What Makes Modular Homes Different?
Modular homes are built in sections in a factory setting, indoors, where they are never subjected to adverse weather conditions like your typical stick-built homes. The individual sections move through the factory, with the company’s quality control department checking them after every step. Finished modules are covered for protection, then transported to your home site. They are placed on a pre-made foundation, joined, and completed by your local builder.
How long does it take to build a modular home?
That depends on your design and the manufacturer, but some modular homes can be built in the factory in as little as 1-2 weeks. And since modulars are built indoors, there’s never a weather delay. It usually takes another 2-4 weeks for your local builder to complete the home once it’s delivered to the building site.
They sound like mobile homes. Are they the same thing?
Mobile homes, now called manufactured homes, are built to conform to the same federal code, no matter where they will be delivered. That code is called the HUD code.
A modular home conforms to the building codes that are required at the specific location it will be delivered to, and in many cases, construction exceeds the required codes. Some critics might argue that a modular home is more attractive than a manufactured home.
Don’t all modular homes look alike?
No, and unless you were there to see the house delivered and assembled, you might not guess it’s a modular home.
It’s true that some modulars are very basic and resemble double wide manufactured homes, but the two structures are still built in different ways.
Each manufacturer is different, so be sure to ask questions about flexibility if you would like to design your own home. Designed with modern stands in mind, most people probably cannot tell the difference between a regular stick-built home or a modular home. They look very much like a regular home, yet are often much more cost efficient to construct.
Will banks finance a modular home?
Yes. Most banks, appraisers, and insurance companies treat modular homes the same way they do site built homes — a house that’s constructed entirely on your property. Ask the mortgage brokers and banks in your area to explain how they finance modular homes.
Can I save money by building a modular home?
Sometimes. Construction costs for a modular home are sometimes less per-square-foot than for a similar site-built home. And there are other cost-saving features:
- Many modular homes are very energy efficient, which helps reduce your heating and cooling costs.
- Your home will probably be ready to move into much sooner than if you wait for a builder to construct a house on-site. Often, there are fewer delays.
For first-hand information, try to visit model homes in your area. Take a look at popular websites in your state.
Why not tour a local modular home factory and see the construction happening in person, before your very eyes? If you think modulars are ho-hum, you’re in for a pleasant surprise.
After you choose a modular home builder, talk with a local real estate agent to determine where you can place your modular home. You will need a foundation, either raised or slab but slabs are more common in hot, dry climates.
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https://www.thebalance.com/what-makes-modular-homes-different-1797805