When it comes to investing in prefab homes, California stands out as one of the most accommodating states in the U.S. The state’s housing regulations and zoning laws have evolved to support homeowners looking to add modular homes or Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to their properties.
Goto Hongyu Dinghao to know more.
In recent years, the demand for secondary dwelling units has surged, largely due to their affordability and the long-term financial benefits they offer. Whether you’re considering a prefab ADU in Northern California or a prefab ADU in Southern California, the flexibility and efficiency of prefab construction make it an appealing choice.
With California's ADU laws further streamlining the approval process, homeowners will find it even easier to build modular homes on their properties. The new ADU laws in California for introduce updates to zoning regulations, making it more accessible for residents to develop prefab housing as rental units or additional living spaces for family members.
If you’re debating whether to invest in a modular home, understanding the advantages can help you make an informed decision. From cost savings and energy efficiency to quick assembly and customization options, prefab homes continue to be a smart investment for homeowners in California.
A prefab home, also known as a prefabricated home or modular home, is a type of housing built off-site in a controlled factory setting. Instead of being constructed entirely at the building site, prefab homes are manufactured in sections or modules, which are then transported and assembled on-site. This method allows for greater efficiency, reduced material waste, and faster construction times compared to traditional home building.
Prefab construction is not limited to residential homes—it's also widely used for office spaces. For instance, a prefab home office provides a flexible and modern solution for remote work, offering a separate workspace without requiring extensive home renovations. Similarly, a studio office shed offers a compact, functional office space that fits seamlessly into backyard environments.
Prefab homes are built using standardized components and advanced construction techniques, ensuring structural integrity and cost savings. Modules typically include pre-installed walls, floors, ceilings, and electrical systems, making assembly quick and efficient. These homes can range in size and style, from small single-family residences to larger multi-story houses, and they allow for significant customization to meet individual preferences.
Beyond residential purposes, indoor office pods and soundproof office pods for homes provide ideal prefab solutions for those seeking quiet, dedicated workspaces. These pods enhance productivity by offering privacy, soundproofing, and modern aesthetics, making them a popular choice for professionals who work from home.
Additionally, prefab homes can be designed with sustainability in mind, incorporating eco-friendly materials, high-quality insulation, and energy-saving systems. Many modern prefab options now include solar-powered technology, making them even more energy-efficient.
Whether for residential living, a backyard workspace, or a home-based business, prefab construction offers versatile, sustainable, and cost-effective housing and office solutions.
Prefab homes are tiny houses pre-built-in factories and assembled on-site for a quicker and more affordable process. Some best modular homes come in different sizes and shapes, including several sections and modules, which the companies transport directly to the site. When it arrives on the site, people from the factory come and assemble it for you to create a single, complete, small modular house in your backyard.
A prefab home in California is an excellent choice for anyone that wants to add extra living space into their backyard without spending too much on house expansion. Additionally, they are eco-friendly, and you can customize them if you want, which makes them ideal for everyone.
Modular homes in California are becoming famous because of their efficient and rapid building process and affordability. In this article, we'll review the top manufactured homes California for every Californian who wants to build a modular house.
California has some of the best prefab home suppliers, so if you're searching for a company that can build you a tiny house, check out these best suppliers in the country.
Oasys has the ideal prefab home in California for you if you want to increase your living space, invite guests, or generate rental income from Airbnb. Its dwelling units are available between 400 and 1,200 square feet, with adaptable layouts to suit your unique property.
The company focuses on creating a sense of openness in the ADU, from the 11-foot ceilings to the expansive windows, the open layouts, and the private porches to ensure that your new home looks good and is in perfect condition.
Blu Homes has been creating unique modular homes in California for the last decade, where you can live with aesthetic open spaces with a floor plan that makes sense and many windows to enjoy the daylight.
The company builds each prefab house in its factory and completes it on your site in three months! Many structures cost a lot of money, but Blu Homes designed a living space where you'll pay less and enjoy the high-quality materials needed for a premium place.
If you're looking for modern prefab homes in California, Digz2Go is a top place to start. The firm has been designing small and large cottages for quite some time now, offering only quality and great looks.
