Since construction prices for traditional site constructed homes remain high, a lot of people have a growing interest in modular home building as a way to keep building costs inexpensive. Modular homes provide an inexpensive option that is converting prospective home shoppers into home owners.
Modular home sales have rose 8% among new home sales nationwide. North Carolina, Michigan and New York have been on the forefront of the growth of new modular home construction. With quick construction time tables and reduced costs, more buyers will see these homes as an affordable way to purchase a new home they might not otherwise be able to afford.
Modular homes are manufactured in several sections at a factory much the same way manufactured homes are. The major difference between manufactured homes and modular homes are in the setup of the home on the site. Manufactured homes usually do not have a permanent foundation installed and are titled as personal property for tax purposes. Modular homes are installed on a permanent foundation and deeded as real property at the courthouse.
Factory settings allow homes to be built without the setbacks that traditional home builders face such as rainy weather and vandalism. Without these setbacks and with modern building techniques allow manufacturers to build the framework of the home at a lower cost that is passed on to the buyer. Buyers can even choose to customize their homes layout.
Commonly, modular houses are purchased through a modular home dealer or builder. After the floor plans and choices have gotten approved by the manufacturer, a state-approved third party reviews the designs to ensure they conform to the building code for the state where it will be constructed. Furthermore, a third party inspection agency licensed by the state conducts inspections at the industrial plant as the house is being manufactured and assembled. Meanwhile, a local contractor constructs the home’s foundation.
Once the factory-made sections are constructed, they are transported to the site, and lifted onto the foundation through the use of a crane. This process can take as little as a day to complete depending on the size of the home. Final completion may take another few weeks as electrical, plumbing, sheetrock, and cabinetry are installed on-site. The overall process, from the first order to move in, generally takes about ninety days. A big difference if compared to site-built houses, which could take from twelve to eighteen months to complete.
Final Thoughts
It is estimated that a home buyer can save about 25% on their building costs by choosing modular over conventional construction. That is a big saving in a down economy.
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