I know that a couple years ago, @SB21 posted a thread, here, asking about home plans: Home plans My question is somewhat similar. Wondering if anyone here has any experience with having a modular home put up? Not looking for a large building, definitely under 1000 square feet (which seems to be my problem....I might have to research "tiny homes", to find what I'm looking for. Real estate prices in western NY state, if you want a pre-existing home, are just STUPID, right now. Seems as soon as the mortgage rates started going up, anything small and/or inexpensive got gobbled up quick! Just found out today, that my rent is going up $100/month, come the beginning of November, and would rather earn equity, than pay someone else's mortgage, ya know? I don't need a lot of space, and figure that I can build bigger, or add on, later, if necessary. And if I think I want more now, I can opt for an unfinished basement, instead of a crawl space or slab. Thinking 2 bedroom, 1 bath is sufficient. Any input is appreciated!
House Plans Under 1000 Square Feet | Small & Tiny House Plans .. .. here ya is .. .. .. .. dey spensive tho .. .. yer lookin at about 1,000 ta 2,000 FRNs jus fer da plans .. ..
Draw you own plans ,, for a small house ,, start with a square box ,, and section off your rooms ,, keep your bathrooms and kitchen ,,, laundry close together if you can ,,, saves on plumbing pipe that way . If you draw it ,, you can get an engineer to verify load bearing points and stamp the plans for you city and state codes . Those prefab modulars sometimes take longer to get into than a conventional stick built home ,, thats the case in my AO anyway ,,, I know because I talked with a modular company for a customer about a month ago . I'll try and help anyway I can , if ya got questions .
If you do look at some home plans ,, and find some ya like ,, draw them out on your paper ,, let the engineer stamp them ,, lumber prices are coming down some ,, so that'll save ya some there . Check with the bldg inspection office in the town you're wanting to build in ,, a lot of places ,, you , as the home owner can be your own contractor ,,, you'll just be responsible to make sure all work is done to code . Hold out money from all subs until their work is 100% passed all inspections all the way thru the final ,,,, unless you know them personally enough to come back and fix or repair any work they did . Some counties ,, you can even do your own trades work ,,, hvac ,,, plumbing ,,, electrical ,,, sewer ,,, if you think you have the knowledge for that . Some counties will have a small test you can take to prove you have at least some experience in the field your trying to do .
Had a friend go modular a number of years ago back in eastern Colorado. Turned out pretty slick. He had it put on a full basement planning to finish it out later on. I think his was around 2k sq ft. Can't remember just now but I think it was just a few days to do the install. He did his own septic and power then hired the well dug. Everything was done by the time the house showed up so final hook up was pretty easy. I did something similar when I built the ranch. Worked a deal with one of my customers at the time trading welding work for their loaning me different pieces of equipment for a weekend at a time. Did my own septic which included a RV dump, dug the full basement and then had the well punched. Got a good Buddy deal from a couple of masons I knew for the block and cement work in exchange for them bringing their families and camping out during the weekends they were there as well as hunting privileges for a couple years. They gave me a material list and I made sure everything was there including gensets for power. Contracted the log home from an outfit up in Montana. When I drove up to see the cabin and arrange delivery dates I made a deal with the set up crew as well. They could bring their RVs and or tents and stay onsite, or drive 60 miles each way everyday from the nearest hotel. I provided their meals as well. Told them to bring their guns and fishing poles too. I provided the boon truck with me being the operator, but one of the crew was better than me so I let him take over. By the end of the week they didn't want to leave. We all had a heck of a time and I had my cabin up and roughed in. If you go the modular route I strongly advise setting it on a full basement. Cost isn't that much difference and it's a huge advantage. Also, have a bunk of 2x4s, 2x6s and drywall on site and ready to go. When they get the crane set up have them sky the stuff into your basement 1st. That way you don't have to carry anything big down a staircase and it will be there waiting on you whenever you're ready.
@natshare Hang on a bit longer as Real Estate Market crash coming to your state (especially your state) soon! Both, inflation and recession are starting to drive the New Home Building market and next the Real Estate market down and it will accelerate into a nosedive, probably make 2008 look like a test run. Hang on a bit longer, even another 90 days...
Ditto what Bandit posted, hang on till the crash any day now, and jump when it settles at the bottom! I would stick build at your own pace, start with the basic structure, just enough to be livable and add from there as you go! Spreading the costs out over time will help you with the big picture costs and make it easier to handle! I would focus on currently listed properties but WAIT until the crash to see what pops up and then grab what you can!
