Question about building a home...

[leeland]

The wife and I were looking at new homes and found one we were kind of interested in...has a cool layout ect.

I inquired with the builder who gave me more details...ect...

he also said it was a "modular" home...

I did a little Google search and didn't find too much on the "disadvantages" of a modular home except that it may not ascend in price as fast as a stick built home...not sure why...

I did find quite a few "advantages" from sites but I couldn't tell if they were sites plugging for modular homes or just unbiased information.


Does anyone on this forum have experience with a modular home...is there anything bad about getting one build?

The builder said it was cheaper and you could get "more" house for the money...

I always try to stick to the old saying you never get something for free...there has to be a corner cut somewhere to get the cost savings...


Any help is appreciated.

Lee

 

[torpid]

Your options are limited more, you generally can't customize it too much aside from picking modules, they often are very "square" looking (depends on the system), and as mentioned they tend to descend in price more rapidly (or ascend less rapidly).

 

[vi edit]

Downsides to modular are that they have limited floorplans, limited interior choices, and any tweaks or changes to the plans really get pricey. You also have to be very precise with your basement/foundation since you are brining a house in and setting it on top.

Plus there's the whole stigma of "modular" equating to trailer home which they have yet to overcome.

My parents have a modular home built by All American. It's a a nice house, albeit a little bland and boxy. But that's just what you get in the price range they paid. My Dad did spice it up by blocking and bricking up the outside and adding on a very nice garage. You would never know that it was brought in on a semi in a couple different pieces.

My uncle has a modular built by Homeway and I think it's very poorly constructed. You can tell where corners were cut. Everything just feels like it has the tensile strength of cardboard when walking around and closing doors. But you face those same problems on any budget stick built home slammed together in a couple months time.

 

[Ultralight]

If you mean by modular in that our house was built in two halfs and then assmebled together at the site, then yes we have a modular home. Being a son of a contractor I can tell you that they cut no coreners so to speak when it came to the quality of the build and materials involved.

A lot of companies will use partical board on the corners, etc. to cut costs. Nothing like that in this house; heck even stick builders will use partical board all over the house to save cost on their end. All of the plywood corners and underlayment is 3/4."

The bottom line is to research how they build, what materials they use which includes plumbing, and anything else you can think of.

By the way, inside and outside no one can tell our Cape Cod is modular in any way.

 

[skyking]

The savings are largely due to less waste in materials and labor. Your house is built in a plant on an assembly line with many labor saving features, and all the cuts and materials are predetermined and planned to minimize scrap waste. Compared to site built homes the savings are substantial.
Another huge advantage is your home is not built out in the weather. Don't get me wrong I see plenty of beautiful custom built homes that are fine, but it just turns my stomach to see a 400K home sitting there in the naked OSB getting rained on and warping, etc, then it is covered up in the next few days as if nothing had happened. Materials that should really get replaced get "dried out" and covered up. Things like black mold get built in and you get to figure out why everyone is getting sick all the time.
On the other hand your modular is built from dry materials in a dry place and kept dry.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: Ultralight
If you mean by modular in that our house was built in two halfs and then assmebled together at the site, then yes we have a modular home. Being a son of a contractor I can tell you that they cut no coreners so to speak when it came to the quality of the build and materials involved.

A lot of companies will use partical board on the corners, etc. to cut costs. Nothing like that in this house; heck even stick builders will use partical board all over the house to save cost on their end. All of the plywood corners and underlayment is 3/4."

The bottom line is to research how they build, what materials they use which includes plumbing, and anything else you can think of.

By the way, inside and outside no one can tell our Cape Cod is modular in any way.

Being the step-son of a contractor, I can tell you that the typical modular is definitely inferior to a 'real' home.

 

[keird]

One aspect of modular homes that I've read of, was the potential damage during transport. Going over bumps down highway at 55 mph could be a potential problem. The vibration, alone, could also potentially harm the structure. Seems like some further research would be warranted.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: JLee

Originally posted by: Ultralight
If you mean by modular in that our house was built in two halfs and then assmebled together at the site, then yes we have a modular home. Being a son of a contractor I can tell you that they cut no coreners so to speak when it came to the quality of the build and materials involved.

A lot of companies will use partical board on the corners, etc. to cut costs. Nothing like that in this house; heck even stick builders will use partical board all over the house to save cost on their end. All of the plywood corners and underlayment is 3/4."

The bottom line is to research how they build, what materials they use which includes plumbing, and anything else you can think of.

By the way, inside and outside no one can tell our Cape Cod is modular in any way.

Being the step-son of a contractor, I can tell you that the typical modular is definitely inferior to a 'real' home.

Eh....compare apples to apples. If your step-dad is a contractor doing high end custom homes that he has high levels of control over, yeh he's going to (hopefully) put together a nice place.

So many of the newly slapped together cookie cutter homes are thrown together in such haste with as many corners cut as they possibly can. In many of these entry level, to mid level homes the modular is going to have equal, if not better attention to detail and precision.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: keird
One aspect of modular homes that I've read of, was the potential damage during transport. Going over bumps down highway at 55 mph could be a potential problem. The vibration, alone, could also potentially harm the structure. Seems like some further research would be warranted.

As somebody else said, the same rings true with stick built home and being in the weather.

