There are so many red flags, I think I would block the number. :)
One was super expensive
"Expensive" is always relative when building a house. If your favorite has a different scope of services, it can quickly turn out to be more expensive in the end than the initially expensive-looking competitor, who, however, has a good construction service description and includes a lot in the standard.
But now we have a bad feeling about our favorite.
Then it should quickly give up its favorite status. Keep looking. You want to spend the money of your life. You should feel good about it, not choose the lesser evil.
Unfortunately also competitor bashing (which we always find somewhat unprofessional).
Good gut feeling is also quite unprofessional.
Afterwards another appointment, explained again, also which window size, layout, rooms, etc. At this appointment (about 4 weeks later) we should start making a decision etc.
Wait, they deliver a crappy floor plan that doesn’t meet your wishes, and at the follow-up appointment you get pressure instead of an apology? I would already be running for the hills.
Since it is a completely new development area and the development plan offers a lot of leeway, we were pressured that we should definitely be among the first, otherwise we would have to adapt to the neighboring development and our dream house would be gone.
That’s the biggest nonsense I’ve ever heard. You only have to adapt to the neighboring development if there is NO development plan. With a development plan you can build everything that is listed in the plan, no matter what the neighbors have done. We were twice among the last builders in a new development area, and we never had any problems or pressure because of the neighboring development.
From then on I had calls or inquiries via WhatsApp every 2nd/3rd day asking if I had received the email.
Run, run as fast as you can. ;)
At that time I had already asked several times for the construction and service description but never received it with the statement that the (very sparse and imprecise) offer would count. But it only says e.g. lever faucet, nothing more.
They put so much pressure on you and make such a fuss without you even having seen the construction service description? That is highly unprofessional. From every reputable construction company, I have received their construction service description with the first information package. Even our current builder, who really isn’t into marketing and computers, first sent us a draft of a work contract (so you can see what something like that looks like) and his construction service description.
At this appointment I received the so-called "irrelevant" service description, however, after lunch it suddenly disappeared from my seat, which I only noticed at home. By the way, it was already noticeable at this appointment that statements contradicted each other.
I don’t even know why I’m still reading here, but: run....
I’ll save myself the rest of your thread now: These are highly unprofessional business methods. A good builder should treat you as an equal and not try to patronize you. It’s a handshake deal, you receive a service and he gets his money. There’s no room for applying pressure, contradictions, and withholding information. If they had nothing to hide, you would have a meaningful construction service description in your hand.
Furthermore, I suggest you only judge whether a provider is expensive or not after you have carefully read these documents several times. You mentioned above that another provider is too expensive for you. But you can’t assess that without having the service description of the "favorite" in hand. Often, prices are used to lure people in, and afterward every little detail costs a horrendous surcharge. Comparing construction companies is laborious, but you have to make the effort before you decide.
We built our first house with a company that is not known as the cheapest in the region. But we were happy with it. We hardly spent anything extra on customization because we had several services included in the standard that we could remove and were credited for. They offered good windows, large tile formats with solid material prices, etc., so you could easily stay within the standard options.
Take another look around. Also jump over your shadow and ask the companies again that didn’t contact you after the first meeting. Everyone deserves a second chance. It would be a pity if a great construction company is withheld from you just because a secretary dropped a Post-It from the desk. ;) Also look for blogs or reviews of the respective companies on the internet.