DFB - Modular Homes

[cowboydoc]

DFB,
What was the name of that company is Wisconsin? I think they may be the same one that so many people around here have had so many problems with.

 

[TerryinMD]

I am just amazed at how large companies can build such terrible housing.

In my area (Western Maryland, Central Pennsylvania around I-81), manufactured housing is well accepted. When we built our house, we worked with a sales rep that sold directly for the company and they were licensed real estate agents. I have never heard anyone who owns a modular home have any complaints (in our area). When we designed our house, the sales person took down our wishes, presented them to the engineering department. The plans were drawn up and presented to us. Once accepted by both sides and signed off. We had to give them an approximate delivery date. It took about a week to build the house in the factory. They told us of their expected holidays and plant closings (The first week of deer season in PA is a "holiday" and the plant closes down.). The company had a list of recommended contruction companies to build the foundation. A real foundation not piers.

Once we had a good idea of when the foundation was to be completed, we called the house factory and the scheduled the house to be built. Once we got the go ahead from the factory, we scheduled the house erection. We had to make sure that a "cat" was on hand just in case of any problems. We built the house in winter. On the scheduled day, the house showed up in two sections with a big crane. The put on the back side first. It is interesting to see a 14'x42' object being moved and set onto a block foundation (full basement). The front side was set and they bolted the house together. Since it was a Cape Code, a crew showed up the next day and erected the roof by typical stick construction. The next day, they shingled and put the vinyl siding on the gable ends and the house was erected and closed up tight. Here is the timeline.

Mid-December grading was done.
First week January basement slabe poured.
Second week January foundation walls erected 28'x42' 13 course basements walls in one day!!
Third week January house put on foundation.
Fourth week January connect plumbing to stub-outs
February - March utilities installed, well drilled, septic system, finish grading.
April 1st move in.

Our biggest problem - getting contractors to bid on portions of the job. We were the general contractors and had to orchestrate the mess.

Would I do it again? Yes.

Would I chance anything? Yes, but that's always the case.

It just amazes me to hear of the horror stores in this thread. But, like anything else, it happens and people have to deal with it. I am glad to hear of a good resolution to DFB's journey.

Terry

 

[s1120]

Terry - neither Foremost or Keystone distributes to NY and I'm not sure about North American.

I have not been able to find someone who can stick build me a home for around the same price as a modular.

Anyone out there in the construction business who wants to build us a house in Spring???

How about Crest or Ritz-Craft, both also located in PA. Any good or bad comments? Any companies that are recommended?

I am trying to talk Paul into selling the land and buying an existing home, but so far no go...

I am not a happy camper :^(

Michele

 

[cowboydoc]

Michelle,
Try American homes. They have a website www.allamericanhomes.com. The site here in Iowa is first class and I have never heard any complaints from them. I know they have sites in other places as well.

 

[TerryinMD]

Michele,

I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you can go to a manufacturer and deal directly with them, by all means do so.

Half of the problem is finding a good manufacturer or a builder for that matter.

Prior to building our house, we almost stepped into a rattlesnake pit. The short of it is, is that we ended up being the general contractor because the builder we were dealing with was going to charge us $15K more for a house 2 ft shorter and on half the property we now own. He was having a problem with his parter and.........

So, take your time. Do some research. You will be all the better for it. Also, look into getting your own construction loan. It is a good deal. The trick to making it work is to get all of your details lined up prior to going to the bank for the loan. Find a bank that will deal with you and find out their rules. It's a bit of work, but you can get more house for your money.

Figure it this way - A builder is going to make a profit on you. I would guess somewhere between 15-25%. If you budget $150,000 for your dreamhouse, at 15% that would amount to $22,500. One hell of a compact tractor, or a barn/shop, think of the possibilities. You could even have someone stickbuild a house under your control (relative term here /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif).

This is America, anything is possible. Once you know what you need to do.....

Good luck.

 

[DFB]

Cowboydoc,

The lawyers still have all the files so I can't be sure. Thru their billing (which I definitely got) I traced a telephone contact with a place called FSP CORP. about a quality control inspection data sheet. Ring any bells?



Michele,

Have you been to http://www.westchester-modular.com/? They are built right in NYS. I've been told by several licensed contractors/ builders that they are the best quality (read expensive) modulars around the area. Never have had the chance to see one myself though.

DFB

 

[cowboydoc]

DFB,
I'm pretty sure their name is Design Homes. They are way overpriced and built like a trailer house. Finished built they are no cheaper than stick building. For a cape cod without alot of upgrades they want from 160k to 180k turnkey. This is for a 28 x 48 with the bottom finished and the top unfinished. Just the house itself they are between 107k and 115k. That doesn't include water and sewer hookups, electrical, garage, etc. that is all included with a stick built house. I don't see how people even consider this as an option to tell you the truth. Most of the guys around here are between $80-100 a square foot for houses and that includes everything but drilling the well. That includes a two car garage as well or three car with bigger houses.

 

[DFB]

Cowboydoc,

You got that right! Way overpriced. There is one guy running around here talking $150 sq.ft. Brags about charging someone 30K for building them a 2 story porch.

$75 TO $110 per sq.ft. is more like it, just about lines up with your numbers.

Hey get this one, had a hearing for tax abatement after the house was removed in June. Dip***s on the board decide they can't make a decision and need more info. (?) and postpone the hearing till Oct. Got the tax bill just the other day $1700. WITH NO HOUSE THERE. Go figure. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

DFB

 

[GlueGuy]

Ha! You guys are pikers!

My best buddy is getting a remodel done on his house. Contractors have quoted him prices running $250-$300 per square foot. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

At those prices, it'll be over a 100 years before I can afford my own remodel!

I'm not bragging, I'm just amazed at the differences in prices around this country.

The GlueGuy

 

[bgott]

When I sold mobile homes I took a tour of the Fleetwood factory in Waco, TX. I imagine mods are built the same way. They pull the frame into a building and then it’s moved sideways through the various stations. At the first station they drape underlayerment over the frame and then they drop in prefabed ductwork and plumbing. Then they use an overhead trolley to drop ( and I do mean drop) the joists onto the frame. A couple of guys run around and gun nail the joists to the sills and then it moves to the next station. Total time per station...15 minutes! After 10 minutes a loud horn sounds and everybody goes nuts trying to get their job done. If they aren’t done or something screws up it goes anyway. When I nail a subfloor I have to snap chalk lines to stay on the joists. These guys don’t have the time. If it’s a good day you’re going to have a good house. If it’s a bad day you’re screwed. The managers tell you that anybody can stop the line if there is a problem but, of course, the people working there will tell you that’s not a good idea. The employees told me that when one of them is having a personal house built they let everyone know and for some funny reason the line seems to get stopped at every station!