Fred Bostick made an interesting business decision in 1971. He was disturbed by the closing of a Commodore owned plant in his neighborhood, so he bought it hoping to save jobs and make money when his current business was in its slower season. Why is this interesting? His existing business was pet food! The company was successful but would see a bit of a slump in the summer season; just when manufactured homes were selling best. This way there was profit being made one place or the other all year long. As a gimmick, a bag of dog food was placed under the kitchen sink of each new home, a tradition that continues to this day. Still a small, efficient company, Fred’s son, John, is now at the helm of Sunshine Homes. They deliver with their own trucks and even have their own warranty crew that boasts a 30 day response time for repairs.
Modular Home Book Resources Popular Buying Guides for Modular Homebuyers
When trying to select a modular home the first place to start is at the factory level. Knowing which factories deliver to your area is the first step in understanding your options. The second and most important step is determining how the factories compare to each other in the areas of: Quality Construction, Design/Style, Appraised Value and Price.
The manufactured housing industry has made some serious improvements in recent years regarding quality construction and residential appeal. With modern day technology and assembly line techniques, the industry is overcoming the misconception that manufactured homes are poorly built and don’t measure up to stick-built homes.
Knowing your financing options is the first step to securing a good deal. We have spoken with hundreds of modular home lenders and Mr. Eaton the author has gone through the process himself. Learn from his insight and you can avoid some common mistakes people make when financing their home.
On average 80% of homebuyers pay too much for their modular home. Not surprising with all the choices one must make from negotiating with your builder to purchasing property and site-improvements. This resource will reveal important negotiating secrets and dealer profit margins that will give you an edge when negotiating with your builder.
Most modular home builders have display models for potential home buyers to walk through. These models are professionally decorated to impress buyers with elaborate decorations, elegant furniture and dazzling floorplans. Aesthetics are important but would you purchase a modular home based on looks and compromise structural integrity? Don’t be fooled by appearances and miss what really matters; “Quality Construction.”
Modular Homes Construction The term modular means many things to many people. It can describe homes built on site using panels, walls prefabricated and shipped directly from the factory to the job site. The phrase can also be used for the modular housing industry built as whole sections or modular units in a plant and then attached on a permanent foundation with the use of a crane. Finally, it can describe HUD code homes, also known as manufactured homes or sometimes referred to as mobile homes.
Modular Homes are Superior Proponents of modular homes have long maintained that the building system produces structures that are far stronger than conventional site built homes. For example, the modual sections are well built to withstand the stresses of highway travel, containing up to 30 percent more building materials than a comparable traditional site built home.
Modular Homes Kentucky If you’ are planning on placing your home on a basement you will need to order your manufactured home basement ready” or “foundation ready”. Basements can be complicated, talk with the engineers at the manufacturer and work closely with them. A general contractor who has had experience installing basements under manufactured homes is a must. Your sales center should have names of qualified contractors in your area. Every basement is different and will usually require an engineer drawing.
