Windows in the offer not changeable?

Hello everyone,

we are currently about to sign a contract for a prefabricated house. So far, everything has gone very well with the representative at the show home park. We have an individual plan that has been implemented quite well.

Now there is one point that makes me a bit suspicious, and I don't know whether this is not a problem at all or possibly some kind of loophole for the company.
We would like to change the type of windows in the offer. Some places still have doors planned leading outside, which do not make sense to us at those spots or would not work at all, as there is a drop of one meter directly behind (we are building on a slope). Specifically, we would like to simply replace the doors in two places on the ground floor with large fixed-glass windows. Now the sales employee says that the same type of window/door is always planned in the offer, and that this can be adjusted later in the planning process. This makes little sense to me, and I cannot understand why the offer cannot just be made exactly as we want it. Can you say something about this? Is this not a big deal or should one be careful?

Best regards!

we are currently about to sign a contract for a prefabricated house.

Then leave it at that and stay away from it. Because:

We have an individual plan that was implemented quite well. [...] In some places, doors to the outside are still planned that make no sense to us at the respective spot or would not work at all, since there is immediately a one-meter drop behind (we are building on a slope).

That sounds to me very clearly like a contradiction. In a genuine individual plan, there are naturally no places where some kind of one-size-fits-all solution could be intended. More than the (usual, absolutely not only heard at the truly best company!) “no problem, can be done differently at no extra cost” sales talk can hardly be meant here. Apparently, you are supposed to buy a house model that is offered exactly the same way to customers with flat plots. Windows that require fall protection would not only need a barrier in front of (or behind, i.e., on the outside of) the opening sash but also safety glass for fixed elements at an extra cost.

Now the sales employee says that the same type of window/door is always planned in the offer, and that it can be adjusted later in the planning process. That makes little sense to me

It isn’t meant to make sense for you but for the salesman. The only thing that happens after signing are empty promises. After the cancellation period expires, you will only see the taillights of the bird, and he will change your name to “Dismiss” in his phone under your number. Such contracts should actually be signed with “LMAO” or “FCK.U” and then just say “that can be changed later anyway.” You realize yourself that fleeing is the best option here, right?

So far, everything has gone very well with the representative in the show home park.

P.S., this should actually be pinned right at the top here: House salespeople in show homes are regularly independent sales representatives without any authority to make binding commitments on behalf of the company presented there. It is also regularly stated in the fine print "There are no side agreements." Essentially, it should be punishable as misleading that these people are allowed to appear in the show homes as if they belonged there and had something to say. It should be mandatory that in every case on the shirt collar and on the business card larger than the company logo the word "Sales Representative" must appear.

I don’t understand the excitement. It is the most normal thing in the world that after the contract is concluded, the sales interest in the customer expires? At least when talking about products that are usually only bought once in a lifetime... And it is also normal that only what is stated in the contract applies, no side agreements. And it is also normal that changes after the contract conclusion cost money. It’s no different in the industry, except that there the customer is often not a one-time deal, or the customer knows that... In this respect, the salesperson did nothing illegal or questionable. He is right, everything can still be changed. He didn’t promise that this would happen at no cost. It would hardly be different with a salesperson of the home builder himself. I would rather ban naivety or kick out someone who properly shakes up the prospective buyers before and after the visit... nothing is given for free, once the customer is hooked, changes become expensive for him and you get what you have in writing. No more and no less. That’s how we handle it too, that’s how every profit-oriented company handles it.

It is the most natural thing in the world that after the contract is concluded, the sales interest in the customer expires?

Normal nowadays in the sense of the usual case, unfortunately yes. But apparently many "prefab" house buyers still trust the cheesy I-am-here-for-you babble. The sales agent implies (as a good fraudster, of course, without ever having "said" it) with the prospect of later changes that he will still be by the customers' side and honorably guarantee the fulfillment of his promises. No, the sellers of houses are even more rootless fellows than those of cars.

At least when we’re talking about products that you usually only buy once in your life...

With houses, we are talking about a product whose nature it is that the story only really starts with the signature. With the worst commission hunters, the gap between the perceived promise of support and reliable commitment to wooing the customer is greatest.

And it is also normal that changes after the contract are concluded cost money.

Normal in the sense of market reality is that customers are blinded by a "among friends, your satisfaction is our most sacred endeavor" atmosphere and coaxed into signing exactly on that basis.

Actually, I see it the same way as , if they obviously want to screw you over in advance, then why sign at all.

If the offer is really THAT GOOD and you will still sign there, then include EVERYTHING you want in the offer, because afterwards the GCs can dictate the price for it and it will be expensive....
GD