ᐅ Which prefabricated house provider offers the best prices and experience?
Created on: 17 Oct 2019 08:49
S
saralina87
Hello,
we unexpectedly have the opportunity to purchase a plot of land. Since it comes from family, the price would be a real bargain for us, around 200 euros per square meter (about 19 USD per square yard) (Bavaria - Baden-Württemberg border area).
Unfortunately, the plot is not perfectly shaped; it is 13 m (42.7 ft) wide and 23 m (75.5 ft) long, so roughly 300 square meters (3,229 square feet) in size.
This weekend, we visited a large model home park and checked out various builders.
We were especially impressed by Baufritz, Weberhaus, Schwabenhaus, and Gussek Haus.
I wanted to ask for your experiences with these companies—maybe also regarding costs?
Our budget is about 450,000 euros (around 478,000 USD), minus the land cost leaves us with 390,000 euros (about 414,000 USD) for the house and additional building costs (the plot is already serviced). Our idea for the house is about 130 to 140 square meters (1,400 to 1,507 square feet) of living space, with a footprint approximately 7 m (23 ft) by 12 m (39 ft). We plan to do the landscaping ourselves; a garage is not planned for now, and we also do not want a basement.
I would really appreciate any suggestions!
PS: No, we do not want to buy and renovate an existing property. On the one hand, there are hardly any available here, and on the other hand, it is outrageously expensive when something does appear (recent example: semi-detached house, built in 1969, no (!) renovation measures since construction except for windows replaced in 2012, mold in all rooms, 400 square meters (4,306 square feet) of land, not in a city but in a village, sold by bidding for 380,000 euros (about 404,000 USD)).
we unexpectedly have the opportunity to purchase a plot of land. Since it comes from family, the price would be a real bargain for us, around 200 euros per square meter (about 19 USD per square yard) (Bavaria - Baden-Württemberg border area).
Unfortunately, the plot is not perfectly shaped; it is 13 m (42.7 ft) wide and 23 m (75.5 ft) long, so roughly 300 square meters (3,229 square feet) in size.
This weekend, we visited a large model home park and checked out various builders.
We were especially impressed by Baufritz, Weberhaus, Schwabenhaus, and Gussek Haus.
I wanted to ask for your experiences with these companies—maybe also regarding costs?
Our budget is about 450,000 euros (around 478,000 USD), minus the land cost leaves us with 390,000 euros (about 414,000 USD) for the house and additional building costs (the plot is already serviced). Our idea for the house is about 130 to 140 square meters (1,400 to 1,507 square feet) of living space, with a footprint approximately 7 m (23 ft) by 12 m (39 ft). We plan to do the landscaping ourselves; a garage is not planned for now, and we also do not want a basement.
I would really appreciate any suggestions!
PS: No, we do not want to buy and renovate an existing property. On the one hand, there are hardly any available here, and on the other hand, it is outrageously expensive when something does appear (recent example: semi-detached house, built in 1969, no (!) renovation measures since construction except for windows replaced in 2012, mold in all rooms, 400 square meters (4,306 square feet) of land, not in a city but in a village, sold by bidding for 380,000 euros (about 404,000 USD)).
Altai schrieb:
The parking spaces are arranged in a row along the short side of the house This, for example, is not allowed everywhere – in our area, each parking space must be individually accessible; parking spaces in a row are not permitted. You need to clarify this in advance, and a local builder has a clear advantage here: they know the regulations and usually have contacts at the authorities.
A 3m (10 feet) distance is not possible on every side either, so please pay attention to that! Sometimes the authorities are cooperative and approve a setback encroachment if essentially all parties benefit from it.
Regarding Baufritz, I can only say that EVERY single small change costs a fortune. So either you can accept one of their model houses exactly as is, or you won’t be able to stick to your budget. These are high-quality houses, but as I said, every slight deviation adds significant costs.
Also, their order books are really full. When we visited and inquired, they could only promise a construction start a year later. And I doubt the situation has improved...
saralina87 schrieb:
How do you come up with two meters?! I definitely don’t plan to put a 4 x 7 m (13 x 23 ft) terrace there, that’s clear...Maybe not 7 m (23 ft) in length, but the depth for a garden table and fully extended garden chairs is at least 3 m (10 ft), and if you don’t want a chair leg to end up on the lawn, it will probably be even more.That’s just everyday practical experience. In other words, it’s the same as the miniature furniture shown in the floor plans featured here. You can only point it out.
