Last updated: August 2026
Modern off-site construction is growing quickly across Europe. There are excellent manufacturers, new entrants and very different levels of specification behind homes that can look remarkably similar online. The best way to compare them is simple:
ask specific questions and expect specific answers.
These are the ten questions we believe every buyer should ask — including when considering a TheHouz home.
1. Is the price for a shell or a completed home?
This is where comparisons often go wrong. A weathertight shell and a completed home are very different products. Ask for a written inclusion schedule covering items such as:
heating · ventilation · electrics · bathrooms · kitchen · flooring · internal finishes · delivery · installation
“Everything included” is not a specification.
2. What products and brands are actually included?
“Premium windows” or “high-quality heating system” tells you very little. Ask for the actual manufacturer, system and specification wherever possible. That allows you to compare quotations properly, understand what you are buying and know what will need maintaining or replacing later. TheHouz identifies the principal systems and selected products within the project specification.
3. What is the wall and roof build-up?
Ask the manufacturer to explain the construction from inside to outside:
internal finish → structure → insulation → airtightness and moisture-control layers → external cavity → facade
The building envelope is one of the most important parts of the home. A serious manufacturer should be able to explain not just what each layer is, but why it is there.
4. What has actually been tested, certified or independently assessed?
Do not stop at the word “certified.” Ask:
- What product or system does the certificate cover?
- Which standard was used?
- Who carried out the testing or assessment?
- Is it applicable to the home being offered?
- What documentation will I receive?
Requirements and certification routes differ between European markets, so the answer should be relevant to the country where the home will be installed. The distinction between tested, certified, designed to and manufactured to matters.
5. How will my home demonstrate regulatory compliance?
A home must satisfy the applicable building requirements in its destination market. Ask who is responsible for:
structural design · energy performance · fire requirements · ventilation · drainage · statutory submissions · inspections · final certification
Also ask which documents will be provided at handover. Good compliance is not simply a statement on a website. It leaves a paper trail.
6. How does the home get to my site?
This matters more than many buyers expect. Different construction systems have very different transport and lifting requirements. Volumetric buildings may arrive as large three-dimensional sections. Panelised systems such as TheHouz can be transported in substantially flatter building elements and assembled on site. Before committing, ask the manufacturer to assess:
road access · turning space · unloading · crane position · overhead restrictions · site levels · foundation readiness
Site logistics should be understood before production begins.
7. What is not included in the house price?
The price of the home is not necessarily the complete project budget. Depending on the project, additional costs can include:
foundations · groundworks · drainage · utility connections · professional fees · planning · surveys · access works · landscaping
Ask for the boundary between manufacturer scope and client/site scope in writing. That one document can prevent a large number of misunderstandings later.
8. What is the realistic programme?
Ask for the complete sequence:
design → approvals → manufacture → delivery → assembly → fit-out → commissioning → handover
Then ask what conditions must be satisfied before each stage starts. A credible programme should also explain the main risks — planning, design approvals, utility connections, site preparation, weather-sensitive works or supply-chain items. A realistic programme is more valuable than an impressive headline number.
9. What warranty and aftercare are provided?
Ask what happens after you receive the keys. You should understand:
- structural guarantee;
- building-envelope cover;
- workmanship;
- manufacturer warranties;
- heating and ventilation equipment;
- maintenance requirements;
- response procedures;
- servicing options.
TheHouz combines its building guarantee with TheHouz Care, providing technical support and scheduled maintenance options after handover. The real test of aftercare is not what happens in week one. It is who supports the home several years later.
10. Can I experience a completed home?
Renderings are useful. A finished building tells you much more. Walk through one if you can. Look at junctions and finishes. Open the doors. Listen to the acoustics. Experience the room proportions and internal temperature.
A show home gives you something extremely valuable: a physical reference against which every other promise can be judged. The TheHouz L Family™ show home is available to experience in person, with a virtual tour available for customers who cannot visit immediately.
The principle behind all ten questions
Almost every question on this list does the same thing: it turns a marketing claim into something measurable. A specification. A drawing. A test report. A programme. A warranty. A completed building. Good manufacturers should be comfortable providing evidence. And buyers should feel comfortable asking for it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest warning sign when comparing manufacturers?
Vague answers to specific questions. If you ask about insulation, products, testing, inclusions or site costs, you should receive information that can be checked — not simply adjectives such as “premium”, “advanced” or “high quality”.
Should I get several quotations?
Yes. But compare them on the same basis. A cheaper quotation may simply exclude more. Try to compare the same home size, completion level, heating system, windows, finishes, delivery scope and site responsibilities.
Is visiting a show home important?
Very. Photographs and renders cannot fully communicate acoustics, room proportions, finishes, door operation, temperature or general build quality. A completed home provides evidence that a manufacturer can actually deliver what it describes.
What should I have before signing?
At minimum, you should understand:
the home specification · principal products · price and exclusions · regulatory responsibilities · programme · site requirements · warranty terms · payment structure
If those points are unclear, the project is not ready to become a contract.