Modular homes?
Question:does anyone live in a modular home - wghat do you like and what don't you like - was it easy and insexpensive compared to conventional building?
Answers:
I live in one and we had a bad experience with it. The dealer was terrible. We didn't have our light fixtures for 3 months that we were living in it. They damaged it putting in on our land and it took them over 6 months to fix it. Our carpet is coming up already and we haven't even had it a year. I would recommend building your own. Salespeople will screw you over!
I have put up a number of modular homes. Since I am a contractor I bought directly from the factory. You may have to use a dealer. The factory can usually deliver in about a month. The modules are delivered to the site and are lifted into place by a crane. A rancher is two modules, a two story is four modules. Each module is complete with trim, wiring, cabinets, plumbing etc. At the site the modules are tied together, and siding completed on the outside.
The quality is on a par with stick built homes, average person cannot tell the difference. Also, since the modules are built indoors, you do not get the weather damage which will occur during normal home construction.
The cost to the builder is less than on site stick built.
The only downside is that you have to stay close to conventional designs.
I do not live in a modular home, but I flip homes and have bought and sold two manufactured/modular type homes recently. While there are many similarities to stick-built homes and amenities in these types of homes are getting better all the time, there are some differences. Often the building materials used in these homes is quite different. For example, instead of 2"x4" or 2"x6" studs for walls, they may use only 2"x3" studs. I have encountered different electrical wiring and plumbing when it comes to repairs. Doors, trim, sinks, faucets, etc. are often manufactured/modular specific. Also, another aspect is how well (or poorly) these homes are insulated. The two that I have worked with were relatively poorly insulated and therefore heating/cooling costs were relatively high while working on them. Finally, one other aspect to consider would be financing and resale issues. Some lenders will not deal with these type of homes while others may charge a higher interest rate. As for resale, in our area (St. Louis, MO) this type of home does not appreciate as quickly as other real estate and typically stays on the market longer.
I see in the answers, that is confusion over the term, "Modular Home".
A modular home is not a manufactured home, modular homes are constructed in sections at a factory and assembled on the home site. Considered Stick built.
Manufactured Homes: These are homes built entirely in the factory under a federal building code administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards (commonly known as the HUD Code) went into effect June 15, 1976. Manufactured homes may be single- or multi-section and are transported to the site and installed. The federal standards regulate manufactured housing design and construction, strength and durability, transportability, fire resistance, energy efficiency and quality. The HUD Code also sets performance standards for the heating, plumbing, air conditioning, thermal and electrical systems. It is the only federally-regulated national building code. On-site additions, such as garages, decks and porches, often add to the attractiveness of manufactured homes and must be built to local, state or regional building codes.
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