Modular vs. Stick built
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Ray Schmitt
RE: Modular vs. Stick built
Personal experience:
I have been in construction for over 25 years and two years ago switched to factory built housing for my spec homes (some over $500,000). I get the same price for my homes as stick built although they cost me a lot less. I do care about the product I sell as I am in business for the long haul. Now I am opening a dealership to sell homes directly to people who buy land and want a house. I am getting into this business to raise the bar of quality for manufactured homes and I have a manufacturer who backs me. A lot of the problems people have are caused by the installations of the products, just as a poorly built stick home will. A visit to the manufacturing plant where home is constructed can be very revealing as to the quality of the manufacturer (how is the communication between management and workers, pace and overall feel of work areas, how long have most employees been with company, etc.) How home is installed- is it on a permanent foundation, is it built with attached garage and decks/ porches, is site drainage/ driveways done correctly, is home properly situated to take best advantage of site, etc. In our installations, typically the factory built home is only 50% of the cost with the rest in site improvements, permits, engineering, etc. Granted I live in a heated real estate market which skews the numbers upwards, but I think using quality factory built housing installed by knowledgeable, competent, trustworthy tradespeople will make stick built homes in the mid to lower price ranges uncompetitive. The pluses of building in a controlled enviroment and cost savings of bulk material purchasing and storage are too great.
Ray Schmitt
I have been in construction for over 25 years and two years ago switched to factory built housing for my spec homes (some over $500,000). I get the same price for my homes as stick built although they cost me a lot less. I do care about the product I sell as I am in business for the long haul. Now I am opening a dealership to sell homes directly to people who buy land and want a house. I am getting into this business to raise the bar of quality for manufactured homes and I have a manufacturer who backs me. A lot of the problems people have are caused by the installations of the products, just as a poorly built stick home will. A visit to the manufacturing plant where home is constructed can be very revealing as to the quality of the manufacturer (how is the communication between management and workers, pace and overall feel of work areas, how long have most employees been with company, etc.) How home is installed- is it on a permanent foundation, is it built with attached garage and decks/ porches, is site drainage/ driveways done correctly, is home properly situated to take best advantage of site, etc. In our installations, typically the factory built home is only 50% of the cost with the rest in site improvements, permits, engineering, etc. Granted I live in a heated real estate market which skews the numbers upwards, but I think using quality factory built housing installed by knowledgeable, competent, trustworthy tradespeople will make stick built homes in the mid to lower price ranges uncompetitive. The pluses of building in a controlled enviroment and cost savings of bulk material purchasing and storage are too great.
Ray Schmitt
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Brad
RE: Modular vs. Stick built
We are looking at manufactured homes. Where do we find information on which homes are better built and who manufactures these homes. We are in NW Indiana. Thanks for your help. Brad
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Mike Long
RE: Modular vs. Stick built
Have been comparing stick built houses with Pine Grove manufactored homes. Does anyone have any solid information on the quality of Pine Grove Homes? Thanks, Mike Long
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