Why is financing so difficult?

*sigh* the problems DID exist. Over a month ago. Why did I even write. These "hurdles" have long been resolved.

Why Heinz von Heiden? Because they build us a house the way we imagine it and also for the price. If I go by what is on the sheet, it is comparable in terms of equipment to other more expensive ones of the same quality.

Sure, I can also build the same house for significantly more. Maybe then with higher-quality pipes or who knows what. My standard for a house is that I can live in it comfortably until my peaceful end. After that, it can fall apart for all I care (exaggeratedly said). Since I can no longer afford and do not want to afford a house beyond a certain limit, I have to look around for what I can afford. None of the expensive providers could give me a good reason why I should choose them. It was always just "we have better quality" and when asked where exactly the higher quality was, nothing else came. But again, we don’t need to discuss the choice of the construction company here. That doesn’t belong here. It was about the financing.

Good evening,

None of the expensive providers could give me a good reason why I should choose them. It was always just "we have better quality" and when asked where exactly the better quality is, there was no further explanation.

Where Yvonne is right ....

Have you, conversely, asked the salesperson from Heinz von Heiden why they can offer so comparatively cheaply? And if so, what was the answer?

But again, we don't need to discuss the choice of the construction company here.

I won't; I'm really interested; I just want to understand

Rhenish greetings

Have you, conversely, ever asked the seller from Heinz von Heiden why they can offer so - comparatively - cheaply? And if so, what was the answer?

She did:

We did. He simply justified it with volume. Heinz von Heiden builds significantly more houses than the other companies we inquired with.

Whether there are differences in the details, he obviously could not say either.

This statement agrees with the more expensive providers: they did not know either.

I would attribute this statement to the fact that salespeople do not know exactly what quality distinguishes their company from other companies.

Weberhaus, Kampa, Luxhaus, Bien-Zenker, Viebrockhaus, etc. know about their own technology in terms of technique or wall structure – but do they know to what extent they differ, even with the details of the construction service description, from their competitors? The issue I raised about rafter thickness... is that even of interest? If it is visible in the construction service description: do builders decide based on that?

I can understand the approach of @ Evolith in finding an affordable house. As a former builder myself, I proceeded similarly.

What do you expect as a salesperson , as someone knowledgeable in the construction sector, from inexperienced people who calculate their monthly income, have the house build in mind, know their limit, when choosing the potential house construction companies?
All BUs advertise with specials in the same way – some more, some less.
A house always comes out of it. Yes, I personally know/suspect: in the low-cost sector, the risk of experiencing building defects is greater.

... I'll shorten it (before I go off on a tangent again) and mention once more:
There are enough prospective builders who weigh what they can afford and are satisfied with what they get. Among other things, they like to supplement with own work. Or postpone some things for a few years. Or...
You as a salesperson will probably not advise these customers until the end.
Then there are opponents: those who want more than they need. If I earn well, then everyone should see it. Then all financial and decorative possibilities are gladly combined in the facade as well as the roof, not to mention the functional electrical interior fittings. Construction companies probably make very good money from this, but from a human and psychological point of view, I see this attitude as critical because values (as such) are quickly lost.
In the middle are all down-to-earth construction companies. However, the low-cost sector has just as much justification as the high-priced one. (Expectations, realism, possibilities)

What is important to ME is that it is feasible for the prospective builders. That they have their income under control, can manage money, are old enough to settle down, are informed about incidental building costs and extra costs that can/will arise, and know the differences in the quality of construction methods/tradesmen and construction companies.
I do not find it bad if prospective builders choose a low-cost builder because others are financially not fitting.

