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submitted 3 months ago by schizoidman@lemmy.zip to c/world@quokk.au

cross-posted from : https://lemmy.zip/post/64063873

Spanning about 71.5 sq m, a flat-packed house will arrive move-in ready, complete with a bedroom, kitchen, independent bathroom – and even preinstalled windows.

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[-] Warl0k3@lemmy.world 20 points 3 months ago

According to market research firm Mordor Intelligence

Something about these guys makes me not trust them. Dunno what it could possibly be...

[-] Akasazh@lemmy.world 7 points 3 months ago

They seem affiliated with palantir

[-] kalpol@lemmy.ca 5 points 3 months ago

Just the one palantir

[-] CubitOom@infosec.pub 13 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

The windows alone would be $25k where I live

[-] RickyRigatoni@piefed.zip 21 points 3 months ago

That's why we use linux here.

[-] CubitOom@infosec.pub 2 points 3 months ago

Can I get them to install an arch?

[-] PagPag@lemmy.world 7 points 3 months ago

It’s a tad disingenuous to compare windows here, and I think $25k is still a bit of an exaggeration.

$25k would get you top of the line shit and enough area for making a “glass house” of that size when looking at material costs alone.

Talking triple pane, extra thick, argon filled, tempered and impact resistance panes with a UV filter and any additional cost adders for the (foam filled) anodized aluminum frames.

Labor costs are another thing.

[-] CubitOom@infosec.pub 2 points 3 months ago

Ok, I guess I meant above builder quality double pane windows that are installed for you.

[-] glimse@lemmy.world 11 points 3 months ago

I worked on a house that was prefabbed in Indiana and trucked over here where we have tight building regulations. Like all electrical MUST be run through EMT conduit.

So imagine my surprise when I found a rats nest if Romex in the mechanical closet. None of the wires were even trimmed, it was a tied up ball of wires going into the panel.

I'd have the same concern getting a cheap house shipped in from overseas. What corners were cut to save money? Who can you call when you discover an issue with the construction 6 months later?

I see the appeal, I just don't think I'd be comfortable living in it

[-] merc@sh.itjust.works 9 points 3 months ago

Builders also often cut corners when building a standard build-on-site house too. If you have a newly built home, do you really think they're going to take your calls if you find an issue with the construction 6 months later?

It's probably worse if you order something prefabbed from China where they don't have to worry about their local reputation, and they're far from any legal consequences. But, where I live at least there are a lot of very powerful builders who are extremely well connected to the government. I can't remember them ever facing consequences for shoddy building.

[-] glimse@lemmy.world 7 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

If you have a newly built home, do you really think they're going to take your calls if you find an issue with the construction 6 months later?

Yes....because that's how the law works. Builders are on the hook long after construction is complete.

Furthermore, new construction has MULTIPLE waves of inspections throughout the build which makes detrimental corner cutting a lot harder. You obviously don't get that with prefabs of any kind.

It doesn't seem like you're very familiar with the industry. Builders get sued every day for problems they caused years ago. If they don't fix it, they get sued. It's part of the reason they're required to have insurance.

But, where I live at least there are a lot of very powerful builders who are extremely well connected to the government. I can't remember them ever facing consequences for shoddy building.

There's shitty builders everywhere (Lennar lol) who seem to operate for years with impunity but they're mostly doing full cookie cutter neighborhoods. Builders who do one-offs can be shitty, too, but have a portfolio and reputation for you to consider ahead of time. You just have to trust the images when you buy a house online

[-] cobysev@lemmy.world 8 points 3 months ago

She attributes the competitiveness of Chinese prefab housing to three key factors: cost, quality and efficiency.

“China’s well-established supply chains allow us to offer competitive pricing without compromising on quality,” she said

The YouTube video at the end of the article shows several issues they had with the pre-fab home, which they had to fix themselves after install. Not exactly a quality product. However, for only $25K, I'd expect to do some DIY touch-ups myself.

[-] Jhex@lemmy.world 11 points 3 months ago

fixing stuff in newly built homes is so standard you normally have scheduled visits as soon as you take possession of a home… so having to fix some stuff in these prefabs is not even any worse than buying a regular home

i'd like to know how they hold in time though

[-] cobysev@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

You're in luck! The linked video in the article is from a YouTube channel, where they did a "9 months later" video, discussing how the house held up over time. With their initial repairs and fixes, it seems to have done pretty well.

[-] Jhex@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

Amazing, thanks for the reply and link

[-] fubarx@lemmy.world 7 points 3 months ago

A friend of mine lived in a hillside neighborhood. Wanted a small ADU (standalone unit, usually pre-fab, for office or in-laws). Reasonably priced prefabs. Since it was on an incline, couldn't just plop it on cement blocks. Got an estimate for a poured foundation. Slab was too heavy. It had to be the lighter kind that traced the exterior edge, with anchors into bedrock to comply with code.

$300K, just for the foundation.

Noped right out.

[-] GreyEyedGhost@piefed.ca 4 points 3 months ago

I can't say that really surprises me. Things on a slope really want to be at the bottom of the slope, and it generally takes a lot to convince them otherwise. Also, whether you dig a hole to put the thing partially in or build a platform to put the thing on, it will be more than just putting a slab on more-or-less level ground.

[-] AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago

They could make them even more attractive by shipping them with solar panels and battery backup preinstalled.

[-] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 months ago

Is this again more orphan crushing.machinery?

Thanks!

[-] werty@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 months ago

According to market research firm Mordor Intelligence

this post was submitted on 10 May 2026
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