How custom should we make it?

[Larisa]

First are looking at Southern/Southern Energy because they will customize. There is a plan we like for a 28X76 that runs $55,900 (includes delivery, set-up, AC, tiedown, piers, and appliances). Supposedly we will get a lower price for all the things that won't be put in if we don't want them.

We want NO flooring (just subflooring which the dealer requires 3/4" plywood instead of Nova Deck) put in because we want to put in wood parquet floor with a good polyurethane finish in the living room and all bedrooms. We also want to pick out a high quality floor for the kitchen and baths. The design changes we are looking at are turning the two guest bathrooms that are side by side into one large bathroom. Also to take the wall out and combine the Bonus room with the utility room. That is for the computers, food storage, laundry, bulletin boards, packpacks, etc.

The young lady at the dealership said that for about $500-$1000 they would hang the wall and let you tape,sand, and paint instead of having the vinyl covered with the plastic lines. We also want a green metal roof instead.

How do you add a porch? We want a screened in front porch made of wood with same type roofing. That way we can add all those cute Victorian wood pieces to accent it.

Can you ask them not to put the molding in and actually use wood instead of plastic?

Do you recommend caulking around all the windows and doors when we first get the house to prevent leaks? Can you have the roof hang farther off the house so there is an overhang? How much does it cost to concrete the skirt, or brick, or stone? Can you have them not put in a tub and put in a claw bathtub?

Am I getting carried away?

Thanks, Larisa

[L Jane]

Larisa, I would like to comment only on one item you are considering. That is the green metal roof. This is what we thought we wanted also until I spoke with a couple of dealers. They recommended against a metal roof unless you are getting a home with a high pitch (higher than 5-12). The reason being there is not enough space in the attic to help dissipate the heat. According to the people we spoke to, the cooling bill in the summertime would be greater as it would be more difficult to keep the house cool. I may have missed any comments you may have made about the roof pitch, but that is what we were told. Are you looking at the two-story model? The salesman did tell us that a metal roof would be fine for a home with that type pitch. It makes a lot of sense and we would have loved to have a metal roof (50 year warranty is mighty nice!). But we cannot quite aford the type house that would make such a roof practical. I'll be very interested to learn what others think. LJ

[r murray]

My first reaction is that you are setting up your self for a major disappointment....Second....

I would spend my money on basic quality first...then these extras...The Southern is the bottom of the lines built by Southen Energy...then Southern Lifestyle...then Southern Energy...

There are substancial differences in these models...

You sound young.....Remember you should be thinking of floor plan for both you and for resale purposes....Make sure you do not limit your future resale market...

The other post here mentions a 50 year warranty on the metal roof....I do not think this is the one on Southern...I think the warranty is no more than 1 year...even if it is...it is not by the manufacturer of the roof...not the home..

Taped and painted sheet rock costs about $ 600 (not counting the cost of materials which include baseboard molding...very costly)per room to contract a professional to complete...This is a very labor intensive job, takes a bit of skill and specialized tools to make look good....Trying the whole house as a homeowner project might be a bit more than most home owners can handle...

[Larisa]

Am I young? I guess so, I will be 29 this month. But I have been a homeowner for eight years. We bought a fifty something year old house from a widow and boy do you want to talk about a project! Ripping out carpet, stripping layer after layer of wallpaper, replace the water heater, rip out the kitchen counter and flooring, fixing leaks, put up siding, etc.

I am not worried about resale because I intend to be PUT for a good 20-30 years. We have 3 small children and we are looking at 7 acres out away from the city. I absolutely insist on wood floors for the living room and bedrooms. That is 99 cents a square foot. The kind of tile (which high traffic quality used in stores and businesses) I want to for the laundry room and closets can run as low 40-50 cents a square foot. We want to customize in the area that we want a HUGE laundry room!

Right now, our options that we are looking at:
Buy an old 3 bed 1 bath (900 sq ft) house with almost 2 acres already cleared with several out buildings. It is in a nice neighborhood, but we will have to add on and rehab the inside. They want $65,000 - but it may take $25,000 or more to do that.

Or buy 7 acres and put a 4 br 2 ba mobile (1600-1800 sq ft). We will have to clear, run electric, get a well, put in a drive, etc. It still appears to be running around $85,000 and is far more secluded.

About the roof, we haven't seen a lot of it in our county, but it is extremely popular across the river in Arkansas. I saw it on mobiles there.

I have a lot of friends who are construction workers and apartment maintenance employees. That is why I would feel comfortable tackling some of this stuff. The floor for sure, the walls are under consideration because I am not sure how you change vinyl covered walls or fix crayon on it. Our house we own has plaster walls, and that I can manage.

Larisa

[rmurray]

You asked...I answered from my experience...

Massive custom homes are usually a disappiontment for the customer...some have been VERY happy...but many more realize they made mistakes when it was too late...You may very well be one of the happy ones..

29....is very young...it is all a matter of perspective...LOL
...I admit...I am old...

Your long term plans bring me to my first point...You want to buy the VERY best base quality you can find...I would recommend that first before any other consideration..

Most customers buy the wall paper..precisely because it is much more kid friendly..Much more easy to care for and is good for 10 or more years...unlike painted walls that will have to be repainted much sooner..

That laminated wood floor you mention..is actually a little more expensive than you think..Installation on a wood floor requires quite a bit of preporation...often the instructions require a vapor barrier and a underlayment that can cost nearly as much as the floor...It is nice when done...but is not very moisture friendly...

You might want to buy Randy's book available here...He can give you a very good overview of the differences in quality of homes....GOOD LUCK

[patrick]

there are other brands that will customize also, Gateway/Advantage and Indies House are 2 that we took the time to check out. Have you looked at 32 wides? The extra 4 feet sure makes a difference. Both these companies make 90' long doubles. They will move walls or build your floorplan. Spend your money on heavy construction, Randys book is helpful, there are others on Barnes and Noble read all you can on construction.