Hell, I'm getting tired just watching HIM work!! This is why I like the modular idea. You get the basement or foundation built, they come in and set the house, make the connections, and hand you the keys.
These guys always make it look so easy. One of the ones I was watching was supposed to be a 3 month build but was way more work than the husband and wife were expecting and stretched out 2 years.
My BIL lives in a modular home - he had in put on a basement. Been living it for over 40 years. The only problem has been with adding any kind of electrical. Built in a factory, the wiring is cut to fit - no slack.
.. .. wut wut?? .. .. .. .. hold yer horses .. .. .. .. where ya git da upstate NY part?? .. .. .. .. Lesnoy is in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia .. .. .. .. da roof coverin is Strotex Basic made by FOLIAREX in Poland .. .. .. .. da linky is Foliarex .. ..
Holy cow! If the price quote I received today is any indicator, I might as well just have a metal barn built, then convert it into a "barn-dominium". <400 square feet, delivered, for the low, low price of $96,000!! And that ain't even Amish built!!
Right?!? CRAZY!! I actually had to read the e-mail a couple times, to make sure I was reading it right! And I actually remembered the price a bit low....it's $96,200!! Here's what their e-mail said it includes: Wildfire Park Model 10' 8" x 36' 384 Square Feet Exterior Features: - Heavy Duty Steel, 3-axle Chassis w/Detachable Hitch (Lifetime Rating) - 26 Gauge Sheet Metal on Underside - (to keep out mice) - Metal Roof: Copper Metallic - 70 lb. Snow Load Roof System - 9" Roof Overhang (sides) w/ 7" Gable - 5/12 Pitch Roof (A-Frame) - R-19 Floor and Roof Insulation - 2x6 Floor Joists 16" on Center - 3/4" T/G Sub Floor - 2x4 Exterior Walls - Siding & Trim Color: Butter Nut Log - 7/16" OSB Wall Sheeting - House Wrap - Log Siding - R-13 Wall Insulation - Economy Windows - Black outside and White Inside (No Grids) - Black 36" Economy Single Entrance Door w/ (No Grids) - (1) Exterior Porch Light and (2) GFI Outlets Outside - Water Connection Under W/H (Brass Pipe with Garden Hose Hook Up) - Sewer Connection Under Toilet (1-Main Drain, 3" PVC Pipes) Interior Features: - Pine 1x8 T/G Pine Siding w/Clear Coat Finish - 1x4 Pine Trim w/Clear Coat Finish - Standard Interior Doors Knotty Pine Circle Top w/Clear Finish - All Light Fixtures, Ceiling Fans, Outlets and Switches Included - (1) 12,000 AC & Heat Wall Mount Ductless Mini Split - Prep for Hardwired 100 Amp Electrical Service - CO/Smoke Detectors Kitchen & Bath Features: - 6 ft. Length Knotty Pine Cabinets in a Clear Coat Finish - 6' ft. Laminate Countertop in Black - 9.8 Cu. Ft. Black Refrigerator - DHX 10-2 Trend 200069 Electric Water Heater (Tankless) - › 17" Microwave (Above Counter) - 48" Embossed White Wall Panel Shower - Toilet - Bathroom - Pine Clear Coat Vanity & Faucet - Bathroom - Exhaust Fan - All Plumbing Included with Waterlines in Walls for Colder Climates So yeah....it's not just a shell. But as you said, a manufactured house would be much cheaper! The only issue I have with those, is they're like a travel trailer....immediate, wicked depreciation, as soon as it leaves the lot. WAY worse than a car. Modular homes are a bit more robust, so hold their value better, since they have to adhere to a higher quality building code than a manufactured home.
Just do NOT install them in a 100 year Flood Plain.. like the ones in Kentucky, and elsewhere… They don’t float very well…It is beyond me how reasoned Folks choose to build next to a small stream, in country, capable of High Water Events…Every Dwelling I ever owned, was sighted on the highest ground around… and not just because I am a Amateur and Commercial Radio Operator…
Yeah, always wondered about those photos you see, of the gorgeous log cabin in the woods, right on the edge of the stream. What the heck? Y'all never heard of SPRING FLOODS??? Hell, I've seen a little creek that's normally not pushing more than 10 feet wide, come crawling out of its banks, and end up 40 feet wide, during the spring thaw! Currently requesting info on this modular home. I hold out hope that the first place was just plumb crazy, and this manufacturer is a bit more....sane?? Sure would look good, on the 1.79 acres of land I've been eye-ballin', of late. Ember - Excel Homes
