Modular or stick built, what's your flavor?

[Wayne County Hose]

The engineer just left, he says that the foundation is okay to build on. Now we can get started.

I actually learned quite a bit from you guys so far. A lot to this I never would have thought of. Our last home was a modular and you never would have known it unless you lived in it. I don't have a problem with their construction, just that you have to spec every little thing before you buy it.

I like being able to go out and pick out my own doors, faucets, shower valves, switch plates, etc rather than having the modular company pick them for me.

The model we're looking at is just over $41 a square foot, set on the foundation and weathered in, no options, I do all the finish work. Add at least $5 a square foot for insulation upgrade, window upgrade, etc. My buddy who is a GC, told me he can do it for less than $42 a square foot with everything it should have. All the right insulation, windows, etc. But, I will have to help nights and weekends, which I don't think is a bad thing. I don't mind being involved in the building of my own home, as long as I'm not doing the lions share of it.

The bottom line is, I have to talk it over with the wife.

 

[Alan L.]

Don't underestimate what "finish out" is. When the sheetrock is up there is still a LLLLLOOOOOONNNNNGGGGG way to go.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Don't underestimate what "finish out" is. When the sheetrock is up there is still a LLLLLOOOOOONNNNNGGGGG way to go.

There is a law of construction, "the last ten percent takes ninety percent of the money and time." It's almost as sure as gravity.

 

[AlanB]

There is a law of construction, "the last ten percent takes ninety percent of the money and time." It's almost as sure as gravity.

From my last year of house flipping, I sure will echo that. All the "big" things were no problem. They are easy to see, plan for, account for etc. But darn all these "little" things, just kill me on their times and prices.

 

[75H2]

Finally, A topic I can comment on with some degree on knowledge. 1st post ya-all.

Background, my wife and I concluded that our cute little cape cod will be at it's max with child # 2 which arrived a year and a half ago. Being the **** person I am I started researching our housing options about 5 years ago. 2 years ago we got serious by talking to builders and getting quotes. My dad was a builder / remodeler when I was growing up. I had no interest in following in his footsteps. But it gave me a little more background knowledge than the average person. After quite a bit of convincing I warmed up to the idea of modular construction. I researched the specs and recognized the benefits of climate controlled / off site construction. The first 3 builders we met with were modular dealers. Number 1 didn't know how to return calls. Number 2 didn't offer much in the way of heating options. The third guy was professional and worked with us to put together a quote. Here is what we found: 1st thing that really struck me was the "cheap" appearance of their interior finished. We toured a recently constructed home and the kitchen reminded me of the trailer I lived in until my parents built when I was a early teen. The flooring & railing was of poor quality. They were very inflexible in modifying their plans. If we wanted to move a wall it was 3K before any other costs were factored in. Their final quote was 5 to 7 bucks a foot higher than a stick built we qot a quote on. Also, their plans did not offer a garage. That would habve to be built on site (stick built) After speaking with about a half dozen builders we went with a stick built company. It's about 50% finished, we are at the drywall stage right now. My major concern was getting it under roof before the W PA winter hit. The framing sub (4 mexicans) worked like nothing I've ever seen. They had it under roof & shingled in 6 days. There are frustrations. We've been held up 2 times for small things that kept them from progressing. But, for what we are paying compared to the modular homes we got prices on we couldn't be more pleased.

Best lesson I've learned is that you have to be on top of them all the time. I'm there usually 2 times a day to make sure things are as we agreed. Frustrating, but when it's done, it's done

 

[rickster]

STICK BUILT!!

 

[skargo]

Lots of misconceptions on what a modular home actually is here. It's NOT a trailer/manufactured home, etc.

There is no difference in financing, or value increasing/decreasing comparing a modular to a stick built.

There is a huge difference in financing, or valuation comparing a trailer AKA manufactured home to a stick built.

I know, we built a modular. My land cost me $150K in 05', the house costs $230K to build and my house appraised at $580K when we moved in.

I was in the construction industry years ago and believe me, having everything assembles in a climate controlled factory vs building open to weather, by workers with dubious sobriety makes a huge difference.

****, we could of built a stick built for less. My wife designed 100% of our floorplan and we love our house.

 

[davitk]

workers with dubious sobriety

factory workers are always sober

 

[skargo]

factory workers are always sober

They'd have a hard time getting in, and working as drunk as I've seen some on site workers

 

[plowking]

I live in a modular home. It is a Alouette Home out of Canada. It was built in 1987,when the houses were made tight to conserve energy. I have had ridge vents,added,has gambel,soffett vents already. House doesn't like to breathe,especially if the upstairs doors are left closed. Downstairs is open concept so it breathes better. Toilet,fixtures are Roberson brand,parts can be hard to come by. The windows were wood,have been gradually changing to vinyl. House had to be put on with crane,the foundation was four feet too low,knee wall had to be added to fill in the gap,end result is more vinyl showing and less foundation showing at ground level. Pitch of roofs could have been better on farmer's porch,lower level,maybe the roof had to be kept low for height restrictions from coming over the road. Doorjams are over six inches wide where halfs of house were buttoned together. It came in four sections. plowking