Pre fab or modular homes?

[JSmith]

The wife and I are looking at buying a new home. We looked at some modular homes and one on particular was very nice. Do any members live in pre fab or modular housing? Any problems? Resale value? Would you buy again?

 

[TPCDrafting]

Around here the modulars take longer to sell compared to the stick built homes of similar size and style.

Pre-fab/modulars that are built to HUD standards are of less quality than those built of UBC standards at least from what I've seen.

Another term used is Pre-Built. Those hold a high standard and many outfits will do custom designs and 'pre-build' anything you can imagine. My brother works for one of these outfits and they deliver some homes in 7 or more pieces due to there size and complexity. When finished they are indistinguishable from a standard on site built house. The price difference isn't that much, but it works out best for those who are building in a remote location where contractors are going to charge extra to travel out. That's where the savings are.



Just make sure the one you pick meets all local requirements and will withstand more than what mother nature can throw at it where it will be put.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I have heard that they might try to sell you a pre-fab house with poor quality plumbing and so forth...



They seem to try and cut corners wherever possible... unless you specify otherwise. I have been in quite a few pre-fab houses... some were easier than others to distinguish from traditional stick-built places.



I've been looking at www.veridianhomes.com They're stick-built... but what I really like is they have a REALLY attractive financing option for first time buyers. Yeah, they don't have much land... . and you're limited on options... but here's the numbers:



$0 down

Zero PMI

Zero points

Zero closing costs

~5. 5% interest rate



I don't think I could afford their cheapest model... . but it's still a good deal for those that can.



Matt

 

[Duluth Diesel]

I looked in to them as well but decided against it. For the $, you can buy or even build a similar house of much better quality. They tend to use cheaper materials (thinner sheetrock, cheap cabinets, fixtures, etc. ). I have heard of many issues with pipes freezing under the house, and you have to duct some forced air heat under the house to keep the pipes from freezing (usually PVC. ) I went to a number of sellers, and my opinion is that they were a cross between a real house and an RV you couldn't drive. A lot of the components seemed cheap and reminded me a lot of materials I've seen in average-quality campers and motorhomes. Not the kind of quality you'd want to live with for 30 years, and that's not even mentioning resale. Realtors I've talked to tell me that normal, stick-built houses appreciate in value (as we all probably know), but these mobile and pre-fab homes actually depreciate in value. You're basically upside-down financially with one of these homes.



I would not get one if you can help it. You'll never profit from it, and the potential problems due to poor craftsmanship and materials will haunt you as long as you own it.



I toured a few of these homes and noticed walls that were not straight and square, and drywall cracks everywhere. I asked the salesman about the flexing of the house and the cracks in the walls (this was a brand new pre-fab house). He said that the structure flexes a lot when it is transported, which is why they use PVC pipes and flex-duct for the HVAC. He said that when they bring a pre-fab to a site, the patch and touch-up all the walls before they hand over the keys to the owner. Most places will return to your home to fix cracks for 1 year, after that, you're stuck with it. Scary.



I just bought my house a year ago. While home shopping, I considered prefab homes quite a bit, but after learning a few things, I decided to buy a real house. At least it will appreciate in value, especially with the things I've done to fix the place up. That way I can sell it for some extra $ and upgrade to a better home.

 

[WyoJim]

Maybe you guys should go out to a subdivision that is being built and tour some of the constuction. You will puke.



The way they fix bowed walls is saw the 2 by almost through and push it in until it is plum.

 

[jtisdale]

Stick is the only way to go. Besides, if you compare apples to apples, the $$ is usually very close.



Matt, I know several of those guys that build homes for veridian. I know they do damn good work.

 

[Hummin Cummins]

I'd have to disagree a little. We live in a DOUBLE WIDE (insert trailer trash comments here). Single story ranch 3 bdrm, 2 bath, sitting on a full finished basement with 8' ceilings. Yes, the hardware is chintzy. I've replaced every doorknob in the place. I used to build houses in my younger days. I could not have built the same square footage stick house on my own for the money I have invested this house. Left me to keep the mortgage low enough to build a nice 3 bay garage, and buy my camper. They're not for everyone, but I'm a simple man. They are built very strong. If it will stay togther at 70 mph down interstate 80 it will hold up. I had one crack in the ceiling which they fixed and it has never returned. The framing in my house is fastened with big honkin screws, not nails shot from a nail gun operated by a guy that misses the stud half the time. I have seen some stick built model homes that are no where near the quality of my double wide. With cracked drywall everywhere, drywall nails popping out, vinyl siding sagging or bowing cause its hung too tight, etc. etc.

To each his own, but my $46,000 double wide, and $24,000 3 and 1/2 acre lot is appraised at $150,000 now.



Chris

 

[E7mack96]

I have always been under the impression that the construction of a "modular" home is better than a stick built. I can see that they use cheap hardware though. You can upgrade to the best in cabinets, hardware, and windows if you like. You can opt for trailer trash type walls or get real drywall walls. They'll even let you mud and sand them yourself, if you are that good (or brave).

