Prefabricated homes in Switzerland: consider all the costs
Ordering a house from a catalogue is convenient. But prefabricated homes don’t include everything: many extras are often charged on top. Comparis explains.
11.11.2024
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1. What is a prefabricated home?
Prefabricated – or modular – houses are wholly or partly manufactured in a factory and delivered to the construction site. Only the final assembly of the individual components is completed on site. Traditional architect-designed houses sometimes also involve a degree of prefabrication, but not to the same extent.
You can choose a prefabricated house from a catalogue. If you want an individually designed home, you should discuss your project with an architect. They will produce a bespoke design for the building.
The site preparation work and building regulations are the same for both types of house. Nevertheless, there are pros and cons to prefabricated homes compared to bricks-and-mortar properties designed by an architect.
Advantages of prefabricated houses
Low basic price
Less time to build
Possible to view before building (show homes)
Construction less weather-dependent than for bespoke homes
Disadvantages of prefabricated houses
Site preparation work and additional services are often not included in the basic price
Less design freedom
Less durable than a traditional house
Value less stable
The decision between building your own house and buying a finished property is a fundamental one.
The purchase of a finished property is usually less time-consuming than construction. However, the basic structures and the room layout are predetermined. In addition, there is an increased risk of hidden defects, which only become visible after purchase.
The option of building your own home offers great design freedom. You can choose the floor plan, the layout and the materials according to your wishes. But building a house requires a lot of time and commitment.
Prefabricated houses are an interesting alternative to classic construction. As a general rule, you can save a lot of time in planning and construction.
2. How much does a prefabricated home cost in Switzerland?
The cheapest modular homes in Switzerland have a catalogue price starting at around 400,000 francs for a single-family house. Depending on the property, however, costs can quickly double.
The price depends on factors such as the construction standard and your individual requirements.
Different levels of completion
Some manufacturers allow you to choose from different levels of completion. If you have some building skills, you might want to choose a low completion level, often described as the building shell or partially finished construction. A building shell gives you the basic outer construction plus the necessary preparatory work on the inside. It’s then up to you to complete the interior yourself. This includes installing the heating system.
Important: check whether the kit includes things like electrical and plumbing systems and flooring. At the highest completion level – a turnkey house – these should already be installed. Manufacturers claim that you can then move straight in.
What does “turnkey” mean?
The term “turnkey” is not clearly defined. Each company delivers this service in accordance with their own interpretation of the word. Check, therefore, whether flooring, wallpaper and paintwork as well as connections to sewers and other utilities are included in the price.
The price of individuality
Providers of modular homes are usually flexible when it comes to accommodating requests for personal changes. But be aware: any alterations will quickly push up the price of the project, especially if you request them at a late stage. This is at odds with the basic concept of a prefabricated house and the financial outlay will end up similar to that of an architect-designed house.
If you opt for a prefabricated home for cost reasons, you should therefore limit yourself to the basic product offered by the manufacturer.
Use the Comparis mortgage calculator to find out in just a few steps how much you can afford to pay for your ideal home.
3. What additional costs can I expect?
The quoted catalogue price is just the start. Building a prefabricated house often involves considerable additional expense. Remember that different providers include different services in their basic product.
Cost of site preparation work
For architect-designed and modular homes alike, depending on the product you may be charged extra for site preparation work, such as:
Ground investigation
Securing an access route for heavy goods vehicles
Secure position for the crane
Construction waste container
Electricity
Water
Cost of construction and permits
The final price will include other costs as well, which may be as much as the basic price. These costs include:
Land acquisition costs
Development costs
Planning application fees
Utility connection charges
Cost of excavation work and construction of a basement
Landscaping
Additional costs for the purchase of land, the land register entry and home insurance
Cost of maintenance and operation
When assessing the value of a product, don’t just consider quantity or size. The quality of the individual components and the overall design is also important. To ensure you are fully in the picture with regard to build quality and maintenance and operating costs, clarify the following:
Structure of the outer shell
Essential design details
Expected energy requirements
Standard of kitchen and bathroom fixtures and fittings
Quality of flooring and wall and ceiling finishes
4. How do I find the right prefabricated home?
Once you have drawn up a shortlist of possible builders, you should visit some of their model homes or previous projects. For example, you can find a selection of show homes – 14 prefabricated houses at present – in Suhr in the canton of Aargau. Some manufacturers (e.g. Swisshaus) even offer virtual home tours involving the use of 3D glasses. (Both links are not available in English.)
Have you decided on a house? If so, make sure a legally binding building permit is a condition of a definitive purchase. Modular homes are subject to the same building regulations as architect-designed houses.
Does a prefabricated home tick all your boxes? Have all the legal and contractual matters been settled? If so, a prefabricated house can be a viable alternative to an architect-designed house.
Before deciding to buy, make sure you are fully aware of all the general conditions and the additional costs involved. If possible, have the legal aspects checked by a professional. Arrange a mortgage for your new home in good time
This article was first published on 07.02.2014