Digz2Go offers four units to its customers in various sizes, such as 300, 350, 700, and even 900 square feet! Moreover, it provides a building with an open, modern living space filled with light, multi-pane sliding doors, and much more.
Abodu's primary goal is to encourage homeowners to increase their yard's potential by adding fabulous backyard cottages to liven up the place. This company wants to amaze everyone with how simple it is to add extra living space to work from home, play with the kids, or rent for another income stream.
Its team focuses on creating something unique and special for everyone, where construction and real estate veterans work together to bring smiles and more comfort to each customer.
What's great about this supplier is that it understands that renovations and remodeling are often intimidating. Therefore, Bay Modular provides a fantastic solution for cheaply adding living space or workspace without experiencing any headaches.
The company designs many prefab houses in California, but Solo is one of its best creations. Solo is a modular backyard building designed from shipping containers that enable several configurations to fit your backyard's size and provide you with comfort and a place to relax.
It should be uncomplicated to build a house on your property. However, it may be anything but due to problems with city agencies, architects, and builders. Villa Homes fills this void by providing complete services for ADU constructions.
The company's goals include promoting the construction of high-quality California prefab homes at low cost and in a short amount of time. Everyone on the team is committed to the firm's goal of creating a meaningful backyard accessory dwelling unit, and its priority has always been serving each customer.
HybridCore Homes welcomes you to a new paradigm in construction. This firm gives homeowners all benefits of using a prefab home in California without any limitations. It bases its designs on livability, aesthetics, and value engineering.
A home isn't just a roof and four walls, it's a place where families grow and create memories. The company's expertise has walked through this before, and you can count on it to help you out every moment of the process.
The AVAVA Dwellings company offers high-quality, durable summer house ideas that it can rapidly assemble. This firm simplifies house building at each step, from installation to design. Also, AVAVA's goal is to create more flexible little cabins for its cities since they quickly change.
It can build structures faster than any standard construction method and aims to eliminate waste and research quick delivery for net zero housing. Some of its prefab buildings come with a rooftop solar panel, electric water heater, greywater collection system, and much more.
The California-based company, Shilo, constructs many modular dwellings that are fully adaptable with square footage between 200 and 1,200 square feet. Its accessory dwelling units are stylish, with flat roofs, large windows, and glass doors, which makes it excellent for everyone that likes bright living spaces.
In most cases, Shilo goes above and beyond the conditions of California's Title 24 for energy efficiency. When buyers are interested in purchasing an ADU that meets strict energy efficiency standards, the company can have the place certified as a “Passive House” or LEED.
Sagemodern is a San Francisco-based firm specializing in designing and constructing luxury prefab and modular dwellings. This brand only makes one-of-a-kind designs, so the home's size, materials, and sustainability features can all be adjusted to suit the buyer.
Even though the company doesn't make the houses and works with a network of makers, it is still involved in everything from the initial site assessment to the final walkthrough with the local builder.
The well-known Clever Homes company specializes in architecture, urban planning, and interior design. Its designs often feature water catchment systems and green roofs, and this company is an expert at constructing one-of-a-kind modular and prefab buildings.
Clever Homes is a firm that has been developing an integrated solution for the housing industry for over two decades. During this time, it has offered assistance with design, licensing, engineering, and building. Because of this, it's among the most experienced companies in the prefab industry to create an outdoor home office pod.
Connect Homes might have a plan that works for Californians looking for a stunning contemporary residence that is remarkably insulated and efficiently works with electricity. It offers 13 modern designs with big windows, flat roofs, and square corners.
The company aids the homeowner in preparing for the required planning, local permitting, and design. Moreover, it also assists in locating a local GC to complete the home's finishing touches after delivery.
Kapana is a manufacturer of prefab houses in California. Housing modules from Kapana come in two sizes (10 x 20 or 10 x 40 feet) and offer optional add-ons for the bathroom and kitchen.
Its modules have an elegant, futuristic look thanks to their high glass walls and uncovered metal framework. These modules can be used separately as an additional dwelling unit (ADU) or small home, or purchasers can mix them to make a unique modular home design. In addition, buyers can choose their preferred color scheme and type of flooring.
