The price of a prefab cabin or sauna covers the building as it leaves the factory. To have it standing on your site and in use, you need more: delivery, a crane, a foundation, connections and permits. Here is the list we go through with clients, and what makes each item cost more or less.

Budget separately for delivery, the crane or forklift, the foundation, installation, utility connections, drainage, permits and VAT. Our prices exclude VAT and delivery and installation, which we calculate for each project. The site decides these costs more than the model does: distance, access, ground conditions and existing utilities.

We calculate delivery for each project. What drives the cost:
• Distance and route. Islands and remote areas can add ferry crossings and up to two extra weeks.
• Trailer type. Æqua modules are about the size of a shipping container and are the cheapest to ship. Tiny D is 3.9 m high and needs a low-bed trailer.
• How many units travel together. One trailer carries two Tiny D or Rustic units, or up to four Æqua modules, so a second unit often costs less to deliver than the first.

The client books and pays for the lifting equipment. On open rural sites a forklift is often enough; with obstacles between the truck and the site, you need a crane. The crane size depends on the weight of the building and on how far the crane stands from the truck and from the final position. Every extra metre of reach can move you up a crane class, so a short, clear path from the road to the site saves money. If strong wind or rain stops the lift, rescheduling costs are also paid by the client.

The foundation is prepared by the client, usually with a local contractor. Most of our buildings stand on concrete piers or on concrete blocks on levelled, compacted soil, which is the cheapest option. Ground screws cost more but suit slopes, uneven ground and seasonal cabins. Add an engineer's fee if the ground is soft or sloping, or if the site is exposed to strong wind and the building must be anchored.

Rustic is always installed by our team, because unfolding it takes training. A Tiny D or a single-module Æqua can be installed by a local contractor or by your own staff, with our instructions and online support; we usually also send an installation supervisor. The installation terms are part of the offer for each project.

A local electrician and plumber make the connections. Inside the building everything is ready, so the work on the building itself takes minutes. The cost is in what happens on the site:
• bringing a three-phase supply to within 1 m of the building, with a cable sized for the distance;
• a separate earth, made by the electrician;
• a water supply pipe with a heating cable down to below the frost line;
• a water test and filter if the water comes from a well;
• power on site during installation.

Connecting to a public sewer is the simplest case. Without one, budget for a septic tank, a water recycling system or a drain combined with an incinerating toilet. Fully off-grid sites also need a battery and solar panels. These systems vary a lot in price, so decide on drainage early.

Rules differ by country and municipality. We provide documentation for the local authority; ask a local architect or lawyer which approvals your site needs and budget for their fees. If no standard model fits and you need a bespoke design, that is a separate service, with a guide fee of 5–10% of the project's expected production cost.

Our prices exclude VAT because rates differ between countries. Add the VAT of your country, or check with your accountant whether it can be reclaimed.

1. Choose a site with clear access for a truck and a short distance from the road.
2. Put the building where the ground is firm and level.
3. Bring power and water close to the building before delivery.
4. Decide on drainage before you order.
5. Order several units together to share the transport.
6. Send us photos and the location of the site early; we will point out what may add cost.

If you plan guest cabins, see how to calculate payback, and read what happens on installation day in From Factory to Unfolded.