Comparing Modular Homes To Stick Built

[Dee Dee]

Any opinions on this?

Modular Homes Gain Fans, End Home-building Woes

Banks finance the purchases the same way (they're both construction loans for new houses) and for the purpose of getting a mortgage, appraisers can compare a modular home to a similar stick-built house.

I don't know about other areas of the country, but in these parts typical buyers will not pay as much for a modular home as they will for a stick-built. I wouldn't dream of using more than one stick-built comparable if the home was a modular.

 

[CANative]

Dee Dee....

Define "modular"

 

[Otis Key]

Pat Curry is a freelance writer based in Georgia

He has to justify something to get paid.

I always try to use apples to apples comparison - we're not near to that stage here where mods overtake site built - interesting that he indicated that there is an under supply of skilled labor. I sure them them in every new sudbivision pounding away - looks more like to me that they want to promote the factory aspect of construction (Easy Rich - I have no objection to them) as comparable to site built - in my market, it doesn't show that. Good try though.

I'll give them an Attaboy for trying.

 

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

There are 'modulars' that are might as well be 'manufactured' because they both look just alike.

There are 'modulars' that very, very, very few of us would ever even begin to guess that's what it is. I've been in some that are high end multi-level houses and the thought of 'modular' would not only never enter ones mind, you'd deny it could be true.

 

[CANative]

Exactly.

 

[Otis Key]

But Greg - apples to apples - nuts to nuts :dance: :dance:

 

[CANative]

Quality to Quality. :usa:

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

The one I was most recently in had pergo floor covering, Anderson wood windows, vaulted ceiling, and even though the exterior had not been painted yet, I had to be told that it was brought in in sections. It cost what stick built houses of the same design/quality brought. The only framing was an extension to the garage which the owners decided to add at the last minute.

 

[Big ole Boy]

Modulars can easily be a replacement to stick built if they are of equal quality and workmanship.

I have seen some that look like doublewides and some that look like a stick built.

I saw one about six months ago that blew my mind - it was definitely equal to stick built from exterior appearances.

The tendency though - is that workmanship will suffer as they slap them together and try and get a bonus from their supervisors for quick work.

You build slowly - you can on average always build better.

Lumber materials and finishes have to be watched closely.

It would be better to encourage demand for craftsman and pay them $20 per hour rather than giving them the $8.00 an hour in factory with the greedy profits going to just a few.

Spread it around - pass that money around in the community where the demand exists.

Just my opinion.

 

[Big ole Boy]

In isolated areas with no real work force or working capital/contractors to spec. -

modulars are definitely a good alternative. However, in these isolated/rural

markets in North Central Florida - I do not see resales in these areas paying any

premium for increased costs of construction.

Slower demand in these isolated markets puts downward pressure on

reproduction costs - and from what I am seeing - modulars are selling for more

than stick built - so it puts the industry in a catch 22.

Certainly, where building codes are lax or non-existent - modulars make more sense.

In Florida we have very strict building standards and rigourous inspection regimes

by county officials.

I am seeing a lot of PHW, Jim Walter and other kit build homes though - where

subs come in from larger metro areas and throw these things together -

workmanship in these homes is dispicable.