This brand is a company that creates California prefab homes on wheels with different floor plans to give you various options for your budget and benefit your life. The company has options for anyone looking to settle in a brand-new customized house or increase their earnings by listing a little cottage on Airbnb.
Sierra is more than just a construction firm; if you like to do things independently, it offers packages that include everything you need to start building by yourself, including a steel frame, trailer, and a small studio cabin kit.
Tiny Heirloom is widely known as the pioneer in modular homes in California. With extensive knowledge of architecture, design, construction, and interior finishes, the company has revolutionized how people live in areas as small as RVs and as big as mansions.
Frequently raising the bar and taking on the seemingly impossible, the firm has produced modular houses complimented as "masterworks of craftsmanship."
Since , the Handcrafted Movement has been designing and building modern prefab homes in California. The inspiration for it came from pursuing innovation and originality, intending to create an innovative, high-quality backyard studio for living and working in limited spaces.
Its goal is to make a quiet area where customers can rest, and employees can get some work done from home. Most Handcrafted interiors have lofts, LED lighting, hardwood flooring, custom-built fixtures, and marble countertops.
Cover designs, licenses, produces, and installs fabulous backyard cottages in Los Angeles if you're in the market for a prefab home in California. The company ensures a fully tailored prefab ADU to the specifics of your parcel, with a single, all-encompassing price and no need to deal with subcontractors.
Furthermore, the firm does all the legwork for you, from obtaining permits and researching zoning laws to creating and building your building, managing every part of the construction process, and finally installing it in your backyard.
This company is a well-known California prefab home provider based in Santa Rosa that provides full-service project management for clients seeking semi or fully-custom modular houses.
Hybrid has over 30 house plans it can use as a starting point for new construction, and it's flexible enough to adapt to a wide range of requirements. Additionally, its prefab cabins come in various styles such as ranch, craftsman, Spanish, farmhouse, cottage, and contemporary farmhouse.
Autonomous's most valuable assets are its customers. Not only does the company strive to develop extraordinary products for its clients, but it ensures that it does it with the best materials and extra care. Increasing its customers' productivity is what gives Autonomous pride and purpose to continue creating incredible equipment, and here are the prefab home offices this firm is offering:
WorkPod mini
This Autonomous Pod is an excellent way to expand your housing. You can quickly transform your backyard into something that provides extra space for various activities for you and your family.
WorkPod
WorkPod Versatile
ADU's prefab backyard studio fits perfectly in your garden or backyard, and you can use it as an extra relax space, home office, or even rent it.
For those looking to create an outdoor office in California, a WorkPod is an ideal choice. These insulated, weatherproof units offer a quiet, distraction-free environment that enhances focus and efficiency. Whether you're in urban Long Beach, spacious Riverside County, or the growing areas of San Bernardino County, a backyard office pod can be the perfect home addition.
With the rise of ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) across California, many homeowners are considering prefab backyard offices that align with local zoning laws. Understanding ADU regulations in Long Beach, ADU regulations in Riverside County, and ADU regulations in San Bernardino County can help homeowners make informed decisions when adding a detached workspace.
With the increase in demand for manufactured homes, California companies have been competing to provide the best products on the market. If you get in on the act right now by purchasing a modular home, you will enjoy many of the following advantages:
You can dramatically increase the value of your property by adding some prefab homes. California is a popular hunting ground for real estate investors, so owning property in this state is already a huge investment.
However, with just a few modifications, you can add a modular home that will set your property apart. Investors love buying properties with multiple buildings on site because it opens up many possibilities for further development.
Did you know that you could have another income stream just by investing in affordable prefab homes? California, like many other states in the U.S., sometimes struggles with housing shortages. This is especially true for places that are close to the CBD. Here, affordable housing is in short supply due to the many employees who work within the city.
If you happen to own a piece of real estate close to the city center, you are sitting on a gold mine without even realizing it. A simple modular home can attract a lot of potential tenants who will be willing to pay good money for the chance to live closer to their places of work. Your modular home can pay for itself and provide you with a decent profit from the rentals alone.
The COVID-19 pandemic left its mark on many people, and for some, changed their lives dramatically. People who used to commute to work every day were suddenly forced to stay at home. This is a habit that has endured long after the restrictions were lifted.
