WHEN IS A MODULAR HOME A CUSTOM HOME?

This is another trick question. Today some of the better modular home manufacturers offer homes that rival custom homes right from the start. I know, yours are really custom. Let's see what makes that statement inaccurate.

1. Many homes are designed by architects and engineers. So are custom modular. The difference is how much you pay for their services. I've seen architects charge the customer up to 10% of the home's value. You would think for that amount of money it would be perfect. Wrong! Have you never heard of a "change order"? Typical modular companies charge about $1,000 for plans and these are stamped by an independent third party inspector to make sure they pass the local building codes. Saves you a lot of dough.

2. Did you mention "change orders"?  If you are using a stick builder you are used to making changes on the fly, telling your contractor that you wanted marble, not laminate for the vanities, that you want to upgrade the kitchen that was ordered last week and that you have now decided that you were right in the first place about the fireplace location. Can we change that? With modular you have to make up your mind before the house is ordered. This saves your sanity.

3. It's all about the money. You typically finish a custom home in about 8-10 months. This keeps your crews busy and you always have work. If this were a modular home, you would put in the foundation and sill plate and be waiting for the home to arrive. It was being built while you put in the foundation...good timing. It arrives 80-90% complete. You do your stick built stuff like porches, decks and garages and viola! the house is completed and the customer has moved into their new home in about 30-50 days. 90 days versus 250 days. If you make the same amount of profit, what are you going to do with the extra 160 days? Why, you're going to build 3 more homes! Saves you from having to keep your crew on the same house for 250 days.
And that saves money for you and your customer.

Custom Homes are custom homes are custom homes. If you perceive modular to be boxes put together and rolled on a foundation, you deserve to be a stick builder. But if you really look at the custom side of modular homes, you're going to be surprised at how much money can be saved while giving yourself a true  "Custom Home".