Earlier I consciously surfed to a "good" prefabricated house provider: and they advertise just as much as the cheap ones with house and saving campaigns, and: you are overwhelmed by the technical stories (honestly: who has dealt with the idea of house building with monolithic, renewable or sustainable building materials before? ...with KfW xx, xy or xz) and every quality increase raises the price by a five-figure amount? You only find that out later. My googled manufacturer has some prices online... initially advertises with really turnkey, but then price indications for "bathroom ready" base prices and photos always with chargeable equipment.
My "yes, that could be it or a similar house of the same size" turned out to be €100,000 more expensive than ours including extras (many plus indications in advertising we also have as standard). About €150,000 away from our initial inquiry offer, and certainly another €50,000 away with our installed extras. And yes, I out myself here as a normal earner: I don't care that I didn't install any of the advertised innovative technology, because even with 14 cm insulation plus gas boiler I have a ridiculous gas consumption (LWWP/air heat pump/WWP would not be an alternative for me as an "over 40 year old"... I don't know it, I don't want it).
All this is reflected in the decision of finding the construction company. One might be impressed and can afford it, the other goes to the down-to-earth one who doesn’t have questionable frills in the construction service description but is affordable. Why should I care that the attic of the cheap builders is then not accessible? Only if I need it! But that's what the HBF is for, to answer these questions.

Nightly greetings Yvonne

P.s./Edit: this was a brief summary of my impressions... the examples are also comparable to buying inferior discount goods that can harm health with long-term use... no, I don’t want to know now who buys frozen products at Aldi

You also have to give yourself some time (a pious wish...:rolleyes) until you know what you want. We are currently building a "bio-wood house" with a carpenter company, featuring a wood facade, visible wooden ceilings, and wooden paneling inside. Pure coziness and exactly what we had always wanted deep down but just didn't know it until we saw it live. We came across it by chance; we hadn't considered it before since we only knew prefab and solid houses. We would now kick ourselves if we had missed out on it.

Good morning Yvonne,

unfortunately, I have only little time this morning – I have to prepare the fair tomorrow; nevertheless, I would like to respond to your thoughts.

I would attribute this statement to the fact that salespeople do not know exactly which quality distinguishes their company from other companies.

This is due to the company policy of the entire industry. For several years now, they have been consciously hiring career changers as well as industry newcomers. Consequently, this means "no satisfying answers" for the interested party and "less hassle with old hands" for the providers.

I can understand @Evolith's approach of finding an affordable house. I proceeded similarly as a former builder.

That is the normal expectation of all builders; including those with above-average incomes.

What do you expect as a saleswoman , as someone knowledgeable in the construction sector, from inexperienced people who add up their monthly income, have house construction in mind, know their limits, when choosing potential house-building companies?
All BUs advertise with gimmicks – some more, some less.

“Inexperienced” is the issue. Potential home builders seek professional support on a topic that requires more euros than buying a new washing machine; precisely because they have no clue. They do not ignore that a supposed bargain can cause more trouble than replacing a washing machine at the price of €199.00.

I assert that everyone has experienced at least once that very cheap always turns out to be quite expensive. It is all the more astonishing to me that this experience is shoved into the farthest attic room when it comes to amounts > €200,000. Professional advice costs only €600.00 from the most expensive provider in this field. Money which, in my opinion, is very well invested and helps prevent far more than just financial damage!

A house always results from it. Yes, I personally know/suspect: in the bargain sector, the risk of experiencing construction defects is higher.

The internet as well as TV (and I do not mean only private channels) are full of such unnecessary experiences.

There are enough prospective builders who weigh what they can afford and are satisfied with what they get. Among other things, they like to spice it up with own work. Or postpone some things a few years. Or...
You probably will not advise these customers all the way as a saleswoman.

I have never assumed that I can accompany every prospect on their way to becoming a customer. Besides financial aspects, many other factors play a significant role.

Then there are opposites: namely those who want more than they need. If I earn well, then everyone should see it.

An extremely exhausting and unpleasant clientele who often lack manners.

In the middle, all down-to-earth construction companies are to be found,

I claim, the majority of providers. There are far more of them than those occasionally discussed here. Especially this sector of providers is very inconspicuous regarding negative reporting.

but the bargain sector also has its rightful place

ack

Important for ME is that it is feasible for the prospective builders.