If you are considering having a home office on your property, a modular home may be the way to do it. It offers the perfect balance between being close to your home and having enough privacy to get some work done. Once you experience the freedom of working from home, you will wonder why you endured so many years battling the California rush hour traffic.
It is easier than you think to construct modular homes. California has many companies that will do all the heavy lifting for you. If you visit the Autonomous website, for example, you can order your prefab home online and have it delivered to your location in just a few weeks.
Once it arrives, all you have to do is point to the spot where you want your ADU to be installed, and the rest will be done for you. These manufactured homes are designed to make the installation process as simple as possible. This makes it the preferable option when compared to the many months of hard work it would take to build an extra cottage on your property.
When you built your home, you had to follow many housing regulations set by the state of California, as well as some rules that you may have been given by your local municipality. This puts a lot of restrictions on the things you can do when building a house.
However, many prefab homes are too small to require any local building permits. You will have a lot more freedom and flexibility regarding how you want to design your prefab ADU. This means you can create the perfect man cave for your needs without having to worry about breaking any bylaws or building codes.
One of the biggest talking points in most major industries over the past few years has been sustainability. In the construction industry, manufacturers and consumers alike are now taking a much closer look at the type of material they use to build their homes. Many homeowners are even willing to pay a little extra to guarantee that their homes are sustainable.
If you are concerned about the state of the environment, you will be pleased to know that many modular homes built by reliable manufacturers are made from earth-friendly materials. That means having a second dwelling unit on your property is not going to negatively affect the planet.
Many homeowners may be concerned about the safety of the prefab homes California suppliers have to offer. However, all you need to do is to put your trust in a reliable company and your ADU’s safety will be guaranteed.
You can rest assured that your prefab home was fully inspected before it left the factory floor. It will come with all the regular safety features that you have in your home, such as fire alarms. Once the modular home has been installed, another inspection will be done to make sure that it is structurally sound and suitable for occupation.
All reliable prefab home suppliers are subject to regular quality checks from the various boards they are accredited by. This means you can rest assured that only the best quality of materials and the highest levels of craftsmanship went into building your home.
Such an ADU will last you a long time before you consider making any big renovations. The material is also specifically selected to endure the hot California weather. Its insulation properties will be able to keep the interior a lot cooler than the outside temperatures.
Having plenty of room for personalization is one of the great things about investing in manufactured homes. California suppliers are willing to be very flexible when it comes to choosing your ideal designs.
At Autonomous, for example, you can choose whether you want a studio, home office, man cave, or sleep pod, and your ADU will come with the appropriate furniture to suit your needs. There is even enough room to create both an office and a sleep pod if you wish.
One of the most impressive things about this kind of investment is the energy efficiency of modern modular homes. California can get very hot in summer, and a lot of people spend big on air conditioning.
However, you will be surprised at how much you can cut your electric bill just by using the proper insulated materials. The latest prefab homes are designed to be as energy-efficient as possible, meaning they will save you a lot of money down the road.
When buying prefab homes in California, there are several important factors to consider. Here are some key considerations:
Building Codes and Permits: Ensure that the prefab home complies with California's building codes and regulations. Check if the manufacturer has experience constructing homes in California and can provide the necessary documentation for permits and inspections.
Quality and Reputation: Research the reputation and track record of the prefab home manufacturer. Look for customer reviews, testimonials, and examples of their previous projects. Assess the quality of their materials, craftsmanship, and attention to detail.
Customization Options: Determine whether the prefab home can be customized to suit your specific needs and preferences. Consider factors like the layout, size, number of rooms, and available upgrades or add-ons.
Energy Efficiency: Given California's focus on sustainability, consider the energy efficiency of the prefab home. Inquire about the insulation, windows, HVAC system, and other features that contribute to energy savings. Look for homes that meet or exceed energy efficiency standards, such as ENERGY STAR certification.
Cost and Budget: Determine your budget and compare the prices of different prefab home options. Consider the overall cost, including delivery, installation, foundation, site preparation, and any additional expenses. Evaluate the long-term value of the home by considering its durability and potential resale value.
