Decision aid for choosing the construction company

2020-12-19 14:12:01

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We were recently at Streif Haus. The consultant was very friendly, we had a good feeling. Streif Haus also builds promptly because they build few houses per year. The company is rather "small." They have their own team. In itself, that sounds good. What didn’t convince us was that they recommended an air-air heat pump, but we would prefer air-water. Somehow that didn’t go down well, I don’t know why. Additionally, the consultant communicated quite openly that he has many partner companies that can also take over individual trades, e.g., photovoltaics, flooring, bathrooms. This would save us a lot of money because Streif Haus would then not have the "problem" with the warranties, which they would charge for. Okay… that somehow sounds good, but it also confused us. How do you evaluate something like this? Overall, as a customer, you would save a lot of money this way, as has already been said regarding photovoltaics, but this tip seemed strange to me?
[...]

Hi!
We also recently had such a conversation with a Streif Haus consultant (we are in southern Germany).
May I ask how you have pursued this point (consultant "knows" partner companies that take over trades like flooring, painting, etc.) further?
We were quite taken with him as a person, but after all, they are salespeople who live off commissions. Nevertheless, at no time so far have we had the feeling with him that we were being ripped off or sold something we don’t want, etc. On the contrary, he even came to our plot at the first consultation appointment and took a look to assess what could roughly be built, allowed, etc.

(I can’t send private messages yet because I only recently came across this forum and just registered)

2020-12-19 14:18:16

- pay attention to acoustic decoupling of all components

Normally from 12cm reinforced concrete. Everything is sufficient as long as the construction is professionally done without sound bridges. Otherwise, 25cm of concrete won’t help you either.

I prefer to look at how well a craftsman does his work, not with which material.

The clever general contractor saves himself the expensive effort of proper work by well-trained people and prefers to specify more material thickness in his scope of work. The Excel-believing thoroughly comparing competent consumer then prefers to buy from him – if only because “more is better” has always been good. And – exceptions prove the rule and a little loss is always there – in the end every client gets the general contractor he deserves. In the past, solid houses were built for reasonable clients who were peaceful laypersons. Today, the layperson imagines he must educate himself enough to explain the professionals their craft – and the successful provider adapts to this new type of customer.

2020-12-19 14:24:05

Nevertheless, at no point have we ever had the feeling with him that we were being taken advantage of, sold something we did not want, or anything like that. On the contrary, he even came directly to our property at the first consultation appointment and took a look to assess roughly what could be built, would be allowed, etc.

Unfortunately, this "showing commitment" also makes a successful impression even when there is little to no professional expertise behind it. And hardly anything else is taught more in sales training than to put words into customers' mouths regarding their wishes. Unfortunately, a likeable salesperson does not make a good product.

2020-12-19 15:10:08

That's absolutely true! And we (woman + I) openly admit that we are complete beginners without having any kind of clue ourselves. We read a lot (Stiftung Warentest "Handbook" on prefabricated house builders, general experience reports - most of which, however, only write about the negative stuff -, here in the forum, etc.) but still we cannot assess many things. For all variants, whether it’s building materials, windows, etc., there are always pros and cons and rarely “the right one.” So what to rely on? The contacts at the prefabricated house builders are the only ones who plan the entire house with you. :/

2020-12-19 15:18:11

What to rely on then?

References. Go into the inhabited house (or several) of a provider. There you can see how it looks finished and what real building families say about the performance.

2020-12-19 15:24:59

The seller who plans with you will never be seen on the construction site again; he only wants to sell you a standard model with special services, which is why, as has repeatedly said, a regional family-run general contractor is the way to go, where you speak at the very beginning with the planner, site manager, and boss all in one person, who deploys the performance of his people in a targeted manner.

Decision aid for choosing the construction company

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