"Classical" approach to vendor selection - To-Do list

Dear forum,

after the ink on the notary contract for the land purchase (in 64625 Bensheim) has dried, we visited the prefab house center in Mannheim for the first time and are now so overwhelmed that we can’t see the forest for the trees.

At first glance, we don’t recognize any major differences between the providers – promotional videos and catalogs naturally only show the good sides. On the other hand, you can find some negative comments and reviews about virtually every provider online. Furthermore, I find it dangerous to decide on a provider solely based on a consultant.

Without solid reasons, there were still a few prefab house manufacturers that seemed “likable” to us. These are Bien-Zenker, Weiss, Schwabenhaus, Bittermann and Weiss, Fingerhaus, Hanse and Weberhaus.

In addition, there are two regional solid house construction companies with whom we had a good initial contact.

The question we ask ourselves is: how do we proceed sensibly now.

Should we narrow down our selection or even expand it? Should we have a consultation with every company? Should each company plan a house according to our wishes so that we can conduct a meaningful offer comparison?

We are at a loss.

Therefore, I hope for tips from you. Is there an approach that has proven successful? How did you proceed?

I look forward to your input.

Best regards and have a nice evening

We also visited two prefabricated house parks. But basically, we already knew that we actually wanted a house in the Swedish style. Unfortunately, no representative of the so-called [Schwedenhäuser] was present. However, the model house parks did provide us with quite a lot for finding the floor plan.

So how did we find our provider? We turned to Google and contacted all the providers that were possible candidates for our [SchwedenHaus] dream.

In the end, not many were left. We wanted a maximum of 110 m² living space, and only a few had that in their program.

Sorted this way, we sent direct concrete floor plan ideas and general wishes and waited for the respective responses.

Some providers were very transparent and sent us the construction service descriptions without further ado, while others hesitated and settled us with mere advertising brochures.

In the end, two favorites remained in the final selection. We were able to visit a privately occupied house from one of them. And then the decision was made. But a lot of gut feeling was involved.

This all sounds like a very long process now. I believe it took us six weeks from the first visit to the prefabricated house park until the construction contract. But that was because we agreed very quickly on all matters. Without having to make compromises in favor of the other.

But it was because we quickly agreed on everything. Without having to make compromises in favor of the other.

This is one of the more important prerequisites that makes building considerably easier. Maybe you should first try to find YOUR floor plan, either online or from house construction companies. Often one thinks they have hardly any specifications or are flexible, and suddenly one realizes that it is exactly the opposite, which is of course not a bad thing. If you find one at a prefabricated house company that you hardly have to change, then prefabricated houses might be an option. But I think that with more individuality, a smaller general contractor or one of the smaller providers would be more suitable. For me, prefabricated houses were quickly off the table, not least for reasons of usually higher costs. Of course, it also depends on whether you provide more than the usual amount of self-work. I personally would tend to go to a local solid builder or general contractor; sometimes the general contractor also builds with timber frame construction. For us, it depended on our planned project, and now it is being built solidly. If you meet a trustworthy and competent person with a corresponding reputation on this path, then soon it will all work out.

Well, first of all, I think it's good that you are not fixed, i.e. you do not exclude any construction method and do not consider any as the only way to the truth. Stay away from the temptation to get closer to wisdom by gathering as many providers as possible for a broad comparison: the more of a layperson you are, the more you can also drown in an information flood. Above all, comparisons of apples and oranges are useless – that's all about the idea

Should a house be planned by each company according to our wishes

- no, rather take one house per construction method and have the other providers give their price statements on that. So from the "masonry house people" A/B/C, C answers first and from the "prefabricated house people" E/F/G, F answers first: then have A and B also calculate "house C," and E and G "house F." The providers already know the game and expect you to now distribute your favor according to prices. But now you change the rules: the most negative points win, who makes their competitors look the worst (for example). Think about your own tactics – the primary thing is: either you make the rules or you are the ball; in this sense, you must pull together.

Set your must-haves. For us, it was a passive house, for , Swedish style and size. What do you want? You need the provider with the largest overlap of wishes - construction service description. The provider must fit you, you must feel well taken care of there. I would choose a provider with a fixed site manager.

I would choose a provider with a fixed site manager.

I cannot imagine a general contractor including in the contract conditions when to assign which of their site managers where – that seems to me a truly unrealistic expectation.