Warranty and Support: Review the warranty provided by the prefab home manufacturer. Understand the coverage, duration, and any limitations. Inquire about after-sales support, maintenance, and repair services.
Location and Site Preparation: Consider the specific location where you plan to place the prefab home. Evaluate factors like access, utilities, zoning restrictions, and any site-specific considerations. Determine if the manufacturer provides assistance with site preparation or if you need to arrange it separately.
Financing Options: Explore financing options available for prefab homes, such as loans or mortgages. Research if the manufacturer offers financing or if there are any specific lenders familiar with prefab homes in California.
Timing and Delivery: Discuss the estimated timeline for manufacturing and delivery of the prefab home. Consider any potential delays and align the schedule with your needs and requirements.
Insurance and Liabilities: Consult with insurance providers to understand the coverage options available for prefab homes. Assess any potential liabilities, such as damage during transportation or installation, and ensure appropriate insurance coverage is in place.
Resale Value: While not an immediate concern, it's beneficial to consider the potential resale value of the prefab home. Factors like location, quality, design, and market demand can influence the future value of the property.
Remember to thoroughly research and compare different prefab home manufacturers and models to find the best fit for your needs. Consult with experts, such as real estate agents or construction professionals, if needed, to ensure a well-informed decision.
For more Prefab House Manufacturerinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.
Do you know how prefab homes are constructed? The process is a very simple one that starts with choosing the right materials.
Many kinds of materials can be used to manufacture prefab homes. California, with its very hot summers and wet winters, requires specific types of insulated materials that are also water resistant. As such, many of the ADUs are made from wood.
However, modular designs use layers of various materials to achieve the perfect level of insulation against weather conditions. Take the Autonomous ADU, for example. It comes with several layers made from all kinds of materials, such as plywood, steel, honeycomb paper, and bitumen. Extra layers can be included for specific features, such as soundproofing.
One of the most important things when choosing the material for constructing the prefab home is that it be of the highest quality. The last thing you want is for the ADU to start falling apart just a few months after buying it. This should be a long-term investment that will last you many years.
When you order your affordable prefab homes, California manufacturers will construct them offsite and then deliver the finished product to your home. This is what prefab means.
If you go online on the Autonomous website, you will see great examples of how to order your ADU online, have it constructed at the factory, and wait for it to be delivered.
The great thing about offsite construction is that you do not have to suffer through the noises and disruptions of the building process. If you live in areas where there are neighborhood rules and regulations regarding construction projects, this will be a good way to get your ADU delivered as quietly as possible.
To make transportation easier, a lot of manufacturers will deliver the home in the form of panels. Once the home arrives, it will be assembled in your yard and left ready for occupation.
However, another possibility is to deliver the prefab home already assembled from the factory. The advantage of this is that once the ADU arrives on your property, it will not take long to set it up. When delivering the home in that way, the transporters have to adhere to strict California highway regulations that govern the size of ADUs that can be transported on the road.
Once the team of contractors delivers your prefab home, they will begin the setup process. Depending on the size of your ADU and the number of special features it has, it may take a few days or weeks to set it up.
In many cases, the delivery team will leave your ADU ready for occupation. This means all the basic amenities that are required, such as electricity, water, and gas will be installed and fully operational.
Are Prefab Homes Worth It?
Yes, if you choose the right manufacturer who can deliver a top-quality prefab home, it can be one of the best investments you have ever made. The increase in property value and the many possibilities that ADUs provide cannot be overlooked.
As such, if you have the opportunity and free space available, consider building a prefab home on your property, this is something you need to start working towards.
How Long Do Prefab Homes Last?
There is no definite lifespan that applies to all modular homes. California homeowners need to consider two important things when buying their ADUs, and these are the type of material and the weather conditions in their area.
If you buy the wrong material for your climate, you will find that your prefab home may not last as long as you would have wanted. However, good-quality prefab homes are usually designed to last many years or decades.
Do Prefabricated Homes Lose Value?
Well-designed affordable prefab homes in California will continue to appreciate along with the rest of the property. Your prefab home will be part of your real estate property, so its value will be linked to local property prices.
Are Prefab Homes Allowed in California?