 

[MovingTarget]

What, no love for cinderblock and/or reinforced concrete?

 

[waggy]

i have seen some high aned moduler homes (there is a sub-division near where i used to live) they were not cheap homes either (75-200k) and theyw ere very nice. you couldnt tell that they were modular homes at all. only negitive part was the builder had maybe 5 floor plans to choose from (wich is not unlike the other sub-divisions with stick houses).


also you can customize them (if you are building/buying yoruself) a lot. not as much as a house built for you but still a decent enough.



also as vi-edit said even newly constructioned homes cut so many corners that they are bad. there was a sub-division built near us where the houses are 3-4k sq/ft and many have construction flaws. there was a bunch of lawsuits (turned into a class action) against the builder. but the builder was gone out of business. there was like 10 houses that had to be tore down because of how bad they were built.



we looked at one "modular" home that was not in 2 halves. they had teh walls done etc. then it was assembled like a jigsaw puzzle onsite. it was rather neat how they did it. but in the end we decided against building (was still more expensive then buying a existing house)

 

[leeland]

I have a picture of the exact house I am referring too as it is on the builder's site...

House

Looking at the picture and also doing a walk around the house I would have never thought it to be a "modular" home...it is over 3000 sq/ft

I have seen homes that I would think are modular being trucked down the interstate in halves...they have generally been a small ranch looking type house...

Here is what the builder has listed under the FAQ regarding Stick Built vs. Modular vs. Manufactured

I would think the ones I have seen on the interstate on a big semi are termed "Manufactured"...but I can't say that for certain...

Question:
Are modular homes like Mobile Homes?

Answer:
This question is best answered by defining the different types of house construction. Three terms best describe home construction: "Stick" or site built homes, Manufactured homes & Modular homes.


"Stick" or "site built" homes


Very seldom does a residential general contractor employ all the necessary trades. Consequently, various sub-contractors construct a "site built" home on the owner's property. Before construction begins, a set of plans or specifications is completed & estimated. A designer, engineer or architect usually provides the plans & specs. Most prices are "estimates" or "allowances" based upon the site builders past experience. Not usually a firm price or quote.

"Manufactured" (Also known as, HUD code, sectional, or double wide)

Manufactured homes are built according to Manufactured housing construction and safety standards, commonly referred to as the HUD code, the only national building code for housing, which governs factory construction of manufactured housing. HUD codes are far less stringent than the code stick builders or modular home manufacturers have to follow. A HUD code home is typically constructed of less expensive materials. Plans and changes are limited. Appraisals are less and a metal frame, by law, must remain on the structure.

"Modular"


A modular home is constructed in a factory, under controlled conditions by trained personnel employed by the company. The company can draw custom plans and specifications, or a plan with standard specifications can be chosen from plan books. Prices are usually "quotes" and are firm throughout the building process.


Homes are built to the same codes as a custom site built home. Each home design is certified by the state department or a third party agency representing the state.


Unlike manufactured homes, modular homes do not have wheels for delivery, but instead are delivered on trailers and lifted onto a permanent foundation and anchored in place.

 

[boomerang]

The previous season of This Old House centered around a timber framed home that was modular in it's construction.

 

[phoenix79]

The problem you're gonna run into with a modular home is re-sale value. As mentioned, there is a stigma attached to them as being similar to "trailers."

 

[Modelworks]

The trouble with the term modular is that it can be a lot of different things.
There are homes built from poor materials like particle board , some built from old steel shipping containers and others from logs.
Some modular homes are completely finished including wiring, carpet, plumbing and they just connect the parts. Others are just the rough framing.
It really just depends on the actual company you are looking at buying from. Like everything some are better than others.


If I was spending over $100K for something I would ask to visit a job site where one is being assembled to judge for myself. The same thing I would do if I had one stick built. I would visit the contractors other job sites.

 

[leeland]

Originally posted by: phoenix79
The problem you're gonna run into with a modular home is re-sale value. As mentioned, there is a stigma attached to them as being similar to "trailers."

Well here is the thing...is there any thing that says "HEY THIS IS A MODULAR BUILT HOME"

I am not trying to be a smart ass...I would have never thought that until the builder told me it was...

Is that kind of information listed on the sales sheet...or would a Realtor tell you that up front...would a Realtor even know that without asking...

I have never sold a home so I guess I don't know if that is one of the questions they ask you...

When I asked the Realtor that was SELLING the home we were interested in "See linked House above"...they didn't even know who built the house...

 

[natto fire]

I prefer adobe.

 

[phoenix79]

Originally posted by: leeland

Originally posted by: phoenix79
The problem you're gonna run into with a modular home is re-sale value. As mentioned, there is a stigma attached to them as being similar to "trailers."

Well here is the thing...is there any thing that says "HEY THIS IS A MODULAR BUILT HOME"

I am not trying to be a smart ass...I would have never thought that until the builder told me it was...

Is that kind of information listed on the sales sheet...or would a Realtor tell you that up front...would a Realtor even know that without asking...

I have never sold a home so I guess I don't know if that is one of the questions they ask you...

When I asked the Realtor that was SELLING the home we were interested in "See linked House above"...they didn't even know who built the house...

When selling a house there are laws about Full Disclosure that includes type of construction. Also, a home inspector would be able to tell rather quickly.