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Do I Need Land Before Getting a Modular Home?

Building modiular home

Modular homes are quite similar to traditionally built houses in that the quality and options available for you are almost the same. The only difference is that modular homes are built at a factory while conventional houses are built on site. However, homeowners that prefer modular homes go for them because they are more affordable.

When you make the decision to go for a modular home, you need to pay attention to several factors. One of the many considerations you need to make is where your modular home is going to be installed. Since the modular home will be made in a factory, you need to prepare some land where your new home is going to be. This article gives information regarding the land considerations you have to pay attention to before getting a modular home.

Choosing a Location for Your Modular Home

When planning to have a modular home, the first thing you want to consider is the location. You need to look for land and buy it before the home is constructed. It is always good to have a good idea of the place you want to have your house before you start working with a manufacturer for your modular home.

The land is quite expensive nowadays. Therefore, it is good to understand the average amount charged for land in the area you wish to live in before planning the house. This will help you not spend too much when buying the land that you have a little amount left for your modular house.

The Space You Need

One thing you have to pay attention to when buying land is the space you need for the modular house. Once you have found a good piece of land, you have to decide the space needed. Since modular homes offer many options, yours can be palatial or tiny. Think about the number of rooms you need or the extra square footage your family needs.

If you are unsure about the space you need, you can visit some model houses around your area or reach out to an expert to help you out. Doing this will help you get a good understanding of the space that you might need for your house. As you do this, you have to remember that more square footage means more expenses. Therefore, you should always look at your budget when deciding the kind of house you want.

Apart from the square footage, you might want to decide the kind of floor plan you want to achieve or the layout of the rooms. For instance, some homeowners prefer defined rooms while others go for concept floor plans. You may also prefer having some rooms situated at certain locations. When planning for such needs, think about the future too. For instance, if you plan to have kids in the future, buying a large enough land and modular home that is enough for the family might be an excellent idea.

Preparing Land for a Modular Home

Once you purchase land, the next thing you need to do is prepare it to ensure it is ready to receive the modular home. The first step in the preparation is clearing the land. You have to remove or relocate trees, plants, and rocks, level the ground, and establish the right grade. Apart from that, the land has to be inspected to ensure it is ready. When doing the prep work, you want to check with your builder to see if they can excavate the foundation or do other tasks on-site as a package to help you save money. When addressing the land prep task, you have to consider potential extra costs such as dirt removal, removal of existing structures, and cistern filling.

Understanding Land Restrictions

Although modular houses are quite common nowadays, some municipalities or neighborhoods might not allow you to build such a house. Therefore, you want to take time and research on such areas, as you do not want to buy land only to realize you cannot build your home there. Some of these restrictions were put in place long ago due to the assumption that modular homes were inferior.

A house is probably the most expensive thing you will spend money on. Due to this reason, you have to ensure that you make the right decisions. A modular home can be a great option for you but you need to pay attention to the aforementioned points before getting a modular home to ensure you do not experience any land issues.