What are the pro's and cons to building a prefab house?

Question

I am considering building a prefab house as my own contractor and with a help from friends and families as a way to afford a big home in these inflated times. Is there any downside? Financing, appraised value quality etc???

Answer 1

I have no real clue about financing, but the various manufacturers might.

In large measure it depends on what substances and designs you want. I've seen dozens of valid such homes using search on WWW. With all due respect to any others who might answer I have to say this. Prefab doesn't strictly define "Cheap" or inferior. In fact with new technologies, materials, they last as long and are as valid as many stick built today for 350,000.

If I was gonna do it I'd have a pre formed concrete house fabricated.

Once it's built you don't have to hang a sign saying KIT or Prefab. Appraisals now are still way too high, and may change slightly, but no one is ever again, going to be able to get into new for under 100 K.

Steven Wolf

Answer 2

Key words are big , building & prefab.
You referring to a "kit" home?
Looked into prefab, factory built homes & visited sites & factories.
Many options from move in turnkey to almost anything in between.
Impressed w/ construction & custom details available.
Pros...speed, strength, since modules must be self supporting during transport.
Even if you are looking at a kit home, the common factors, as I found out are....
Cost of building lot
Sitework.. foundation, utilities,transport, grading / landscaping, appliances & other options, inspections.
Places I looked at would not deliver to a foundation they did not have built by an approved ( by them ) contractor.
Makes sense.
In the end , the only advantage was speed after the site was prepped so I stayed where I am & did some upgrades.
Even if you are acting as your own GC, might consider taking on a project manager to keep you on track.
Hope that helps.
Best of luck.

Answer 3

if you go prefab just be carefull like you would buying a car if you buy a cheep car it will only last so long if you buy a expensive car it last longer the same way with prefab houses you get what you pay for other than that i like the idea

Answer 4

well i had a dream like yours now here i sit in my rv 2 years later i sold my other land to afor to buid my new house well
hers how it went firt i bought this lot than had septic installed than well
than i purchassed a house kit ita a dome
2200 sq,ft 3 story .go to aidomes to see one ,any way herei sti ran out of money slabes done firts follr walls mostl up now some idiot n my comunity complained its takinn me to long and im being fined for living in my own land, donot count on your friends to help ,it wont work this i gratee u
.be for y ou buy any house kit u better figure out all the money youl need than add on at least 30 to 40 % if u dont belive this thats fine but think of this when i started i layed my forme aproxx cost of cement by a cenent suppluier when it got poured the price went up1600 dollars.when i did the well i exped to pya 2800 it cost 5000 grand any its a grt dream just dint do like me and let it become a nightmeree all the best of luck

Answer 5

Just be careful who you buy it from. Some housing manufacturers even allow potential customers to view the building in progress.