Modular houses widely range in size and style from small weekend getaways to huge permanent homes. These houses are suited for small families, bachelors and those looking for simple, elegant, budget-friendly housing.
They are are made of ‘modules made’ units at manufacturing centers away from their actual building sites. The finished home is then shipped to the site by flat bed truck and lowered and attached to a preset foundation.
These homes have a lot of advantages. Firstly, they are easy to manufacture. They are easily assembled on the shop floor in an assembly line process. They are also easily transported to the site by truck where a crane can easily set the structure onto a preset foundation.
The manufacturer obtains discounts on raw materials due to bulk purchases from suppliers. They also incur less labor costs compared to the labor costs of a site-built house. There is a great deal of efficiency as the assembly line is more efficient than a number of construction workers. Building material is also safe from inclement weather and robbery. Much less waste is generated.
When a manufacturer is building without a backlog, it usually delivers a house five weeks after the customer has finalized the plan and obtained permits and finances. The builder starts building the foundation while the house is being manufactured in the factory. In the case of a small, uncomplicated house requiring less onsite construction, it will be ready in three weeks. Combining building and manufacturing time, a customer can hope to move into his dream home in eight weeks’ time.
They also attract easy finance. Most customers save money constructing homes rather than purchasing them. The shorter construction time means that there are fewer monthly interest payments required to service the loan. Lenders like such homes because customers are unlikely to incur large cost over runs or run late in building. Quality is predictable. Construction inspection is also easy as the modular home is fully finished even at the first inspection.
Modular homes are time- and cost-saving, aesthetically pleasing and quality-conscious, and an excellent alternative to stick-built houses.
