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The representative survey examined how Hungarians think about building a family home, what concerns and expectations they associate with construction, and what kind of support would most increase their confidence before starting the process.
According to Wienerberger, the results show that a lack of predictability has become one of the main obstacles to homebuilding. Respondents identified reliable contractors, transparent costs and professional support as the most important conditions for a successful construction project.
If money were not an obstacle, 31% of respondents said they would build their own family home, while a further 26% said they would buy a newly built property. Almost three-quarters of respondents agreed that building a home makes it possible to create a property they can truly feel is their own.
Respondents identified uncertainty around construction costs as the biggest challenge, cited by 43%. This was followed by finding a reliable contractor, mentioned by 41%, and high construction and other costs, cited by 40%.
Asked which stage of construction they considered the riskiest, most respondents named the selection of a contractor, at 30%. This was followed by financing, at 21%, and preparing the budget, at 20%.
More than one-fifth of respondents said construction itself involves too much stress, while a similar share said permitting and administrative procedures are especially difficult.
The survey also found widespread distrust toward construction projects. Some 73% of respondents said they believe costs are almost certain to exceed original plans, while the same share said that only higher-income households can afford to build a home today. Another 60% said they believe contractors often save on the quality of materials in ways that are difficult to check.
Many respondents said they already feel uncertain before taking the first step. Some 41% said they do not consider themselves prepared to organize the construction of a family home, while only one in 10 said they would confidently take on such a task.
More than half of respondents said construction has become too complex for an average person to fully understand. At the same time, a similar proportion said the process can be kept under control with proper planning.
According to the survey, people considering construction primarily want help that makes the process more predictable. Detailed cost planning was named by 39% of respondents as the most useful form of support, followed by the professional supervision of construction, at 38%, and a list of verified and recommended contractors, at 35%.
More than one-quarter of respondents said they would also want a personal professional consultation before starting construction.
Wienerberger said the findings show that people building homes are not only looking for quality building materials, but also for a reliable professional background. The company said this is the basis of its Mesterház Program, which supports homebuilders with technical advice, detailed material quantity calculations and on-site Mesterház certification inspections during the construction process. A certified contractor network will also soon be available on the company’s website.
“One of the most important lessons of our research is that Hungarians still want to build their own homes, but they increasingly experience construction as a matter of trust. Nearly half of respondents consider unpredictable costs and finding a reliable contractor to be the biggest risks. This clearly shows that today it is no longer enough to offer excellent building materials: it is just as important that people building homes receive professional support and reliable partners throughout the entire process. We created the Mesterház Program in line with this approach,” said Zsolt István Nagy, marketing manager at Wienerberger.
Since the launch of the program, nearly 200 Mesterház homes have been completed across Hungary. Wienerberger said its goal is to expand the circle of construction professionals participating in the program in the coming years and make professional support available to more people building homes.
According to the company, such support is now one of the most important conditions for safe and predictable construction.
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