When it comes to manufactured homes, California has very favorable laws. You are allowed to build a prefab home on your property as long as you have the space for it and follow a few local municipal guidelines.
Can Prefab Homes Have Basements?
It is uncommon for prefab homes to have basements, but it is possible. If this is something you want, you will have to talk to the manufacturer and see if they can accommodate your needs.
How Long Do Prefab Homes Take to Build?
It takes around 16-18 weeks to build a regular prefab ADU. The more specialized features you include, such as sound insulation or special flooring, the longer the building process will likely take.
If you've been dreaming of a new prefab home in California for some time, then these top 20 suppliers have got you covered! From quick and cheap options to completely customizable and eco-friendly designs, these firms offer a wide range of prefab houses in California that fit your needs and desires. There are many advantages of investing in prefab homes. California has the perfect weather conditions and flexible housing laws to make this a suitable option for homeowners thinking of adding some value to their properties.
When you hear the term modular homes, you probably think of something akin to mobile homes on cinder blocks—temporary solutions for would-be homeowners that are far from the dream homes they hope to one day occupy. The truth, of course, is more complicated, and by the time you learn more about this fast-growing segment of the home-construction industry you may think, This is the home for me.
We’ve spoken to industry experts about the history, making of, and pros and cons of modular homes to give you the scoop on this old-but-new way of building homes, piece by piece.
To get into the concept of modular homes, we need to go back to mobile homes—which, technically speaking, no one has made in the US for half a century.
After World War II, mobile homes exploded in popularity but were essentially unregulated. Often little more than trailers converted temporarily or permanently into makeshift houses, they were relatively cheap but not exactly the epitome of comfort or safety.
In the mid-s, Congress and the Department of Housing and Urban Development passed laws and regulations that changed the landscape of the industry, setting down new standards and requirements and, importantly, literally redefining the product. From then on, what had been known as mobile homes were now officially “manufactured homes.” Technically speaking, manufactured homes are homes that are mostly built in a factory, transported to their permanent site, then assembled on-site on a foundation—all while meeting federal codes.
The big difference between modular homes and manufactured homes is that modular homes also abide by state and local codes for housing, which are almost always stricter than federal codes but also vary from town to town and state to state. The rest of it—being mostly manufactured at a factory then assembled on a foundation on-site—is the same, differentiating these prefab housing solutions from “stick-built homes,” the term often used for homes built in the traditional way, entirely on-site. Nowadays, modular construction has evolved to the point where the craftsmanship can rival that of traditional homes and homebuyers can pick from almost any style and configuration they could imagine.
“The modular industry started from a trailer that pulled behind a car, so for decades, if you wanted a modular home, you opened a book and picked a model out,” says Gary Casazza, owner of a modular-home sales company in New Jersey and a member of the board of the Modular Building Institute. “In the last 30 years, that's changed—today, they’re custom homes.”
Not that modular homes are a new trend, though: You could famously mail order an entire home in a variety of styles and have it delivered straight to you via the Sears catalog from to . And America’s first prefab home was shipped over in pieces from England to Cape Ann, Massachusetts…in .
Casazza says the residential construction industry is essentially catching up to the efficiencies and improved standards introduced in other fields, like automobile manufacturing, where companies reduce time and expenses spent by streamlining the process with the help of modern assembly practices. Shifting the bulk of the manufacturing to centers with specialized experts just makes more sense than doing everything locale by locale, he says.
“If I said to you, ‘Should you buy your car from the local gas station up the road?’ you’d look at me as if I had two heads,” he says. “Homes today are more complicated than cars. We have simplified cars that are built like a Lego set. Homes are more complicated, but [many people think we have to] still build them the old-fashioned way.”
“A misconception with modular homes is they come 100% finished,” Casazza says.
In fact, you have to do a lot of work at the final site before a modular home can even roll out of the factory. Contractors have to prep and level the area, dig the permanent foundation, place the pilings, pour the concrete and install the sill plate, the thing that connects the factory-built parts of a modular home to the foundation. Every site is different, so the specifics differ, too, but the gist is that it’s always a lot of work. “This is no different than a site-built home,” Casazza points out about these initial stages.
But that’s where the similarities end.
