Modular Home Brands

[Underdog57]

I am looking at 4 different Modular Home brands/manufacturers in the west Michigan area,

Ritz-Craft Homes - Jones, MI

GHC Homes (General Housing Corp) - Bay City, MI

Fairmont Homes - Nappanee, IN

Crowne Homes - Elkhart, IN

I would appreciate any info, knowledge, experiences, construction quality, or anything that will help me make a decision. As far as I can tell so far these 4 are built with very similar basic specs. (2x6 ext. walls. 2x4 int. walls. Etc...). Just hoping I can find some unbiased reviews, experiences, from some real people.

Thanks

 

[NorTracNY]

I'm very happy with my Ritz-craft. Mine came from PA though. Their after install support FAR exceeded my expectations.

 

[coobie]

I am looking at 4 different Modular Home brands/manufacturers in the west Michigan area,

Ritz-Craft Homes - Jones, MI

GHC Homes (General Housing Corp) - Bay City, MI

Fairmont Homes - Nappanee, IN

Crowne Homes - Elkhart, IN

I would appreciate any info, knowledge, experiences, construction quality, or anything that will help me make a decision. As far as I can tell so far these 4 are built with very similar basic specs. (2x6 ext. walls. 2x4 int. walls. Etc...). Just hoping I can find some unbiased reviews, experiences, from some real people.

Thanks

Look at Heckaman homes also.They make nice ones.Our Heckman ranch home is over 20 years old,no problems.

 

[Boss 302]

Check out Foremost homes, they are in Pa. top of the line product.

 

[jeff9366]

If I may tack on this thread-----

I would like to read of quality modular home venders in SE, doing business in Florida.

Like OP, I am interested in quality, and willing to pay for quality.

So far I have two:

GreenSteel Homes, LLC., Alabama - model home Santa Rosa Beach, FL.

GreenSteelHomes - Low Cost, Hurricane Resistant, Enviromentally Friendly


Deltec Homes, Asheville, NC.

Prefabricated Homes | High Performance Homes | Round House | Prefab Home Kit | Hurricane Proof | Circular Houses | Modern Home Plans | Deltec Homes

 

[mark02tj]

There's actually a modular home builder located in Troy, MI (N of Detroit) called Champion Homes. They have several plants located around the country. Whoever you choose, I would recommend trying to take a tour of the factory that your home is built in. Seeing how these things go together will either completely sell you on the concept or turn you towards stick built. It's pretty cool watching these things go together, but seeing things like drywall being glued instead of screwed to the studs takes some getting used to.

My brother lives in a modular home (not sure of the manufacturer). Unless you know what you're looking for, you'd never know it wasn't stick built.

Good luck in your search!!

 

[jeff9366]

Consider:

HIVE MODULAR, Minneapolis, MN.

Hive Modular


ALCHEMY ARCHITECTURE Modular Homes, Saint Paul, MN.

Alchemy Architects | Home of the weeHouse

 

[USAFpj]

Jeff- check out Blue Ridge Log Cabins in Campobello, SC. Ours is 4b, 1900sqft, however, I opted for Hardie siding vs. D logs.

 

[Professor Marvel]

Check out Foremost homes, they are in Pa. top of the line product.

Second that
And with excellent customer service

 

[Opti-Mist]

I did a Wisconsin home in the U.P. A friend had done one a couple of years before and was well satisfied. He was a retired FMC Corp Quality VP and pulled a quality survey on Wisconsin. We had 2X6 walls, Alaska insulation, etc. I made a couple of floor plan changes which ended up reducing the cost. When I sold it 15 years later it appraised with an apparent age of 5 years. Speaks pretty well, I think. I guess modulars don't cross the Big Mac.

 

[breadtrk]

Look for real wood cabinets, not pressed wood. Real plywood floors, not pressed wood.


That is all.

 

[Fawken]

Around here we try to discourage those due to the fact that they're tornado magnets.:laughing: Actually the neighbors who bought mobile homes here the same time 35 years ago I was building this house are now on their second or third mobile home. If you ask me, they're all junk. Cheap wiring and fixtures, particle board floors, and 2x3 walls with 1/4" sheetrock. If you need something quick get a slab poured and have a metal building erected. Insulate it and finish it out with quality fixtures and move in until you can build a real house.

 

[breadtrk]

Huge difference between a real modular home and a mobile home. Real huge difference. It would pay for someone commenting on such to learn them. Might give credence to their opinions.

 

[windy acers]

A MODULAR HOME IS BULLT A WHOLE LOT MORE STURDY THAN A MOBIL HOME OR A STICK BUILT HOME!! WE LIVE IN A ALL AMERICAN BRAND HOME FROM INDIANA . FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS.

 

[breadtrk]

Well..... I have over 300 frames under my belt. Let me retire and play with my tractor and get posts reported here.

Unless that modular frame home is anchored to the sill plates and thus the foundation, they are really no better than a mobile home.

I've done them all. The Amish guys out of Indiana make sure theirs get set right. Can't say about others, just what I've seen myself.

Pretty much these days all you need to look for is what they build them with. Claytom Mobile homes are built better than many of the home I stick framed. Palm Harbor modular homes are not even worth the paint they put on them.

Look for wood cabinets and plywood floors, tied to the foundation properly and it don't matter if it is mobile or modular or stick.

 

[Fawken]

Huge difference between a real modular home and a mobile home. Real huge difference. It would pay for someone commenting on such to learn them. Might give credence to their opinions.

You need to come here to Texas then and inform all these MOBILE HOME dealers up on the interstate that they are engaging in false advertising. It seems they ALL refer to their products as "Modular Housing."

 

[USAFpj]

It seems they ALL refer to their products as "Modular Housing."

Are you sure they're not calling them "Manufactured Housing"?

That's the most frustrating thing when it comes to discussing the popularity of Modular homes. In just about every conversation, someone confuses them with Manufactured or Mobile homes. Those M's really screw people up

 

[Fawken]

Are you sure they're not calling them "Manufactured Housing"?

That's the most frustrating thing when it comes to discussing the popularity of Modular homes. In just about every conversation, someone confuses them with Manufactured or Mobile homes. Those M's really screw people up

Maybe so. Post pics of what you're talking about because I don't it's a very popular option around here. Having a traditional, brick on slab home built in Texas is actually cheaper in the long run than buying a mobile home- IF (emphasizing if) you bypass the builder and line up your own contractors for the various phases. Deal direct with the owners of the various companies. Helps to speak a small amount of Spanish, but generally trim carpenters here get $10-$12, brick layers $12-$15 and framers and concrete finishers somewhat less.

 

[/pine]

I assisted in the foundations and set up of several models from:

Custom Home Builders | Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and More | Wausau Homes

Quality construction that met FL codes...

 

[NorTracNY]

Maybe so. Post pics of what you're talking about because I don't it's a very popular option around here. Having a traditional, brick on slab home built in Texas is actually cheaper in the long run than buying a mobile home- IF (emphasizing if) you bypass the builder and line up your own contractors for the various phases. Deal direct with the owners of the various companies. Helps to speak a small amount of Spanish, but generally trim carpenters here get $10-$12, brick layers $12-$15 and framers and concrete finishers somewhat less.

Take a pic of any stick built home. A Modular home is generally built sturdier since it must handle the transportation to the site. They are able to be 2+ stories also. I don't know if manufactured/moble homes can have a second floor. I believe a manufactured home will have a steel bottom frame and are certainly not built to the same codes as a stick frame/modular.