According to some modular home owners, all homes may one day be factory-built. Is this crazy or what? Possibly not. It just might surprise you the advantages that modular homes bring to the new construction industry. These aren't the mobile homes of the past. Modular homes are the real deal. They are better built than site built homes, and on average 20 percent less costly.

In 2003, an ideal situation occurred that allowed modular home construction to be put to the test. Michelle Kaufman (of Michelle Kaufmann Designs) decided to build her first home with her husband Kevin Cullen in California just outside of San Francisco. Kevin, being a builder, acted as the general contractor, and the couple began the normal arduous process of designing, permitting and financing there site-built Glidehouse. As is typical, delays and upwardly increasing bids plagued the process, and the couple became progressively frustrated.

Being in architect design, Kaufman began investigating design options with modular technologies. She even began to solicit customers that may want to create an identical Glidehouse to hers, but through modular design and construction. Late in 2003, about 6 months into her own home construction process, she found a client in Washington state that responded to her offer.

What were the results? Well, the total time for design, engineering and construction was 21 months for the site-built home, and only 10 months for the modular home. In other words, despite a 6 month lag, the modular home was finished much sooner. Likewise, there was an extra 10 months for the site-built home in payments for a construction loan, land purchase, and insurance before occupancy could occur. Is there any question that time is money?

But the benefits don't end there! The overall costs including foundation and land preparation as well as home construction was more than 20 percent less for the modular home. Along the way, there was less waste produced and much less frustration. The two identically designed homes were far from identical in expense and time needed for construction.

But while they look the same and are designed the same, are they both equal in quality? If they are typical of most comparisons, no they are not. The modular home is actually better. Added reinforcements during the factory built process provide greater sustainability and strength to modular homes. Likewise, quality of workmanship on average is better in a factory where the climate is constantly controlled and quality assessments are uniform. Even in post-hurricane situations, modular homes are preferred not only because of their speed of construction, but because of their durability.

So if saving time and money are important to you and having a home with better quality and durability is appealing, you may want to consider a modular home. And if you suspect design limitations are a reason to hesitate, think again. The fact is many of the homes in your own community are modular, and you don't realize it! Put modular homes to your own test. The results are likely to be pleasing.

Sources:

1. Arieff, Allison. The Proof is in the Prefab. Dwell. November, 2006.

2. http://livemodern.com. Mayer, M. Why Modern? 5/7/2007.

3. www.modularhousing.com. A Guide to Residential Modular Construction. From Factory to Finish. 2004.

4. www.zncustombuilding.com.

Copyright (c) 2008 Mike Zenga