 

[Hummin Cummins]

Yep, I did the cabinet upgrade, appliances, real drywall, 8' ceilings instead of the tapered 7 1/2' ones, 6/12 roof pitch instead of 4/12, the whole works. The door knobs are the only thing I have had trouble with. No big deal, for less than $100 they are all replaced with good ones.

 

[JR2]

While not a modular or prefab home, you can order a whole house from them and have it put it.



http://www.pbspanels.com/pansys.cfm?subtopic=FAQs&section=panelsystem



My parrents have a home built with this system. . very very nice.

 

[Eric Kahn]

Modular homes are framed just like a stick built home, it just has a metal frame under it, there are federal laws that cover mobile home since the total crap that was put out in the early 70's



I have seen this in person, at my last job, I used to deliver to a couple of mobile home factory's in Kentucky and saw how they were built

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Jim: Thanks for the vote of confidence in Veridian. Everything I have heard about them so far has been positive.



Matt

 

[SKargo]

On a similar note, what are your thoughts on a log cabin style home?

My wife and I have a modular home that we live in, and a double wide also on our lot. Our lot is 3 acres. The double wide we just bought and setup last year for my mother in law, unfortunatly she passed away on new Year's eve. :-(



It will remain empty for awhile, but we are undecided as to if we should sell it, and build a house for us there. If we go that route, we'd convert our current modular home into 2-2 bedroom apartments and rent them out.



Anyway, we saw some really nice looking log cabin homes in a recent trip down to NC.



Any thoughts and insight appreciated.

 

[JLEONARD]

My wife worked in a modular home factory here in Ct several years ago.

Quality was miles better than any stick built home I've seen.

Always finished on time (production schedule)

Wood never got wet

Everything was perfectly square (built with jigs)

Any rainy day the local building inspector spent a lot of time there (go figure)... so they couldn't "cheat"

Had a supporting staff to handle problems promptly after installation (my wife's job)

Built strong ... they could fall off the delivery trailer and not get damaged... yes it happens

Within certain 'rules' designs can easily be changed around and personalized

Installations were always on time or reasonably close... . factory pushed the foundations and site guy hard to be on schedule



Don't mean to slam the individual contractor guys here... but IMO a "good" modular is tough to beat.

Jay

 

[CFAR]

Trust me there are a lot of differences between East - West pre fabs, when I was in MA I was amazed at the quality and appearance of the prefabs. They seem to be getting more quality builders on the west coast, but I think we are still behind the east. Stick builders quality usually depend on how close an eye you keep on them. Some are horrible, some are great.

 

[Peter Campbell]

The modular homes in this section of NY are not cheap. I live in a stick built townhouse right now and could not think of anyway they could have been built any cheaper- and it is stick built. The high quality modulars placed on a full foundation are indistinquishable from stick built. That is of course due to the stick builts being CRAP. The advantage to the one building is after he pays the surveyor, the engineer, the zoning board VIG, and the health department VIG, the septic system installer, the guy clearing the land, the driveway paver, the well driller- This is before the house is built. Add one more- the foundation contracrtor. Get all your permits, hookups etc, get the modular builder to get all the appropriate inspections/QC done at his factory- Three weeks later they bring the house sections, crane them into place and you close on a final mortgage and move in. No one has a chance to "discover" timber rattlers, rare snails, or spotted owls. Our local environmentalists are not above bringing them to your site to "discover" them. Before the neigbors can pettion the town to do a stop work order the final CO is issued. Not money the real advantage is TIME.

 

[GIT-R-DONE]

No Way

There is no way I would buy either one. A friend of mine bought a modular and within 2 years things were going wrong. Counter top peeling off, Plumbing fittings for the washer leaking, drywall cracking, and the list goes on. there is some type of warranty that came with it but, it has been a fight to get all the repair work done.



Are all the manufactures like that? No, I don't think they are. But, you will have to find a reputable manufacturer to deal with so you don't get screwed over. There are many trailer and modular home factories around my area, I even worked in one, but wouldn't buy from them. Its no so much bad workmanship, but more of the quality of supplies that they use to put it all together. Just my . 02



Don

 

[Karl2500]

My parents had a modular built around 7 yrs ago. So far the only problems they have seen are; shower heads got clogged with plastic "fuzz" from the pvc pipes, this happened shortly after they moved in. The company had warned them that that might happen and suggested bottled or filtered water for drinking for the first few months. the only other problem was 2 years ago after a Ice storm the roof leaked at the joint between the modular and the stick built garage. One call and it was fixed a week later.

I find the house to be very well insulated. It is very quiet inside, both from outside noises and from room to room. Yes some of the hardware was kinda cheesy, door knobs sliding glass door etc.

My dad did fairly extensive customization to the house he added a bath made fewer but bigger rooms etc.

It was built on time during duck hunting season on MD's eastern shore. Dads house is a simple double wide config but my uncle's house across the street from dad's is a six section and he has had the same very good service and quality.

both houses had upgraded cabinets, carpet, moldings, windows etc.

I am in the market for a house now and I will be looking at both stick and modular.