Little dog
Mar
19
Aug
31
Choosing Modular Home Builders – Eliminating “Wannabes”
Run From “Wannabe” Modular Home Guys and Gals
The most important element in building a new modular home will be selecting a contractor who specializes in building modular homes. There are many “wannabe” modular home builders who are experimenting with being prefab home contractors. Usually the list includes:
- Real estate agents
- Plumbers
- Excavators
- Modular home owners
- Electricians
- Handy Men (and Women)
- Insurance sales people
- Other tradespeople who have worked on modular homes
- and the list goes on.
“Wannabe” builders are familiar with the building process and even could be reputable general contractors. But, without experience of building modular homes, your project could easily become a nightmare with time delays, cost over runs, quality issues, completion issues or non completion at all – leading to the the builder walking off the job leaving you to complete your new modular home yourself.
Getting a Builders Attention
To build a new modular home you must have a building lot and money. If you want to get the attention of a builder tell them where you are in the building process. If you have land let them know where it is located. If you don’t have land ask them if they have available building sites. In addition to land it is a good idea to be qualified for a loan so you have an idea of what your building budget. So to get a builders attention, be honest and tell them your land situation and financial situation.
Qualifying Potential Builders – Weeding Out Bad Builders and “Wannabes” on the Phone
After you have made a list of potential modular home builders, you will need to set up a qualifying meeting either on the phone or in person. This qualifying meeting gives you and the potential builder the opportunity to ask each other questions.
Questions to Ask Potential Modular Home Builders
- How long have they been building modular homes
- What factories do you use and what have you used in the past?
- What is the smallest project and largest project they have completed?
- Do they have references from existing customers?
- Do you do the work yourself of do you hire subcontractors?
- How many homes have you built in your lifetime and how were they built?
- Why do you build modular homes?
- Do you have any customers who would allow me to see the inside of your homes?
- How much do your homes typically cost from the foundation up?
After the qualifying meeting and your feel comfortable, you can set up a time to discuss your wants and needs to build your modular home.
Aug
25
Custom Plans Required With an In Law Suite
“I am looing for a modular home that has 3 0r 4 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths. I am looking for one that has a bedroom on the first floor for an elderly so they wont have to go up the stairs. Do you have any designs.”
Modular Home Place works with multiple modular home manufacturers through out the United States. Most modular home companies can accommodate your desires for three or four bedroom home with 2 1/2 baths. Designing a home with a master suite or in law suite has become more and more popular.
Aug
25
Does Modular Home Place Have 20 Year Old Blue Prints for a Patriot Modular Mobile Home
Here is a question I received today from Modular Home Place – “do you have ablue print of 1992 patriot modular mobile home ranch stial 3 bed room 2 bath”.
Does anyone out there have the blue print for the 1992 Patriot three bedroom, two bath home?
I wonder if the home came with blue, green or mauve color package.
Aug
25
what is the maximum width allowed for transporting on the highways? Also what are the bldg code issues involved. Is each jurisdiction different?
The maximum width allowed for modules for modular homes is 15’9″ in the mid Atlantic region. In the western part of the country modules for modular homes can be as wide as 18 feet as I learned to my trip to Texas this summer. The width limitations do not limit the depth of a modular home. Many modular homes have transverse roofs where the homes can be a deep as the module are long. I designed and sold a home home that was fifty feet deep and close to eighty feet wide that was delivered to New Jersey.
What are the building code issues involved.
Modular homes need to be constructed to the same local and state building codes required for site built homes. More information on code compliance will be coming to Modular Home Place . com in the near future.
Aug
25
Modular Home Widths
Texas has 18 foot wide boxes or modules to create standard 32 foot wide homes.
Aug
25
Why the Absense
Our Mobile Home
My wife and I have been taking care of my mother who has alzheimers for the last year. We have been doing this four the last five years. Last year we moved in to keep her from a nursing home. After a year, my wife and I decided to take a break and go for a motor bike ride, a long motor ride. Our plans were changed when we received a phone call from my sister in law concerning my mother in law. Her left lung collapsed and was in the hospital, but stable. We left for Texas with my wife driving the car we were giving to my step daughter and riding the bike to Texas.
I made plans to visit Graceland on the way to Texas, however these plans were eliminated when we got call stating that my wife’s mother might pass away soon. We drove straight through to Texas from Pennsylvania to be with my mother in law. After seven days in the hospital and the help of hospice, my mother in law passed away. My wife was awake for her last breath.
After that we took a detour home to visit with our grand children. Not a good decision after a week of living in a hospital and getting little to no sleep. We then took the motor bike to South Carolina for a three night vacation. We are now back home taking care of my mother and trying to get back in the saddle of working again.
Aug
25
Why Build a New Modular Home or Any New Home For That Matter?
If you have been surfing web, I am sure you have found the benefits to build a modular home on almost every modular home site out there. Modular home builders and factories alike all tout:
- Design flexibility
- Quicker build Times
- Lower cost than Site Built Homes
- Stronger construction
- Built inside a climate controlled environment
- Less material theft
- Quality control by third party inspectors
- And, the list goes on
But, Why Build a New Home in This Economy is The Real Question
Most people build a new home because they can’t find the home of their dreams on the market, or it has just been their dream to build a new house. Building a new home has many benefits over buying an existing home.
Benefits to Building a New Modular Home in Any Economy
- Energy efficiency
- Durability
- New home warranties
- No renovation and remodeling costs
- Designed for your life style
- Safety
- Price and equity
- Modern amenities
- Building code and Quality Control
- New long lasting building materials
- Orientation for solar energy
All of these reasons must be taken into consideration when considering building a new home compared to buying an existing older home. I will be discussing each of these benefits over a course of time. I will also examine some of the reasons to buy an existing home in the current housing market of 2011.
Jul
23
Can you build on an aunt\’s property without the land being in your name
Of course you can build a modular home on your aunt’s property without the land being in your name. However your aunt will own the modular home once it becomes real estate – this is when the house is connected to the foundation. Financing this deal will be next to impossible.