Modular houses/garages?

Question

I heard that they are cheaper than conventional hand made houses.
Could anyone confirm this and if it is true, by how much?
Also, how much do they cost in general, and how long they take to make.
Could they be shipped down a small street??

Answer 1

I;ve looked at the prices of a few and the Geodistic domes are cheaper than the 'boxes' I saw. A dome is very energy efficient and hurricane resistant.

I don't know why Floridians aren't building domes in the thousands!

Answer 2

After its built you can't tell the difference and the cost is 15 to 20%
cheaper than conventional stick-built. That is the theory. The real life costs unfortunatelly are similar to the house built on site.
The common mistakes on the foundation affect the modular home more than stick framed. The mistakes in wiring and plumbing are hard to fix ( possibly a nice discount from a builder) as are uneven floor levels. After its all said and done you spend about the same money and wished you just have built it on site. That is the bad scenario.

There is , of course a good possibility of getting reliable experienced contractors to do all the " prep work" the right way ( that is builder's job), having the house built in a factory on Tuesday as opossed to Monday ( no hangovers ) and have it put together by skilled installators. Now what would be the chances of that ?
To be honest the " horror" stories are as abundant in conventional construction industry, if not more, since it's been around longer.

There is no " rule of the thumb" here. You either get a good deal or a bad deal as with everything else in life.

For what it is worth if you are thinking ranch, modular may be the way to go, something more complex probably should be built on site

Answer 3

Modular homes are a great choice for a new house. You first want to make sure you do a little research to find a company that will allow you to customize the home the way you want it. Most modular home manufacturer's are able to have the home ready to ship within 30-45 days depending on the model of the home you are ordering from the company. Modular homes are definately cheaper than stick built homes. The average modular home runs 20-27% less than a stick built home. This is because manufacturing labor costs less than on-site labor. The garage you would definately want to build custom onto the home. You can order matched siding from the home manufacturer to make sure it matches perfectly. Usually a general contract can custom craft a garage in about a week's time(depending on concrete pouring conditions). Something else you may want to look into is Structural Insulated Panels(SIP's). If you live in a high wind or termite area SIP's may by a refrigerator company are perfect. The fire proof foam and wood helps keep out pests as they will not eat it and SIP's have been tested to withstand hurricane force winds. As far as shipping down a small street, we had a home on a culdisack which was very narrow. It was still an easy and quick set up with the proper equipment. Modular homes are also stronger than stick built homes, they would have to be in order to ship them on a truck and have them arrive fully intact. Modular homes also come with a warranty, something most contractors will not give on a stick built home.

Answer 4

They are cheaper by about 20-25%. Cost alll depends on the size of house you purchase (Modular homes come in ranches, 2 story, various sizes from 900 sq. ft. on up). Consider a stick built home you like, average the price in your area, and deduct the % off~that will give you a budget number to go by. Remember to check with your insurance company to be sure they will cover a modular home (you may find that to be a problem). Also be sure your city/township is zoned for it-some communities will not allow them. If you are taking out a loan you will also have to be sure they will loan on modular (Countrywide has in the past). In terms of quality, they can be subpar. If it is a starter/retirement home it may be a good investment. Yes they can be brought down a narrow street as long as a semi truck can fit down the street. Rermember the "2" main halves of the house are on seperate trucks and fitted after they are on site. They can be put together in just a couple months if your site is developed. I suggest you immediately tap in to city water lines or have a well installed, install septic or tap into sewer, put up electrical pole). Once the house is set it must be drywalled together where house joins (expect to have large cracks in the drywall from the shipping of it~easily will be patched by your contractor), flooring must be fitted together, plumbing hooked up, electric hooked up, ect. It will definately go faster than a stick build home.

Answer 5

Hi,
I was under the same impression til I looked into the purchase and construction of a modular home. I admit I didn't do a real cost analysis but if your looking ball park I'd say the cost is about the same when you consider what you have to do to prepare for the construction. For instance the foundation has to be dug, or slab poured and other things such as electrical, plumbing, sewage., etc., seen to.
The only thing I can see that may benefit is that I believe the modular homes may be more thought out. Windows conforming to appearance, room size and space more thoughtout as actual living space is used.