Four Seasons Price Comparing ??

[Tabitha]

I have been doing some looking around and found two dealers about the same distance from my site. Only they are in different directions. I have talk to both and they have given me a price that includes all my options. The thing is they are very different in price. First dealer is giving me a price of $90,900 for the Summerbrook which includes all of my upgrades, steps, roll on, central air, delivery, set up,& tax. The second dealer is giving me a price of $86,083 for the Summerbrook which includes all of my upgrades, delivery, set up, central air, steps, title,& roll on. Is there anything else I need to know about? Figure wise it looks as the second dealer is the better deal. I have references from both dealers that I am curenlty contacting. The first dealer has been in bussiness 45 years and is family owned/run. The other business is been in business for the same number of years but is not family owned/run. The one thing i did notice is that dealer 1 charged the same amount for their upgrades for the Summerbrook and the Autumn manor. For instances they charged $2700 for the stainless steal package for both the Summerbrook and the Autumn manor. Dealer 2 charged differ net amounts for the upgrades to the Autumn manor then they charged for the Summerbrook. For instances they charged $1575 for the stainless steal package in the Autumn manor & charged $2145 for the same package in the Summerbrook. Dealer one includes the one piece gutters and down spouts where dealer 2 gave me an estimate of $500. I sent the a list of things I wanted with the Summerbrook home and this is what each sent back to me..........

Dealer 1 Four Seasons Model D72-03 Sumerbrook Dealer 2

Finished Dry Wall Throughout Home & Closets
Ridge Vent On Roof Instead of Black Squares
Vinyl Siding
$4900 8ft. Flat Ceilings and a 5/12 Roof Pitch $2295
OSB Wrap
$295 R- 38 Roof Insulation $225
$250 R-22 Floor Insulation $195
$350 Steel 9-Lite Rear Door with Storm $295
$69 Leaded Glass Front Door with Sidelight and Full View Storm $550
$650 Sliding Glass Door in Great Room $535
$495 Interior Doors Six Panel Raised with Levered Door Handles $395
$125 Skylight in Master Bath $95
$125 Garbage Disposal $95
$250 Radius Hardwood on Countertop Edging $195
$250 Ceramic Backsplash $195
$975 Upgrade the Trim Package on Kitchen Cabinets $795
Cabinets Doors & Drawer fronts to have the raised Panel Ash
Kitchen Cabinets Stiles & rails Solid Ash
Pull-out Shelves in Kitchen Base Cabinets each side of Stove & Pantry
$2700 Stainless Steel Appliance Package with: $2145
Gas Range
Nautilus Dishwasher
22 Cubic Feet Refrigerator with Ice /Water in Door
Sensor Cooking Microwave
$295 Perimeter Heat Throughout the Home $225
200 Amp. Electric Service $95
$595 90 + Gas Furnace $460
$375 40 Gallon Gas Water Heater $295
$50 Extra Interior Light in Great Room $35
$250 Linen Cabinet in Bathroom 2 $150
$100 Washer/Dryer Overhead Cabinet $85
$175 Laundry Tub with Cabinet in Utility Area $130
$1200 ½ Stone Fireplace in Corner of Great Room $995
$475 Upgrade the Molding to Autumn Manor $1280
$4900 Basement Ready $3095
$100 Door Bell $60
15” Linen Closet in Master Bath $125
$100 Mini Pendent Lights at Island $130
One Piece Gutters and Downspout estimated $500
$2000 OSB Flooring instead of Nova deck $1375
$125 Mulled Windows $115
$22800.00 difference of $5640.00 $17160.00

Well what should I do next? Like the book I bought this is just like a 2nd job. Any suggestions?

[Bill Fry]

You might want to think about a few other options such as
1.Six panel doors that go to the floor.They can put the HUD vents over the doors and you can have them removed and the drywall patched after you own the home.theres nothing more ridiculous then doors that are 6 inches off the floor or vents over doors that let in light ,noise etc...The reasoning behind the vents is overkill.
2.Also check to see if they use standard mortised hinges in the doors and not the flimsy cheap varity many use.Secondly the jambs in the door frames should be wood,not MDF.MDF is all right for trim but not in areas where it needs to have structural strength.
3.Electrical boxes in the house should be attached to the studs in the walls and not simply to the drywll.
4.Electrical boxes in the ceiling should be rated for ceiling fans.
5. Fiberglass,not PVC or plastic tubs and sinks
6.Standard code framing >16inch off center wall studs and floor joists
7.Dual pane thermal windows

As far as pricing goes, if its the same home and options and you trust the dealer go with the cheapest dealer.His markup percent is probably less.

[trmimo]

It looks like the first dealer made a mistake on the price of the upgrade moulding, they are charging you less than they are paying the factory for that option.
Dealer 2 is selling their options to you for what they are paying the factory.
I would ask a few more questions to see what you are paying for.
Are both including steps for every door, or just the front door?
Are both including the basement steps?
Are both asttaching the home to the foundation?
Are both supplying the basement columns?
is either including bulldozer time to spot the house if needed?
Are both including trash removal?
Are any utility connections included? If so is there a charge for extra footage if necessary?
Both dealers should be able to provide you with a list of what you are expected to pay for to complete the home.
You didn't list tax as included for dealer 2, is it?
It still comes down to the quality of the references, If customers are happier with the higher priced dealer, 5% may be worth it.

[trmimo]

You're off base with the return air.
Most manufactured homes have barely adequate return air pathways as built.
Covering return air grills is a big mistake.
I would suggest that you visit www.mhrahome.org and read the report "minimizing moisture problems in manufactured homes located in hot, humid climates."
It provides empirical evidence of the need for more return air volume, not less.

[Bill Fry]

Hardly anyone leaves ther doors shut 24/7 to bedrooms where HUD requires vents or chopped doors for return air.Secondly have you ever seen any site built home with this design?(slab ,pier,or elevated )While HUD address's this issue emphatically they seem to forget about other glaring ones(which you can read about almost daily on this board.flooring?)If you use a little common sense like any homeowner you should have no problems with a normal door or wall to your bedrooms.

[Tabitha]

I did upgrade to the six panel doors do I have to say I want them longer or when you upgrade to six panels doors they come longer?

The tubs are Fiberglass and the sinks are china.
We will get one set of steps from ethier dealer.
Both are rolling the basement on the foundation. Is that what you meant by attaching the house to the foundation?
Stanard code for framing
Dual pane windows

These are the questions I will ask:
1.Six panel doors that go to the floor.
2. Are the hinges use for the doors standard mortised hinges?
3. Are the jambs in the door frames wood,not MDF.
4. Electrical boxes in the ceiling should be rated for ceiling fans.
5. Is there dual pane thermal windows
6. Are you including steps for every door, or just the front door?
7. Are you including the basement steps?
8. Are you attaching the home to the foundation?
9. Are you supplying the basement columns?
10.Is either including bulldozer time to spot the house if needed?
11. Are you including trash removal?
12. Are any utility connections included?

[tabitha]

The hinges do have three instead of two

[tabitha]

The hinges do have three instead of two

[Tabitha]

What is a vapor barrier? Do I need one if I am going to have a full basement?

[tabitha]

Tax is included in both the homes. Dealer ones says if I want the deluxe Block and flute trim it is an addtional $1200.00. The dealer told me that the price of $475 to upgrade the molding to autmun manor is ceiling cove molding only.