Here our ideas about house building probably differ. For me, it is not important that it is generally feasible; if necessary, by hook or by crook (just barely) and feasible for everyone. For me, the – possibly painful – realization also belongs that living in a rental can be the decidedly better alternative.

You get overwhelmed by the tech stuff (let’s be honest: who dealt with the idea of building a house with monolithic, renewable, or sustainable building materials before? ... with KfW xx, xy or xz), and every quality increase is raised by a five-digit amount?
Nightly greetings Yvonne

I would also be “overwhelmed” if I had to do your job tomorrow; I simply couldn’t do it. The consequence would be a quarter-year probation period or training. What is naturally accepted in professional life turns almost into the opposite when it comes to expensive purchases, such as building a house. I will never understand THAT.

P.s./Edit: this was a brief summary of my impressions... the examples are also comparable to purchases of inferior discount goods that can damage health with long-term consumption... no, I don't want to know who buys frozen products at Aldi now

I doubt that; the acceptance of the consumer advice center or TÜV is deeply rooted in the population in these cases. Regarding this example, even quite simple minds would trust the experience of these institutes. Corresponding publications are in all waiting rooms; should funds for purchasing the respective issue be avoided.

Rhineland greetings

This is where our ideas about building a house apparently differ.

You see: our opinions partly coincide. But only partly. You are from the industry – I reflect the opinions and perspectives of (more enlightened) homebuyers.

For me, it is not important that something is generally feasible; if necessary, by hook or by crook (just barely) and doable for everyone. To me, the – albeit perhaps painful – realization that renting can be the significantly better alternative also belongs to it.

For me, hook or by crook and just barely do not belong to what is feasible. I experienced the generation where family members had to contribute again after the 8th year of the homeowner subsidy ended and had to sell their house again in the 10th year because the financing expired and became even more expensive. Long-term contracts over 10 years were not even a topic.

I would also be "overwhelmed" if I had to do your job tomorrow; I simply couldn’t.

It’s not about a job; it’s about acquiring an expensive thing.

What is taken for granted in professional life almost turns into its opposite when it comes to expensive purchases like building a house. I will never understand THAT.

?? In almost every profession, there is no more training – most companies can no longer afford it. Someone is thrown into a new task with learning-by-doing and somehow it works. Interns and apprentices must participate after a few weeks and manage what a journeyman does. Call centers no longer provide advice; they only take calls for an external company. But that has less to do with house building...

I doubt that; acceptance of the consumer center or TÜV is deeply rooted among the population in these cases. In this example, even very simple minds would trust the experience of these institutions.

That’s exactly right. Just look at the websites of house providers. There’s always some kind of seal somewhere. One cheap provider has a service seal from die Welt, the next low-cost provider the TÜV seal, another the RAL quality seal, and another the creditworthiness seal...

My house building company has no seal. Why not? Because they are small and not nominated. No small SME is nominated in any test, suggested, or even tested. ... They also often don't offer meaningful websites. Yet they can be good and affordable.

But what do we do when we want to inform ourselves? We go online, scour the pages, play around with the modular systems of the house providers, and look for prices. They all have seals. Then some model home parks are visited on Sundays to find out that next year everything will be more expensive, the competition doesn’t offer what they do, a nice giveaway in the form of a car is added to the house, or a kitchen worth 5000 €. Great! Yes, there we have the 450 € mini-jobbers earning some extra on Sundays again.

Anyway: before I repeat myself – it’s a long topic anyway. My employer would make a 3-day seminar out of this; we here could fill the pub with it over the weekend.

I don’t want to sugarcoat anything, but I try to put myself in the thought processes of a consumer. As long as interest rates are still low enough so that the installment is cheaper than rent, it is also accepted that homeownership is only average – if the living space improves compared to renting, and that is usually the case.