High End MODULAR?

13 years ago

My husband and I are interested in building new and he has recently been reading about modular homes.
I'm skeptical.
Does anybody have any actual experience with building a modular home?
From the little bit of research I have done, I don't imagine it would save us a ton of money since what comes standard in many of these homes is much beneath what we would actually want, therefore we would end up up-grading the majority of the home (siding, windows, doors -interior and exterior, flooring, countertops, kitchen cabinetry, baseboard and crown molding....that's just off the top of my head)
What about the actual contruction, wiring and plumbing on these homes?

Thanks!

Featured Answer

patatas

13 years ago

A friend spent about one year designing alterations to a modular home package. He said that's costly but still ended up being less than custom-built. 20 years later, the house is still gorgeous. He has had VERY few problems, and none that couldn't have happened otherwise. The house is on a bluff overlooking Puget Sound, and the quality of its design and construction befits the awesome location.

Some of the changes he made were more windows on the view side, room for both tubs and showers in the bathrooms, a huge long mirror in the master bath, etc. Also, he had the site excavated and a basement/foundation put in; then, after the house was craned into place and they'd moved in, there was plenty of time to finish the basement rooms.

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Comments (8)

Lori Weaver Kaczmarek
13 years ago
I love my modular home. We researched before we bought as well and found that modular values are the same as site built stick homes. The key is in the finish work.
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Lori Weaver Kaczmarek
13 years ago
A pic of my modular home which sits on 5 acres
Lori Weaver Kaczmarek
13 years ago
After adding landscape
Britt Grotheer
Original Author
13 years ago
Lori- Thanks for the pictures. The house is lovely! We are looking at Capes as well.
I have read that a lot of the finished product depends on your builder.
Would you mind telling who the modular company was that you used?
Also, I am confused about the electrical and plumbing... Do local tradesmen do all that or does the house come with outlets and hook ups that the local trades people use to install.
You buy all your appliances, lighting and fixtures locally as well, right?
And the baseboard and crown moldings, built-ins and porches are done by a local carpenter on-site also?
Lots of things I am still unclear about.
Lori Weaver Kaczmarek
13 years ago
I bought the home already built. The builder was out of GA and is no longer in business. I do know the original owner and he said that the builder tried to take shortcuts. Probably why they are no longer in business. My advice is to get references and check the quality. That's true with any home though. I don't have many issues with the finish work in my home. Minor and fixable things like the miter cuts on some of the crown molding. I recently installed new flooring and I think this is the first home I've owned that is actually square. I'm sure that is due to the precise cuts done in a factory. Thanks for the compliment!
PRO
A Crew of Two
13 years ago
Modular homes do have their advantages- you get in much quicker, square walls- but they also have disadvantages. They are better than they were years ago, but like said above do your homework. When You build a standard home there are usually allowances for basement/foundation, water, electric, septic/sewer, grading etc. Usually a modular home does not include any of this in their prices.
PRO
User
13 years ago
As a stick builder at heart and a Modular rep/Installer, I Love stick to build but can not compete with the price point vs quality that comes from a factory. Crew is correct in that the cost of the "Boxes" does not usually include the whole project required.