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How long does it take to build a Modular Home?
Modular home construction is much faster than site built homes. The typical rule of thumb for
building of a site built home is 4-6 months from ground breaking. A modular home can be completed in 1-2 months. There are several reasons for this. All of trades required to build a site built home are employed at factory so there is a reduced number of tradesman. Secondly many different tasks can be going on simultaneously in factory. Lastly, some of site work, like excavation and pouring of foundation are done prior to time house is delivered to construction site.Compare this to site built home where most tasks must be done sequentially. In total a few weeks is all that will be required to complete modules that comprise a modular home. Once delivered on site builder may have another few weeks to complete finish work. Typically, customers can expect that it will take 4-6 weeks from time of order to time of delivery, and from time of delivery to completion, another 4-6 weeks.
Are modular homes difficult to finance?
No. That used to be case, but sheer number of modular homes being constructed, as well as lending community’s understanding of quality of modular homes has all but eliminated any previously existing prejudice.
Do modular homes offer energy efficiency?
Modular homes are often able to achieve extremely high energy efficiency ratings, with some manufacturer’s offering extremely high standards in their products. Expect to see R-19 to R-21 or better in walls, R-38 to R50 in roofs, and Low-E windows are almost standard in modular industry. Talk to your builder to find out what features are standard, and which are options.
Are there differences in permit requirements between site built and modular homes?
No, there are no differences. A modular home must conform or comply with local building requirements of where home will be placed. Mobile homes, in contrast, do have substantially different permit or code requirements - but these do not pertain to modular homes. Modular homes may cost less for permits because they are pre-inspected at factory before ever arriving on construction site. When you are looking at new homes, talk to a company that specializes in modular homes. They can answer questions as they pertain to your community and local codes.
Conclusion
There are many good reasons why you should explore option of a modular home. These reasons include: time savings, design flexibility, quality, cost savings, shorter-term construction loans (less interest paid) and brand name products. With decreasing pool of skilled laborers, modular homes are appearing in subdivisions nationwide in larger and larger numbers. Seek a builder with expertise in modular homes, and you’ll find quality, beauty and affordability in less time, often with warranties of up to ten years. It’s an option you are seeing more and more.
Nancy is happily constructing new homes for customers in Wisconsin and guiding them through the mortgage, construction and home equity process. She is a specialist in modular home construction, ADA compliant, and Universal Design for Accessibility
