What is a turnkey house?

The definition: What do I actually get?

The contract is king

Since the law is silent, the contract speaks for itself. Whether a turnkey house The only thing that determines whether it is truly finished is the so-called "construction description".

This is the most important document for the purchase.

• If it says "ready for painting", you have to paint or wallpaper the walls and ceilings yourself.
• If it says "ready for occupancy", you can theoretically move in immediately.

A turnkey house is therefore only ever as complete as the list you signed. It's a variable product. Many homeowners are surprised to find that the landscaping (garden, walkways, carport) is often completely missing from their turnkey home . The house itself is finished, but you need rubber boots to get to the front door.

Turnkey house vs. shell house

To avoid confusion, let's make the following distinctions:

• Shell house: Here you buy the weatherproof shell. Windows and roof are included, the interior is unfinished.
• Turnkey house: Here, the contractor takes care of the majority of the interior finishing. Screed, heating, plumbing and electrical systems are installed.

However, even with turnkey homes , there are different levels of service. Often, flooring and painting are excluded as "owner work" to visually lower the catalog price. A truly turnkey home, in the sense of "pack your bags and move in," is often the premium option, which must be explicitly agreed upon.

The general contractor: Your single point of contact

The main feature that makes a turnkey house attractive is the organization.

If you build with an architect, you have contracts with 20 different tradespeople (bricklayers, electricians, roofers).

If you buy a turnkey house , you only have one contractual partner: the general contractor (GC) or total contractor (TC).

• He coordinates the tradesmen.
• He is responsible for deadlines.
• He guarantees the price.

If the tiler doesn't show up, that's not your problem with a turnkey house project , it's the general contractor's. You're buying the result, not the process.

Advantages and disadvantages: Is a turnkey house right for you?

The advantages: safety and peace

• Cost certainty: A turnkey house is usually offered at a fixed price. You know the cost on the day you sign the contract. This puts the bank and your mind at ease.
• Adherence to deadlines: Contracts for turnkey houses often specify a fixed handover date. If construction is delayed, the supplier often has to pay penalties.
• Minimal effort: You don't have to be on the construction site every day. A turnkey house is ideal for people with busy professional lives.

The disadvantages: Flexibility comes at a price

• Limited individuality: A turnkey house is often based on standardized plans. If you want to move walls, that costs extra.
• Sampling: The materials included in the standard price (tiles, fixtures) are often basic. If you want parquet flooring instead of laminate in your turnkey house , you'll pay hefty surcharges.
• Transparency: Since you pay a fixed price, you often don't see the cost of the individual trades. You don't know It's rare to find out exactly what the electrician earns when buying a turnkey house .

The cost trap: What's often not included

Many homeowners underestimate their costs because they think that everything is included in a turnkey house .

Common additional costs that are not included in the price of a turnkey house :

• Additional construction costs: fees for building permit, development (water/electricity to the house), surveying.
• Earthworks: If your property is on a slope, the excavation will be more expensive. The basic offer for a turnkey house often assumes an "ideal, flat meadow".
• Kitchen: In Switzerland, the kitchen is usually included, but in imported prefabricated houses from abroad, it often isn't. Check whether your turnkey house comes with a fitted kitchen.

What you need to pay attention to in the contract

If you opt for a turnkey house , the building specifications are your bible.

• Avoid vague formulations: Sentences like "high-quality tiles" are worthless. A good turnkey house is defined as: "Tiles up to CHF 50/m² material price".
• Payment plan: Pay only as construction progresses. A reputable provider of a turnkey house will not require a huge upfront payment.
• Branded products: Make sure that brands (e.g. V-Zug, Laufen, Geberit) are mentioned so that no no -name products are installed in your turnkey house .

Turnkey house: solid construction or prefabricated building?

The term "turnkey house" says nothing about the construction method.

• You can buy a turnkey house as a prefabricated house (timber frame construction).
• You can buy a turnkey house as a solid house (brick by brick).

The only decisive factor is the type of contract (everything from one source), not the material of the walls.

Conclusion

A turnkey house is the most convenient way to become a homeowner – provided you understand the term correctly. It doesn't automatically mean "ready to move in," but rather "finished according to the building specifications." The biggest advantage lies in cost certainty and the fact that all responsibilities are handled by a single point of contact.

However, this security comes at the cost of less flexibility when it comes to changes. To prevent your dream of a turnkey home from turning into a nightmare, you must meticulously review the contract. Anything not explicitly stated in writing is not included. Always factor in a 10 to 15% budget reserve for additional construction costs and special requests, even with a fixed-price offer.

If you are unsure whether the offered price for the turnkey house is in line with the market or whether the location justifies the value, it is worth using Loft 's data analysis to get a neutral second opinion.

Glossary

• Turnkey house: A construction project that is built by a general contractor at a fixed price and handed over to the client upon completion (scope as per contract).
• Construction description: The detailed document that defines which services and materials are included in the price for a turnkey house .
• **General contractor (GC): The client's sole contractual partner in the turnkey house** project , who coordinates and pays all the tradespeople.
• Ready for occupancy: The state in which a house is completely finished (including painters, floors) and can be lived in immediately – the highest level for a turnkey house .
• Ready for painting: A stage of construction where walls are plastered but not yet painted or wallpapered.