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Building a house is a decision that will last for many decades. At the prefab home builder Hartl Haus, a shift is currently underway: the preferences of private homeowners are changing. Many are now over 40 when they build a home and are already thinking about their future life in the house right from the start.
We spoke with Philipp Müller, Head of Marketing at Hartl Haus, about how flexibly prefabricated homes can adapt to new life stages, what to consider when choosing a lot, and which planning mistakes can be easily avoided.
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What to Expect in This Interview
- why a single-story home offers greater safety and comfort in old age, and what that means in terms of lot size
- how a bungalow can be divided later on to create a separate living area for a person in need of care and a caregiver
- what accessibility features you should consider right from the planning stage, from low-threshold transitions to pre-installed conduit for future technology
- Why getting good advice before construction can save you from costly renovations
SBC: Staying in their own homes for as long as possible and having senior-friendly housing: Are these wishes that your clients have already mentioned to you in practice?
Müller: We’ve seen a shift in recent years; some of our clients are over 40 when they build a house. Their needs are changing as a result that they are more focused on senior living. Single-story bungalows are therefore very popular, as their smart layouts make the best possible use of the available space and allow all living areas to be reached in just a few steps.
SBC: What advice would you give to a family interested in a prefab home that will also suit their needs later in life? What should they pay particular attention to?
Müller: We recommend thinking beyond your current living needs right from the planning stage and choosing a home that can be adapted as flexibly as possible to different stages of life. Consider a two-story house with a staircase of 15 steps: if you go up and down it several times a day, that adds up to well over several hundred steps throughout the day. Stair-free living is also particularly appealing for other reasons: no tripping hazards, no stair gates, and no risk of falling.
“We’ve seen a shift in recent years; some of our customers are over 40 when they build a house. Their needs are changing as a result that they are more focused on senior living.”
SBC: How flexible are prefabricated homes if my needs change and I want to make renovations later on?
Müller: Prefabricated homes are inherently very flexible in terms of design and can also be easily adapted—especially single-story homes. The key factors are always the construction method and forward-thinking planning. Among other options, we offer a bungalow designed so that part of the living space can be partitioned off at a later date—without extensive construction—to create a second living area. This wing could even be equipped with its own entrance, thus providing a separate area for a person requiring care and a caregiver. In general, additions and story extensions are also relatively easy to implement with prefabricated homes.
SBC:What should you consider when choosing a lot to ensure comfort and safety in your later years?
Müller: Even though the living space in bungalows and multi-story homes is now nearly identical, not every lot is suitable: A bungalow requires about one-third more lot area. It can also be challenging with narrow or irregularly shaped lots. Building density and minimum setbacks must also be taken into account. In return, a bungalow can do without some ancillary spaces, and the yard can become an extension of the living room through a covered outdoor area. Indoors and outdoors merge into one living space.
SBC:What mistakes do you see most often when planning a home, particularly when it comes to senior living, comfort, and safety?
Müller: Accessibility features cost almost nothing extra during the planning phase. This includes, among other things, low-threshold transitions, sufficient doorway widths, and pre-installed conduit for future technology. If you take these factors into account from the very beginning, you can almost entirely avoid future renovations and the associated retrofitting.
SBC:If you could give just one piece of advice to people considering a prefab home, what would it be?
Müller: Ask questions, ask questions, ask questions! Good advice is essential and worth every minute you invest up front. That way, you can avoid cumbersome renovations and additional costs. A house is a decision that lasts for many decades. When planning, you should therefore ask yourself not only how you want to live today, but also what your family may need in the future.
Thank you for the interview!
HARTL HAUS, an Austrian family-owned business, manufactures prefabricated homes and carpentry products. The company produces 100 percent of its products at its own factory in Echsenbach, Lower Austria. In addition to prefabricated houses using timber-frame construction, the company also builds extensions and additions, as well as doors, windows, and custom-made kitchens. Learn more at hartlhaus.at
