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My Modular Education

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams

Nathan Neale posted a blog recently called Manufactured Homes versus Modular Housing.  I wanted to take it a step further and give you some problems that I have personally dealt with on building mods. 

Issues with Modualrs:

1.  The marriage walls...they restrict where and how you can move the interior walls of the house.

2.  Changes....make sure that your client makes all changes on the engineered drawing.  Even little changes can equal big problems.  For instance, we built a modular duplex in Emerald Isle.  The client did not like the bathroom layout.  Easy fix right? WRONG!  where they wanted the bathroom fell in the marriage wall.  Chasing the plumbing is a big issue.

3.  Limited choice in mouldings, doors, plkumbing fixtures.

4.  Want to upgrade your appliances?  You are better off telling them to include the cheap stuff and selling or donating to your local habitat store.  I have enought white vinyl to build three houses.  We will use it eventually.  The credits that they give you are pennies on the dollar. 

5.  Billbacks.....might need to get your attorneys involved.  There were numberous issues that we felt were the manufacturers.  They took almost NO responsiblity.

6.  Lack of knowledge for local building inspections.  If a engineer signs off on it, can you argue about it?  They are a little higher on the food chain.

For reference, I have included some pictures of the modular that we built.  It was around 7000 square feet.  4 stores tall, and three units. 

 

Show All Comments Sort:
Larry Wright
nwRealty.Com - Tacoma, WA
Thanks Katie, we're starting to see more of these in our area.  Both in the mountain lakes and ocean front areas.
Sep 12, 2007 03:14 AM
Arina Hanciulescu
RealtyPros - Las Vegas, NV
RealtyPros
Thanks for the post. We don't see here to many but I see a future in home designing.
Sep 19, 2007 04:28 PM
Leigh Brown
Leigh Brown & Associates, RE/MAX Executive - Charlotte, NC
CEO, Dream Maker - Charlotte, NC
Holy smokes-I think that's the largest modular I've ever seen!!
Sep 20, 2007 01:20 AM