SUNSHINE HOME

[Kim]

MY HUSBAND AND I LIVE IN KANSAS AND WE ARE LOOKING TO BUY OUR FIRST HOME. WE OWN OUR OWN LAND IN THE COUNTRY SO OUR HOME WILL BE A LIFETIME INVESTMENT. WE HAVE COMPARED SITE BUILT HOME TO MANUFACTURED HOUSING AND DECIDED THE MH WAS AFFORDABLE FOR US. MY QUESTION IS DOES ANYBODY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT A SUNSHINE HOME? WHAT KIND OF QUALITY OF CONSTRUCTION? WARRANTY? WE HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD TO LOOK AT A HART HOME, FLEETWOOD, FUQUA,AND OAKCREEK. PLEASE ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. WE ARE PARTICULARLY LOOKING FOR CONSTRUCTION MORE THAN EYE APPEAL.

[Terry]

Kim, Hello! Just to tell you there are many manufactured housing these days and I know it's a headache to choose one that's well built. The best constructed home in your area would be the Chief Industries/BonnaVilla Homes of Aurora and York Nebraska this company has two plants and only use 2x6 side walls and heavy insulation package; Hart Home is also a very good choice and builds nice homes goes an extra mile in their building technique; Fuqua Homes of Boonville, Missouri is a very wise choice. This company builds top quality modular and manufactured homes and goes the extra mile. The home speaks for itself and it's constructed like a site built home. I would advise you to keep away from the Fleetwood brand because of the poor workmanship to their homes. This company produces homes in mass production and don't pay to much attention to the detail. They use cheap building materials. Look under the vinyl lap siding and check the paneling on the bottom it's as thin as a paper board. Another company I would suggest is Guerdon/Magnolia in Vicksburg, Mississippi and this company build some of the finest homes also. Oakcreek I am leery about because they have been known to do faulty workmanship. This company dresses their homes very nice and looks very appealing but the construction wise it's not worth investing into. Heritage homes of Wayne, Nebraska is also a very good reliable builder. Make sure you order your homes with 2x6 sidewalls tape and textured thru out, one piece shower and bathtub combination because, water usually leaks in the two piece sets. Also you could upgrade the insulation in the roof to R-33 or more and roof load to 30 pds. per. sq. ft. or more. Some companies would exceed the required HUD code. Make sure you also order the home with water shut off valves thru out the home. Upgrade cabinets to real wood like oak, cherry, mahogany or better. If you want vinyl lap siding which I don't recommend, make sure the under layment is plywood thicker than 1/4" or more this would greatly support the sidewalls studs. I hope this would help you. Good luck Remember all manufactured homes aren't constructed the same.

[Kim]

TERRY, THANKYOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR REPLY. I APPRECIATE ALL THE INFORMATION YOU HAVE GIVEN TO US. WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE THE MOST INFORMED DECSION POSSIBLE. I NOTICED YOU DIDN'T MENTION ANY THING ABOUT SUNSHINE HOMES, THOUGH THEY SEEM TO FOLLOW SOME OF THE GUIDLINES YOU SPOKE OF. DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHT TOWARDS THOSE HOMES? I ALSO READ IN A REPLY TO ANOTHER LETTER YOU HIGHLY RECOMMENDED SOLITARE HOMES. I DID SOME RESERCH TODAY AND HAVE A INFORMATION PACKET COMMING MY WAY BY MAIL. THANKYOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HELP. KIM

[Terry]

Kim, Hello! Sorry that I didn't mention the Solitaire Homes. I live in a Solitaire home myself and I am proud of it. Solitaire is a company that builds homes to the highest standards. This company exceeds the HUD codes and their homes are all tape and textured with 1/2" sheetrock with brochade finshed walls. They use real wood cabinets and plywood floors and one piece tub and shower combo with water shut off valves thru out the entire home. This company use the grid work construction in the floors and ceilings and this really holds the home together. The exterior walls is wrapped with plywood sheathing and the hardboard siding is applied over the plywood giving the home a very strong structural support to the home. They also use architectural shingles not the cheap 3 tab the other competetors use. The only thing is the home comes as the way you see it the only options you can choose is the carpet colors and exterior siding if you want the osb type siding or the vinyl siding and metal roof or architectural shingles and the home comes in 3 different styles. I hope this helps you. The Sunshine Home is more of a HUD coded home or more mobilish type of dwelling. You have to do many upgrades to this home to get what you want. Again sorry that I didn't mention Solitaire Homes.

[Kim]

TERRY, HELLO I JUST RECEIVED MY INFO PACKET FROM SOLITAIRE HOMES I REALLY LIKE WHAT I SEE. I'M TRYING TO FIND A WEB SITE THAT SHOWS A VIRTIUAL TOUR OF THEIR HOME, SO I CAN TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE HOME. I'VE MADE SOME COMPARISONS OF THE SUNSHINE TO THE SOLITAIRE I'VE FOUND SOME THINGS SIMILAR. THE ONE PROBLEM WITH THE SOLITIARE IS THE DEALER IS FUTHER THAN WE MIGHT WANT TO DEAL WITH. BUT OUR OPTIONS ARE STILL OPEN AND SEARCHING. THANKYOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP. KIM

[Jody]

I'd appreicate where or how to get in touch with the makers of the Solitaire home. We are looking to move to our farm in NW OK. I understand that the Solitaire homes are made strong to withstand our wind. Thanks Jody

[Judy]

I would like to go to an internet site featuring Solitaire homes. We live in a 1978 Solitaire in Texas in the winter months and are looking to replace it with a newer model. I can't seem to find a site specifically for Solitaire. Can you help?