Dutch Homes - Quality or Not?

[Scott]

I live in Southern Illinois. I have been approved for a USDA loan that does cover manufactured homes. A coworker recommended a Dutch home dealer(B&B Homes) to me. She has told me she bought hers there 3 years ago, and knew several other people who were also happy with their new homes from there. My question is how good of quality are Dutch homes? I'm looking at a 2305 sq ft home for around $85k w/ several upgrades(drywall). It looks great and seems well made. The only problems I see are that it only comes with a 1 yr "bumper-to-bumper" warranty (2/10 yr Structural optional for $155), the house uses "D2 floor decking", and that the interior, non-load bearing walls use 2x3s spaced 16" apart. The exterior walls are 2x6s and any walls that are load bearing uses the 2x6s or 2x4s.These 2x3s also include the marriage walls. These 2/3 walls seem anchored good though, because that don't shift when I try to shake them back and forth. This house will be placed on a permanent foundation. As I said though, compared to the other dealers in the area, the Dutch seem to be the best quality(& atleast I have some trustworthy references). Would this be worth my time or should I keep looking?

Thanks for any help.

[trmimo]

Positive references from current homeowners mean a lot. If you know these people and trust their judgement then you can probably expect good things as well. 2 x 3 interior walls are fine when placed 16" oc. The interior walls are not load bearing except for marriage walls. And the marriage walls of this house are sheeted with osb. 2 layers of osb and 2) 2 x 3 s makes for a stong wall. I would upgrade to osb floors though, d-2 decking isn't even the best particleboard choice. I won't comment about Dutch quality, because I am a Dutch Dealer and I am biased.

[Cameron Benedict]

I have a 2300+ square foot home and have been very happy with the home itself. The company was very responsive to the problems that occurred in manufacture and transport. The only complaints we have are with the setting on the foundation and some problems with the basement, which are local issues and have nothing to do with the Dutch home. In addition, with some of the improvements we are planning, the home will look like a stick built. I would DEFINTELY go with the residential package. I makes a great home.

[Eugene]

My experience with Dutch is they build an fairly decent home, and they service well for a short while, if your problems are big or close to the end of the warrenty, forget it. I would buy somewhere else.

[Larry]

I agree, buy from someone else!!!!