There are many facts and myths out there about modular homes, making it hard to truly consider if one might be right for you. There are several factors to take into account when you are thinking about building a home, and a modular home is absolutely no different. Things to think about are the flexibility and choices available, the speed of building, look, and price. There are also many types of modular homes to take into consideration.
Perhaps the first factor is what type you would be interested in. A manufactured home is defined as a home that is built in a protected environment and then taken to its site. It is required to meet stringent standards. Traditional modular homes are a type of manufactured home where individual modules (usually two) are built in a factory and assembled on site. A panelized home is built in panels - a wall with the doors and windows already installed. The panels are then assembled on site. Pre-cut homes are much like panelized homes, in that they are assembled on site. They include kit homes like log and domes. Which type you choose will depend on your home site, building plans, and cost.
There are many benefits to think about when looking at modular homes. Because of strict standards, they are highly engineered. This ensures a quality product. Because so many of the pieces are already cut and assembled, time of construction can be considerably less than a traditional home. Also, because the parts are all made in a climate controlled factory, there are very few delays because of weather. This is ideal for homebuilders on a timeline. Because the homes are made to order, many manufacturers allow a great deal of flexibility and customization. This is a major draw for families building their dream home on a strict budget. Modular homes generally cost less than site built homes of comparable size.
While the thought of modular homes might be new to some, it is absolutely worth thinking about when you build your next home. The ease of choosing your perfect piece of propoerty and filling it with your dream home might just be too much to pass up!