There is hardly anything in this world that someone could not make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who only focus on the price become the rightful prey of such machinations.
It is unwise to pay too much, but it is even worse to pay too little. If you pay too much, you lose some money. That is all. If, on the other hand, you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything because the purchased item cannot fulfill the task intended for it.
The law of economics forbids getting much value for little money.
If you accept the lowest offer, you must add something for the risk you are taking. And if you do that, then you also have enough money to pay for something better.
John Ruskin
English social reformer 1819-1900
unfortunately, I have to agree with that.
We also build houses. But this should not be the subject here. What I have to read here frightens me greatly. The whole thing already seems criminally thought out. But it really has two culprits. One is quickly dazzled. Low price, TÜV/ DEKRA, VHV, nothing can really go wrong there. Here it becomes clear that you cannot rely on that yourself. The attempt to obtain a certain amount of high-quality goods for as little money as possible is absolutely legitimate. You just have to be clear about one thing – in most cases, your own house is the biggest and most important investment in life. Those who save in the wrong place in advance will often be presented with this fact later.
Good salespeople who convey a good gut feeling. Apparently, you cannot rely on that either. 780 aggrieved builders can confirm this. Reference houses? Who still believes today that such builders are not rewarded for the right statement?
So where do you get absolute security from? Simply put, you can’t. If it helps for the future, for those where a future can be seen, payments should, if possible, run through an escrow account. Payments also only when the completion of the trade is confirmed in writing to be free of defects. This is done via a construction logbook. Confirmation of outgoing and incoming payments also directly in writing and via the construction logbook. A builder can also interrupt payments and the construction process if it becomes clear that the craftsmen are not being paid. But always with legal counsel whenever possible.
My tip – use the builder emergency hotline, legal advisors, etc. in the current situation and try to get out of your existing contracts calmly and with as little loss as possible. Do not act rashly. During this time, think carefully about how you imagine the ideal and feasible solution for yourself. This must be the measure of further procedure. Write down risks and consider them in the upcoming consultations. Do not lose sight of the warranty. Under certain circumstances, this may mean paying one or two more loan installments than planned. But better that than trying to break through the wall again. And you really cannot fall much lower.
Building a house is primarily a matter of trust and it harms the industry if such companies sustainably damage this sector. There will be too little consolation. But if you want help, then you can only help yourself. This forum is a good start to express your frustration. But don’t lose sight of your goal.
I wish all those affected luck, composure, and a way out of their situation.
Best regards Bernd