@Zaba12 is right. Since the plot slopes at the front, you would roughly apply the setback from the street of 3m (10 feet) along the shorter side — meaning you have 21m (69 feet) minus 3m (10 feet) equals 18m (59 feet), of which 12m (39 feet) are for the house, leaving 6m (20 feet) at the back. That’s your "garden." And from that, you still need to subtract the terrace, especially if it’s planned at the back to the north. Otherwise (east/west), you only have the 3m (10 feet) setback available. It’s the same for me.
But as you mentioned earlier, it’s simply the only plot available, so you have to make do with it. It was the same for me; there is hardly anything available in my city, and what is available is unaffordable for me. I’m glad I found something, and I accepted certain compromises for it. And I feel completely comfortable in my new home.
But as you mentioned earlier, it’s simply the only plot available, so you have to make do with it. It was the same for me; there is hardly anything available in my city, and what is available is unaffordable for me. I’m glad I found something, and I accepted certain compromises for it. And I feel completely comfortable in my new home.
saralina87 schrieb:
Well, first of all, machines don’t have bad days. Workers do. That’s not to say errors can’t happen with a prefab house, but the potential is reduced.
Then there’s the predictability. Keyword: interest on construction loans.
The embedded moisture in a solid construction house.
I won’t say more on that. Even if you don’t want to hear it. This is not meant as criticism, but it sounds like typical sales talk from prefab house manufacturers. I am neither for nor against prefab or solid construction, and personally it wouldn’t have mattered to me which one I chose. We just had to watch the budget closely as well. But this is stereotyping. A prefab house does not arrive FINISHED on your building site. The complete interior finishing is not included. The moisture content is practically the same. You will still need quite a few workers onsite.
Last point – your budget should be sufficient, but from my experience, any changes to a prefab house tend to cost significantly more than with a solid construction house. At least that’s how it came across in our discussions. Since your project probably won’t have standard dimensions, I would at least consider other companies or building methods, as that might save you some money.
The reasons you mentioned are simply incorrect.
saralina87 schrieb:
Where do you get two meters?! I have no intention of putting a 4 x 7 m (13 x 23 ft) terrace there, that’s clear... Zaba12 schrieb:
That’s just common practice. Like the furniture shown in the example floor plans here. You can only point it out. ^this.
I get the feeling you haven’t really looked into the construction process enough. Buy the land if the location is really that tight for you and you can adapt to the size, but get more information before signing any contract with a company. Once that’s done, there’s no turning back.
We recently had this entire discussion in the thread with the "prefabricated house expert." The original poster there also believed that the prefab house would come with the toilet already mounted on the wall.
I can only agree with @danixf: secure the land first and then familiarize yourself with the subject openly. Please read the thread mentioned above.
I can only agree with @danixf: secure the land first and then familiarize yourself with the subject openly. Please read the thread mentioned above.
haydee schrieb:
@Escroda are there any options to not comply with the 3-meter (10 feet) distance requirement on one side?I’m not Escroda, but according to the Bavarian State Building Code(8) When calculating setback distances, the following are disregarded:
1.
building elements protruding in front of the exterior wall, such as cornices and roof overhangs,
2.
minor projections such as balconies and single-story bay windows, if they
a)
together do not exceed one third of the width of the respective building’s exterior wall, with a maximum of 5 meters (16 feet) each,
b)
do not project more than 1.50 meters (5 feet) beyond that exterior wall, and
c)
are at least 2 meters (6.5 feet) away from the neighboring property line opposite,
3.
minor dormers, if
a)
they together do not exceed one third of the width of the respective building’s exterior wall, with a maximum of 5 meters (16 feet) each, and
b)
each have a visible surface area of no more than 4 m² (43 sq ft) and a height of no more than 2.5 m (8 feet).
Balconies, conservatories, or bay windows (the latter even over two floors) would therefore be possible without problems, as a projection roughly 4 x 1 meters (13 x 3 feet) in size. At least that’s something. In extreme cases, this could also work as a projecting captain’s gable, which might even be feasible as an external staircase.
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