Is anyone here familiar with modular homes? I am considering buying some land and having one constructed. I have been doing alot of research and have some pretty good ideas of whats out there. I have tons of knowledge of the construction industry and can build almost anything, I just don't have the time it will take for me to build my own. I come here first for just about any information I need with anything. I would greatly appreciate any input.


Micahel.....

 

Modulars are stick built but in a factory setting where weather is not a factor. You can get a variety, and even finish the interior yourself. 2 0r 3 storey available. Check with local codes as far as fire wall rating if you are going to have an attached garage (some places want fire code rock on both sides of the wall) This could be done during construction but, you have to specify. Lots of sites to check including some on this page. Good luck, George

 

Both my house and then later my seperate garage are modular. When it came time for me to build the garage, I designed it using AutoCad, and gave it to my builder. He had the factory convert it to reality by engineering the proper trusses, wall modules, etc. When it came time to build it, the trucks showed-up with the trusses and wall sections, and it was erected in a day. The next day the roof decking was applied, and not too much after that it was roofed, and the overhead door installed. The wall sections came with the windows already installed, sheathing on and Tyvec applied. It was really slick! I sided it myself and installed the soffits. Compaired to site-built...the walls (32' x 42') were very straight and true. This is really the way to go. Let me add that this was not just a simple box shape. Even though the footprint is 32' x x42', the 'car' side of the building is 24' x 42'. There is an 8' x 19' shed 'room' with double 36" doors and a covered 8' x 19' patio with three 8" x 8" pillars. There is also a stepped gable at the front with a 4' setback. The front half of the garage has a 10' flat ceiling with W trusses above...designed for overhead storage and 8' of clearance for standing up in the storage area. The back half has an 18' ceiling with flat (I think they're called scissor) trusses to form a cathedral ceiling, and allow enough height for the lift I'll get some day. There is also storage above the shed ceiling that is wide-open and accessable from the garage. I also had them install four skylights in the rear half.

The reason I told you all this is to say that they were able to follow my plans, and build exactly what I wanted. I'm very happy with the panalized construction technique.

MR

 

I've owned one since 1985, and have never regretted it. New frineds are always amazed when I tell them it's a modular; I have to take them down into the basement and show them where it went together before they'll believe me! I definitely think the controlled conditions they're built in make a big difference in the quality.

 

Coincidentally,

My wife and I are going to an RV show today, south of seattle, where some modular home displays are supposed to be on hand. I bought some land down in Texas a few years ago, and will retire in a couple of years, so getting ready. Naturally, I prefer a nice brick home, but, if finances don't allow, then I want to have a fall-back plan . These are not to be confused with mobile homes or trailer houses. These ar prebuilt, and mounted on a permanent foundation.

Suggest you attend some shows in your area, or locate some dealers, and check'em out.

 

So, on the subject of modular homes, do they depreciate in value like trailers do or do they gain value like a house? Financially, I imagine modular homes are cheaper to build than a house but not as cheap as trailers.

Correct?

 

Modular homes are stick built in a factory, basically the same way a stick built home is built on site. The difference is that the modular is built to be moved. My brother and a friend both have modular homes. The only way to tell is to look at the main interior wall that joins the 2 sides together. Just a bit wider than you would expect. Both homes have APPRECIATED in value. They are not in the same ballpark of a trailer.
Cost is really a toss up. Obviously you need property to put the house on so that adds to cost.
To answer your question, yes they appreciate just like a site built home. In most cases they are cnstructed much better than a site built....
My $.02...
-reever

 

My house is assessed the same as the stick-built ones around me. There's not one word in my assessment about it being a modular; because it's built to local building codes, there's no reason to differentiate the value.

f2fiddy, I see you're in Jersey. My home is a Medallion by Ritz-Craft, built in Mifflinburg, PA. I'm sure there are dealer/ builders in your area that handle them. Quality is top-notch: had a few minor problems the first year (drywall cracks), which were quickly handled. Other than that, house has been perfect. How many stick builders can claim that?

 

I don't own one but 2 friends do and they are very happy and claim that being built in a factory like condition helps with the quality.It makes sense.I think they seem great.

 

I've owned 4 homes in my life, and the one before my current was an 1800 sq ft ranch style modular on 2 acres of land. We loved that place. It was built in the early 90s and was well taken care of, but we had no indication while we lived there that it was built worse than a typical stick house. Some people that don't know much will put them in the same category as trailers... not knocking trailers but there's a big difference. I wouldn't hesitate to own another one, only moved because I got a job in another state.

 

In Kansas moduler homes usually run about 10% less per square foot to build then stick built homes (or more depending on your location). With 2X10 floor joists and 2X6 exterior walls their construction was better then most stick built homes. They also have two big advantages over common contractors. One is that they are built inside and you don't risk a couple inches of rain warping all that soft white pine and seperating the glue on the plywood and the house is DONE ASAP, instead of being 70% to 90% done for months while contractors move onto other jobs. Most places claim 90 to 110 days from signing the contract to move in date. My brother in law just finished his stick built home in Illinois - took 11 months from start to finish on a 1500 square foot home that had been promised to be done in LESS then four months.

 

I own 5 acres of the beautiful Texas Hill Country. I bought it with plans of building my own home on it, but later decided that a mod home was me better bet. I did some research on it and found a local company that specialized in just that. They had several pre designed plans or I could work with them to submit my own. They would also allow me to make changes on their designs.
Anyway, for what I wanted how I wanted with them doing all the work building it out to 70% completion (shell weather tight and painted, electric and water already installed,I would finish the interior) would cost me about $50K. Basicly I'd be able to live in it while I finished out the interior. Didnt sound like a bad deal. I havent done it yet, but I'd sure like to.
Personaly, I think it's a great way to go about having your own home. From what I've seen of them, they look to be well built, well enginered units.

 

Here at the landfill, we have put in 3 modular buildings. We opted for modular over built on site because of the cost, lead time, building inspections, etc. When they're finished, you won't be able to tell that they are modular unless you look under the buildings. They have sheet rock interior walls, double pane windows, R19 insulation throughout, fiber cement siding (looks like ship lap wood), stone coated steel roofing (looks like wood shake). If I could figure out how to attach a photo, you could see how nice they are.

 

What's differant about the underside? The ones I have seen (basement ready) have the same floor joist set up a conventionally built home has.

 

You can see the mod line (where the units are joined together.)