Prefabricated House Scams

There are various scams in the prefabricated house sector, and consumers need to be vigilant to avoid falling into traps.

1. Low-price lure, high overall cost
Some merchants promote the low price of bare prefabricated house modules on short-video platforms to attract consumers to sign simple contracts that only cover the cost of main assembly. However, during actual construction, essential items such as foundations, doors, windows, and utilities require additional payments, resulting in an overall cost that is 10%-30% higher than that of traditional brick-and-mortar structures. For example, a rural homestay operator was lured by the low price, faced continuous price increases during construction, and encountered problems such as roof leaks and wall cracks after completion. The merchant disappeared, resulting in a loss of over a hundred thousand yuan. Such cases are relatively common in the industry, and consumers need to be wary of the 'low-price trap' and clarify all cost details in the contract.

2. Unregulated industry, no quality assurance
The prefabricated house industry lacks unified standards, with delayed supervision and low entry barriers. Many small workshops dare to take orders with just a few machines and may even be unable to provide quality inspection reports, making product quality difficult to guarantee. Consumers who choose such merchants may face issues such as structural safety hazards and short service lives of the houses. It is advisable to prioritize manufacturers with formal qualifications that can provide complete quality inspection reports and request to view past cases and user reviews.

3. Standardization trap, difficult to renovate later
Once the molds for prefabricated houses are fixed, room layouts, door and window positions, and utility lines cannot be changed. If consumers do not fully consider their living needs for the next 15-20 years, the completed house may not meet family changes (such as an increase in population or functional adjustments), leading to long-term discomfort in living. It is recommended to plan living scenarios in detail before construction or choose manufacturers with more flexible modular designs to reduce the difficulty of later renovations.

4. '30-year lifespan' rumor scam
Some intermediaries spread rumors that 'prefabricated panel houses expire after 30 years', confusing the concept of '30 years for temporary buildings'. They pressure homeowners to sell at low prices by forwarding fake policy screenshots and spreading alarmist information in homeowner groups. In fact, according to the Unified Standard for Reliability Design of Building Structures (GB 50068-2018), the design service life of ordinary residential buildings is 50 years, and prefabricated panel houses also follow this standard. Intermediaries buy at low prices, renovate, and resell to make a profit, while homeowners suffer significant losses. Consumers should verify the authenticity of policies and not believe rumors easily.