Building a new home is a huge project that not everyone can reasonably envision piloting on their own. This requires a certain expertise, a variety of skills and a lot of energy. You have to choose the land, have the plans drawn up by an architect, choose the materials and craftsmen, monitor the site, etc. Unless you are a building professional, it is therefore preferable to move towards a more comfortable and safer solution: a turnkey house.
Summary
What is a turnkey house?
A turnkey house is a project in which the owner entrusts all of the work to a builder. The two parties sign a legal contract with a notary which clearly defines the clauses for carrying out the project.
Depending on the package chosen, the manufacturer carries out, among other things:
- The shell;
- Putting the house out of water and air;
- Thermal and sound insulation work;
- Connections to the local water, gas and electricity network;
- Installation of the kitchen, heating and bathroom;
- Wall and floor coverings;
- The layout of the exterior;
- Decorative elements.
The owner’s sole obligation is to make the various payments agreed upon according to the schedule. On the date scheduled for delivery, he then collects the keys to his house.
What are the advantages of a turnkey house?
Opt for a turnkey house has advantages on several levels:
A peaceful solution
By opting for a turnkey house, the purchaser saves himself from many hassles. It is in fact addressed to a single point of contact : the constructor. The latter is responsible for the coordination and supervision of the work from start to finish. He supervises the work of the various craftsmen on the site, ensuring that standards and deadlines are met. It also manages incidents and possible price supplements.
For his part, the future owner can continue his daily activities while his house is under construction. And thanks to progress reports produced by the manufacturer, he can follow up without having to go to the job site every day.
Flexibility
At the start of the project, the builder generally offers the buyer house plans depending on the land. Corn the future owner has the last word. He can in fact customize the plans in the catalog according to his needs and tastes. Number of rooms, number of floors, surfaces, type of kitchen, painting, openings to the outside … it is quite possible to obtain a residence that meets your expectations as much as possible.
Strong guarantees
The contract for the construction of a turnkey house is one of the strongest in terms of guarantees. Indeed, once it is signed, the construction budget should normally no longer change and the builder has the obligation to deliver the turnkey house on the date set. The buyer can therefore budget with some precision his construction project and is thus safe from unpleasant surprises.
In addition, upon delivery of the house, it automatically benefits from the following guarantees:
- The ten-year guarantee ;
- The apparent defects guarantee;
- The guarantee of perfect completion;
- A two-year guarantee.
Professional support
Building a house is a large-scale project that is often that of an entire family. You can quickly feel lost in the choice of model (single storey or floor), the type of materials, the arrangements to be made and many others. Being accompanied by a team of professionals in the preliminary stages is therefore a real asset. The advice of the builder and his experts are indeed invaluable in making the best choices.
How much does a turnkey house cost?
The price of a turnkey house mainly depends on its area. Of course, the larger a house, the higher its price. On average, it is necessary to plan between 1000 and 1500 € per m2, excluding land price. You can therefore start from your budget to define the area of your house by dividing it by the cost per m2. But that’s not all. The cost of a turnkey house may vary significantly depending on other criteria such as:
- The type of roof;
- The complexity of the plans;
- The type of insulation;
- The quality of the materials;
- The type of equipment.
As in any other field, we distinguish three main ranges of turnkey houses :
- Entry level : these are the most accessible turnkey houses. Ideal for small budgets, they are built and equipped with first price materials. Their average price turns around 120,000 € for an area of 120 m2;
- The mid-range : it is the most adopted household range in France. This type of house includes modern finishes and is perfectly insulated thermally and energetically. For a turnkey house mid-range with a surface area of 120 m2, it is necessary to provide on average € 156,000 ;
- The top of the range : these are luxury turnkey houses. They are built with first choice materials and incorporate equipment from major brands. For a turnkey house of this standing with an area of 120 m2, you have to pay around € 180,000.
It is also necessary to provide a budget for finishing work and interior and exterior design, such as painting, the garden, the terrace, etc.
How to choose the right builder for your turnkey home?
The choice of the builder is a crucial step for the success of a construction project. turnkey house. Being your single point of contact throughout the work, he must have solid technical skills and a perfect knowledge of the regulations in force in the real estate sector.
To make the right choice, therefore, take the following criteria into account:
The reputation of the manufacturer
Building a house often requires the investment of life savings. It is therefore preferable not to take any risk by entrusting the project to the latest arrival on the market. Favor a builder with a solid reputation and having already proven itself on several sites. To be sure, check its date of registration in the commercial register, as well as its references.
A serious builder will not hesitate to show you the houses he has already built. Go visit them to ensure the quality of his work. And since you can never be too careful, do not limit yourself only to the sites it shows you. Also look for other houses made by the same builder in your town or region.
The working method
Builders are increasingly employing works foremen. The latter are responsible for organizing the internal teams of craftsmen or coordinating the intervention of subcontractors while ensuring the quality of the work. Take a look at the number of sites that each driver is responsible for. This is often revealing of the quality of the monitoring your site will benefit from, as well as the frequency with which you will receive reports. For example, a site supervisor who has about twenty sites under his responsibility will be more efficient than another who takes care of about sixty sites.
The terms of the contract
Only focus on manufacturers offering a individual construction contract (CCMI) based on the law of December 19, 1990. It is the safest contract for owners. It saves you from having to bear an additional cost, even if the costs of materials change during the work.
In addition, in order to avoid procedural flaws later on, make sure that the contract includes the following information:
- The address of the land;
- The technical notice;
- The plans of the house;
- The notice of your rights and your duties;
- The overall price agreed;
- Payment terms ;
- The delivery time ;
- Late penalties;
- A note on the possibility of having you assist at the reception of the house.
The price of the services
It is often the decisive criterion in the final choice of the manufacturer. But beware ! Beware of proposals whose prices are excessively lower than those of the competition. This can hide the use of poor quality materials and / or the employment of low-skilled labor. Keep in mind that a house is made to accommodate you for a long time and that you can sell it later. So look for the best quality / price ratio rather than an extremely low price.
In addition, beyond the objective criteria, trust your feelings. If you do not feel confident with your interlocutor, if there is a detail wrong or if you have the impression that information is being hidden from you, do not sign the contract. In addition, know that you have a 10-day right of withdrawal from the date of signature of a contract for the construction of a turnkey house.
Read also: 5 good reasons to hire a home builder
