True modular homes?
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Lisa
True modular homes?
I am thinking of buying a modular home from Select modular home outlet in SC and I cant help but wonder if it is really built any better than a mobile home, the mobile home I live in now is junk and has been trouble since the day I got it (only 8 yrs ago) so I am very worried that I would get ripped off again. Is there a difference between a modular or system built home and a double wide mobile home, besides the metal frame the double wide is built on? Is there anyone out there that has heard of or bought from Select Homes, Inc.?
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dwharton
Re: True modular homes?
Lisa: If your home is a piece of "junk", you should have known this when you bought it! There have always been and always will be homes both site-built and factory built that are not good investments.Advertising to the world that you did not do your homework when you bought your first home and insinuating that because you bought a home of poor quality all manufactured homes are of poor quality is not going to help your cause.
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Lisa
Re: True modular homes?
dwharton,
what I wrote was " the mobile home I live in now is junk and has been trouble since the day I got it (only 8 yrs ago) " Obviously it did not appear to be junk at the sales center or I would not have bought it. Had I also known they would not stand behind their product for the first year even I never would have bought it. I did not insinuate anything about all the other MH's. I was asking a ligit question.
That being said, this is not what I wrote in asking for help about anyway. If I wanted someone to tell me how stupid it was to buy the mobile home (after the fact) then I could talk to any of the people that have seen it. I don't need it from you.
what I wrote was " the mobile home I live in now is junk and has been trouble since the day I got it (only 8 yrs ago) " Obviously it did not appear to be junk at the sales center or I would not have bought it. Had I also known they would not stand behind their product for the first year even I never would have bought it. I did not insinuate anything about all the other MH's. I was asking a ligit question.
That being said, this is not what I wrote in asking for help about anyway. If I wanted someone to tell me how stupid it was to buy the mobile home (after the fact) then I could talk to any of the people that have seen it. I don't need it from you.
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dwharton
Re: True modular homes?
Sorry, what I'm trying to say is ,buying an off frame modular home will not assure you of any better overall quality than buying a manufactured home.You need to find out which features contributed to your present home being "junk" and stay away from those features in either home.
Some of the things that contribute to poor quality in a home:
particlewood flooring[called by any name]
singlepane windows
24" OC framing
plastic sinks/tubs
low insulation r-values
eave projection on roof
type of sheathing under exterior vinyl
and many others
dealer quality/reputation
who will be installing your home
dealer reputation for servicing thier customers
These questions are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to preparing to purchase a home that will bring you joy and happiness for many years.
It's just that as an honest salesman trying my best to protect the customers interest, over and over I see customers go and do everything I cautioned them against doing and then they want to blame anyone but themselves when their dreamhome becomes a disaster.
Some of the things that contribute to poor quality in a home:
particlewood flooring[called by any name]
singlepane windows
24" OC framing
plastic sinks/tubs
low insulation r-values
eave projection on roof
type of sheathing under exterior vinyl
and many others
dealer quality/reputation
who will be installing your home
dealer reputation for servicing thier customers
These questions are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to preparing to purchase a home that will bring you joy and happiness for many years.
It's just that as an honest salesman trying my best to protect the customers interest, over and over I see customers go and do everything I cautioned them against doing and then they want to blame anyone but themselves when their dreamhome becomes a disaster.
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David
Re: True modular homes?
Maybe check out some of the other modular homes-Palm Harbo comes to mind and there are others quality built. Invest a few dollars and buy a few of the books listed on this site about modular and manufactured homes. Manufactured homes have come a long way since you purchased your home.
David
David
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Eugene
Re: True modular homes?
Lisa,
Unfortunatly the comments from dwharton are all too common on this site.
While it is true, that any housing product can experience problems, the odds are better that a modular will have less problems then a Manufactured home.
Unfortunatly the comments from dwharton are all too common on this site.
While it is true, that any housing product can experience problems, the odds are better that a modular will have less problems then a Manufactured home.
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dwharton
Re: True modular homes?
