bankrupt and start a new business under a different name (this has happened quite often).
Two things should never be too expensive for a homebuilder but are still rarely used enough:
- Legal protection insurance — What happens if disputes arise and you cannot enforce your rights due to financial constraints?
- Construction monitoring by an expert — If everything goes smoothly, the expert won’t have to write an expensive report, but they should be onsite regularly during construction to detect potential mistakes early before damage occurs. Unfortunately, even with prefab houses there are repeated problems and errors (for example, factory-installed windows that let rain in or incorrect screw fittings). Although this costs some money, it provides a lot of security.
Best regards,
Thomas
- Only choose a provider from your home country (otherwise, you can be fairly certain that warranty claims will end at the border, especially if we’re talking about Poland and similar countries).
- Ask the provider about: company size, annual turnover, number of permanent employees, references. Check which authorizations the company actually has registered in the commercial register — often budget companies do not have official authorization to build (as strange as that sounds). Ask which and how many construction machines the company owns.
- Check how long the company has been in business.
- Search the internet for the provider and its references. With a reputable company, you might still find some negative feedback, but usually there will be some form of settlement or claim resolution documented.
These are the most important points to consider when choosing a provider. If the company shuts down or gives unbelievable answers to some questions, it’s better to stay away.
Regarding the offer itself, pay attention to the following:
Which costs are included, and which will be charged separately on top of the house contract price?
What materials are being purchased? If it just says: exterior wall KG 10cm (4 inches) without specifying the details (what material, which properties), you should expect that the provider will choose the cheapest option available when in doubt.
Get all changes you want in writing, with signature and date (and if possible, also the costs) so you have documentation in case of problems.
Depending on the building’s energy efficiency level, it should be specified which airtightness (blower door test) the house must meet and what options there are if it fails to meet these requirements in order for you to get what you ordered. So make everything as detailed as possible to ensure legal security.
As for the money: in solid (masonry or concrete) construction, it is usually standard to only pay for what has been delivered according to construction progress — that means not everything at the beginning, because otherwise you will have no money left as leverage if the company stops work or goes bankrupt. The best approach with prefab houses is less clear. For example, Company Elk only charges planning and permit fees before construction and the full amount after completion. I don’t know how others handle this, but you should not agree to anything different easily.
I know this might sound ridiculous, but many people give their entire payment to the companies upfront and then wonder why the companies stop working after the shell is finished or do not take care of any damages but instead go bankrupt and start a new business under a different name (this has happened quite often).
Two things should never be too expensive for a homebuilder but are still rarely used enough:
- Legal protection insurance — What happens if disputes arise and you cannot enforce your rights due to financial constraints?
- Construction monitoring by an expert — If everything goes smoothly, the expert won’t have to write an expensive report, but they should be onsite regularly during construction to detect potential mistakes early before damage occurs. Unfortunately, even with prefab houses there are repeated problems and errors (for example, factory-installed windows that let rain in or incorrect screw fittings). Although this costs some money, it provides a lot of security.
Best regards,
Thomas
B
Bauexperte18 May 2012 11:56Hello Thomas,
Is that still possible in the neighboring country?
In Germany, there has not been any insurance for "contract law" for a long time; over the years, it has become too expensive for insurers. It is all the more important to inform yourself in advance based on your post!
Kind regards
Thomas463 schrieb:
Legal protection insurance => What happens if there are disputes, but you cannot enforce your rights due to financial reasons?
Is that still possible in the neighboring country?
In Germany, there has not been any insurance for "contract law" for a long time; over the years, it has become too expensive for insurers. It is all the more important to inform yourself in advance based on your post!
Kind regards
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