Are you thinking about purchasing your dream home and are considering modular homes? If you are, you may have some questions about this housing choice. When beginning their research, many homeowners ask themselves questions like, “Where can I build my modular home?” We’ll answer this question and offer some more insight on what you should know when it comes to purchasing your own modular home. Prepare yourself for the process with all the info you need with your helpful post on where you can build your modular home.
Modular Homes: Built to Move
Modular homes are structurally built to withstand a long journey to the final location. It is designed to be lifted with a crane using as little as two straps or cables and placed gently on the foundation. Resting on a foundation is about the easiest thing the modular home has to do. For stick-built homes, resting on the foundation is the toughest challenge.
When working with stick-built homes, these properties are made on the site. Unlevel ground, an uneasy ladder, or mud that hardens overnight can change the structure of the house. Modular homes are built off of the location and are built on steady ground.
The engineering behind the modular home design that is needed to ensure the modular home can take the trip to every home, no matter the location engrains a stronger presence. How much better will you feel knowing your family is protected every day in a home that was built to meet the rigors required of a modular home?
Where Can I Build a Modular Home?
A modular home can be set in two places. You can put your modular home on vacant land that you own or that you purchase or in a modular home park. Many people like the idea of vacant land because it affords them more privacy and requires less interaction with neighbors. However, vacant land will require you to be responsible for permits, zoning compliance, and bringing necessary utilities to the site.
Grading the land and preparing a pathway for delivery of the modular home, and making sure there are no roadway obstacles to delivering the home sections is your responsibility.
Putting a modular home on land is the first step towards building your house and it needs to be a solid one indeed. There are many obstacles that can come with a wrong chosen land or area. Special permits, documentation, or emergency issues can cause many problems. Make sure to do thorough research before buying land and putting a prefabricated home on it.
Complying with zoning requirements and building codes can be a difficult and time-consuming process. This is not to say that these tasks can’t be accomplished. If necessary, you can always hire experts to handle these tasks for you.
How Much Land Will You Need?
Are you willing to live with less land to save twenty minutes on your daily commute? Do you really need ten acres for the modest Cape Cod you plan to build? Exactly how close will you be to the neighbors? How much acreage you can afford will depend largely on the area you are targeting. Always remember that the more you spend on land, the less you have to spend on your home.
The size of your chosen lot will affect more than just the cost of your land. It will have a large impact on the “curb appeal” of your future home. No matter how great the location, a 3,500 square foot home squeezed onto .1 acre of land will look ridiculous, and a small house on a huge lot will be just as out of place.
Additionally, you should definitely keep in mind how all members of your family will use the land. You will want to think about factors such as the amount of landscaping you will need to do if the lot has few mature trees. Landscaping can add considerable costs to the overall land. Avid gardeners may prefer the wide-open possibilities of a flat plot with lots of sunlight, but if you envision your backyard full of bustling family barbecues, then a few shade trees could keep your guests happy and cool.
The Bottom Line
Modular homes — often referred to as prefab homes — are a great option for homeowners who want to build their custom dream home anywhere that they desire. All they need to do is decide whether they want to buy land or building in an existing community,
At Premium Living, we know that choosing a home is likely one of the most important financial decisions you will make. As an experienced modular home builder, we are committed to being your guiding light through this process.