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While
searching for a home, you'll hear the terms: site built, modular
homes, and manufactured homes (H.U.D.). It's important to become familiar with the
differences between these structures, whether you are purchasing an existing
home, or plan to build on a vacant lot that is subject to zoning or
restrictive covenants.
Site Built Homes
- Built entirely at the home site.
- Conforms to the state, local or regional
codes where the home is located.
- Materials are negatively affected by
inclement weather during building process as a result of the home being
constructed on site outdoors and materials being exposed to the
elements.
- Often times there
are no warranties provided from the builder like there is in both
Modular Homes, and Manufactured Homes.
Modular Homes
- Built in modules at a factory indoors with
regular inspections for quality control.
- Conforms to the state, local, or regional
codes where the home is located same as a site built home.
- Modules are transported to the home site on
removable carrier frames and placed on a foundation to complete the
construction process. Most often
the furnace, ductwork, and plumbing are completed on site by local
contractors as in a site built home.
- Modular homes are also built with extra
structural integrity, and additional fastening systems making them
stronger than most site built homes.
- Modular homes offer numerous options as far
as cabinetry, windows, doors, and fixtures throughout the home providing
beauty, and luxury in the home with a personal touch.
- The modern Modular home is more efficient
than its site built counterpart.
Many of the products used in Modular home construction are
“Energy Star rated” saving Modular home owners money throughout the
ownership of their home!
- Modular homes are
almost always considerably less expensive per square foot than a site
built home.
Manufactured Homes
- Manufactured Homes are built entirely
indoors at a factory under a federal code (HUD). Homes are required to be “livable”
when they leave the factory and are independently inspected to assure
the manufacturer meets all applicable codes. This means once the home is set one
must only connect the utilities to be able to live in the home.
- Manufactured homes are built on a
non-removable steel frame supporting the floor joists.
- Sections are transported to the home site on
their removable axles/wheels.
- Most Manufactured homes can be placed on a
basement foundation when ordered from the factory with frames designed
for a basement set of the home. Manufacturers supply an interior
stairwell as a part of the “basement ready” option.
- Manufactured homes are substantially less
expensive than site built or modular homes.
- Improvements
to design and construction of manufactured homes in recent years have
made many manufactured homes indistinguishable from other homes.
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