Can Prefabricated Houses Be Purchased?

Whether prefabricated houses can be purchased requires comprehensive consideration of multiple factors and cannot be generalized.

Advantages of Prefabricated Houses

• Relatively Low Price: A finished prefabricated house is priced at only 200,000 RMB, and transportation and delivery are all included. This is highly attractive to homebuyers with limited budgets.
• Fast Construction Speed: The walls, kitchens, bathrooms, plumbing, and electrical wiring of prefabricated houses are all completed in one go in the factory. The entire house is disassembled, packaged, and then shipped overseas by sea. After landing, it only needs to be assembled by connecting the parts and simply treating the joints before it can be directly occupied. This significantly shortens the construction cycle and can quickly meet housing needs.

Disadvantages of Prefabricated Houses

• Structural Safety: During the construction of prefabricated houses, the connections between panels are relatively weak, and the overall integrity is not as good as that of cast-in-place structural houses. If not professionally inspected and reinforced, there may be safety hazards during long-term use or in the event of natural disasters such as earthquakes, such as relatively poor seismic performance. For example, the 2023 Wenzhou collapse incident was related to structural issues with prefabricated panel houses.
• Convenience of Use: The sound insulation and thermal insulation effects of prefabricated houses are usually not as good as those of cast-in-place structural houses, which may affect the living experience. For example, it can be as cold as an ice cellar in winter and as hot as a steamer in summer, and you can clearly hear your neighbors arguing. Moreover, maintenance is also more troublesome; repairing one panel may require dismantling half a wall.

Purchase Recommendations

If considering purchasing a prefabricated house, ensure that all relevant documents for the house are complete, such as real estate ownership certificates. If the prefabricated house has been professionally inspected and reinforced and meets local building codes and safety standards, it can also be considered for purchase at a reasonable price. However, before purchasing, be sure to request the seller to provide relevant inspection reports and reinforcement certificates. You can also ask the housing and urban-rural development bureau for a safety appraisal, check whether it is on the demolition list, and set aside at least 10% of the budget for maintenance costs.