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 Dear
Steve,
I am retired and want to build a modular home on land I am going to buy. But I am a real novice at this, so I need to know just what I'm getting into. Can you help?
-- Geo
 Dear
Geo,
Today's modular homes, many say, look as good as their "site-built" or "stick built" counterparts, which are built from the ground-up at the construction site. Modular homes, by contrast, are built in sections at a factory then assembled on-site.
Modulars, by the way, aren't to be confused with "manufactured" or "mobile" homes, which are fully assembled at the factory before delivery.
Modular homes are often only about
two-thirds as expensive to build per square foot
as their site-built cousins, although some owners
say there is very little price difference when
the dust and the home finally settle.
The big difference is in construction time. Depending on the complexity of the design, most modular homes can be constructed in the factory in less than two months. Once they are delivered to the building site, they generally take from four weeks to four months to complete, depending on site challenges, add-ons and other factors.
A modular home is placed on a premade foundation and is assembled
and completed by local contractors. And just like
a conventional home, your local planning department
will need to approve blueprints and a local building
inspector will still need to be sure the modular
structure meets codes and requirements once assembled.
So make certain you first call the city or county to learn the nuances of assembling a modular home on the land you're eyeing and to find out if there are any neighborhood deed restrictions or other restrictive covenants.
Among the advantages of modular homes:
- They're built indoors so they aren't subject to adverse weather conditions during construction.
- They're energy-efficient, reducing your future
energy costs.
- They come in a surprising variety of floor
plans that can be modified to fit your custom
needs and color schemes. If the manufacturer
you choose doesn't offer an option you want,
such as a metal roof, they typically can build
the home to accommodate that change and credit
you with the difference so you can apply the
savings to a local custom installation. The
same goes with floor coverings. Additionally,
most home lenders, insurers and appraisers treat
modulars like site-built homes.
- A quality, well-located modular home will also increase in value in the long-term, although perhaps not quite as handily as site-built homes. As for ease of resale, modular homes resell best in areas where they're more common and better understood. Realtors in areas of the country where modulars aren't too prevalent say buyers often don't trust them as much as stick-built homes.
But there are some things to watch out for:
- Not all residential properties that accommodate site-built homes can accommodate modular homes.
- Aside from the contracting team used by the manufacturer, you will need to hire at least one more contractor to complete the installation, utility connections and some of the final finish-out.
Garages, while commonly built into the price of stick-built homes, are usually considered extras in the modular-home cost formula. Some modular home owners complain of improperly aligned sections or halves that have caused ceilings to sprout cracks or floors to form depressions.
Before you make a decision, visit
several different modular model homes and recently
constructed models and even chat with a few of
their owners. Get plenty of references and make
those Better Business Bureau checks because manufacturers
can vary greatly in quality and competency. And
check out the online discussion of modulars at
places such as Gardenweb.com.
Here's wishing you a happy and healthy retirement in your future modular home!
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