Eugene: I would certainly agree that modular minimum specifications exceed hud minimum specifications,but as you know,there are many high quality hud builders that build extemely good homes which greatly exceed minimum standards.
Not everyone can afford the additional cost of going modular.High quality modulars can cost as much as 85%-90% of the cost of a similar site-built house.A high quality hud home 50%. Manufactured Housing is about affordability & value.
And don't forget many of the manufacturers that build the lowest quality manufactured homes also build modulars.Do their workers shift into a different "mode' when they work on a mod., and does their committment to service[or not] change on a mod.?
Not everyone can afford the additional cost of going modular.High quality modulars can cost as much as 85%-90% of the cost of a similar site-built house.A high quality hud home 50%. Manufactured Housing is about affordability & value.
And don't forget many of the manufacturers that build the lowest quality manufactured homes also build modulars.Do their workers shift into a different "mode' when they work on a mod., and does their committment to service[or not] change on a mod.?
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rmurray
Re: True modular homes?
Actually there seems to be little "bashing" on this site...that is what makes it the best boards in the industry....
DW was a little strong...but I can understand his frustration...Information is more available now than ever..."bashing" a whole industry because of a personal bad experience makes little sense,,,plus SC had hundreds of dealers offering thousands of homes when this person bought...most would have served her well...
The good point is this person is doing her homework this time...She will have a much better outcome this time around...
My biggest issue with the mad rush to "modular homes" is the lack of after the sale government regulation...THERE IS NONE in these SE states...Here we have all seen bottom barrel manufacturers switching to modular homes to avoid the HUD program...A couple that come to mind is Pioneer Homes...Sweetwater Homes..and others..
Pioneer is a great example...they were in trouble with HUD..they moved to modular construction...sold hundreds of homes..hundreds of folks that thought modular was better (most in SC)...all have been fooled...Thankfully for future consumers..this company is no more...but hundreds got screwed on the way...
DW was a little strong...but I can understand his frustration...Information is more available now than ever..."bashing" a whole industry because of a personal bad experience makes little sense,,,plus SC had hundreds of dealers offering thousands of homes when this person bought...most would have served her well...
The good point is this person is doing her homework this time...She will have a much better outcome this time around...
My biggest issue with the mad rush to "modular homes" is the lack of after the sale government regulation...THERE IS NONE in these SE states...Here we have all seen bottom barrel manufacturers switching to modular homes to avoid the HUD program...A couple that come to mind is Pioneer Homes...Sweetwater Homes..and others..
Pioneer is a great example...they were in trouble with HUD..they moved to modular construction...sold hundreds of homes..hundreds of folks that thought modular was better (most in SC)...all have been fooled...Thankfully for future consumers..this company is no more...but hundreds got screwed on the way...
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trmimo
Re: True modular homes?
Good post rmurray.
You are so right, many modular homes today are built by companies that build hud homes. And with surprisingly little difference between the two homes. In many states modulars are less regulated than hud homes. In Michigan we have less in the way of consumer protection for buyers of mod.s and site builts than with hud homes. I can think of a few unscrupulous dealers who have switched to modular products because it is now easier to phony up the paperwork with mod.s.
The important thing is do your homework, know what you are looking for and research any company you are going to buy a home from. The code the home is built to doesn't matter that much, any home built to minimum code spec.s is a poor investment. And inspections are not that rigorous. That includes site built, contrary to the opinions of some posters, site builders have ways of cutting corners that would make your head spin.
You are so right, many modular homes today are built by companies that build hud homes. And with surprisingly little difference between the two homes. In many states modulars are less regulated than hud homes. In Michigan we have less in the way of consumer protection for buyers of mod.s and site builts than with hud homes. I can think of a few unscrupulous dealers who have switched to modular products because it is now easier to phony up the paperwork with mod.s.
The important thing is do your homework, know what you are looking for and research any company you are going to buy a home from. The code the home is built to doesn't matter that much, any home built to minimum code spec.s is a poor investment. And inspections are not that rigorous. That includes site built, contrary to the opinions of some posters, site builders have ways of cutting corners that would make your head spin.
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