“Everything from the sill plate up is done in the factory and installed by crane,” he says. “All homes are a series of boxes that are put together. Wherever the boxes join [for a modular home], you have to do the sheetrock work on-site. Same with the flooring.”
So once the boxes that make up the home are stuck together, the electricity and plumbing have to be hooked up.
“The electric for the homes comes installed. The boxes have to be connected and the wires brought to the cable box,” Casazza says. “Then the plumbing has to be connected—about 20% of the plumbing is done on-site, and 80% in factory. The connections to the street for plumbing and electricity have to be done on-site.”
The last steps include the crane operator and set crew putting on the roof (which comes on hinges) and the final waterproofing. Everything is typically installed to the construction-industry standard of 1/4-inch tolerance.
There’s one part of modular homes that’s definitely a plus over stick-built homes, though.
“[Y]our bathrooms and kitchens are usually 100% done,” Casazza says. “That’s probably the most time-consuming part of a [traditionally built] house, the bathrooms and kitchens.”
Modular homes are built in smaller, connectable pieces—the modules that give modular construction its name, of course—in factories that are often far from their eventual sites. Each segment is built to the relevant standards and ready to integrate into their slots once they arrive on-site.
“Clayton off-site built homes, including modular homes, are constructed inside a climate-controlled home building facility, allowing for a more efficient building process,” says Ron Powell, president of Clayton Manufacturing, largest builder of off-site built housing. “A modular home can be anywhere from 70% to 90% complete when it leaves the building facility. The level of completion depends on the features chosen by the homebuyer and design of the floorplan. That final 10% to 30% of the construction is typically the fit and finish-type amenities that buyers associate with quality.”
These factories are huge, and the work is done indoors, unlike houses built on-site, meaning that they’re not subject to the kinds of environment stresses that stick-built homes usually endure for months as they’re slowly put together.
“The lumber doesn’t get wet and dry out,” Casazza says. “It’s a very simple system. If you look at the way bridges or ships or skyscrapers are built, they’re built with a series of parts from a factory that has shipped them out and put them together on-site. That’s what the modular industry is doing.”
There’s also one important similarity to stick-built homes that people aren’t aware of, Powell says.
“Modular homes are constructed using the same standard materials found in traditional site-built construction, including lumber, windows, doors and appliances,” he says.
Local zoning restrictions dictate where modular homes can go, and passing this hurdle is often the hardest part of the whole process for many people.
“Off-site construction is often zoned out or relegated to the outskirts of cities and towns,” Powell says. “Our industry is working closely with municipalities across the country to help ensure that off-site built homes are permissible as a homeownership solution.”
Still, it’s easier than it used to be to put in a modular home.
“When I started in the industry, you’d go into towns and they would say, ‘We don’t let modular homes into this town,’” Casazza says.
Size is arguably the most critical limiting factor of any modular home—and not for the reason you may think.
“They’ve got to be driven down the highway,” Casazza says
That means that, depending on where the sections of your modular home have to travel, each section can’t exceed the dimensions that are safe on the road. In most of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, for example, Casazza says, the maximum width is 15 feet and 6 inches, and the maximum height is 65 feet, though you can go wider in rural areas like southern New Jersey. Tennessee-based Clayton, on the other hand, manufactures modular home sections up to 16 feet wide and 76 feet long.
“This can be a challenge if your home site is heavily wooded,” Powell says. “Branches will need be trimmed and trees removed.”
In short, don’t expect modular homes in, say, Florida, to be given the same leeway as in Texas—you and your team will have to research what you can get away with.
That all said, “most modular home floor plans built by Clayton range from 1,500 to 2,200 square feet and include three to four bedrooms,” Powell says.
Manufacturers can make modular homes in a variety of styles, and most people would be hard-pressed to tell the difference between a modular home and a stick-built home once they’re completed.
Before the manufacturer even begins putting the parts together, a prospective homebuyer talks to the company about what kind of home they want. The manufacturer typically has a catalog of common styles (like Cape Cod, colonial, Arts and Crafts, ranch homes, and so on) and layouts homebuyers can choose from, though the modularity of the sections means you can mix and match—as long as they meet the constraints of highway safety laws, local codes, and the manufacturer’s capabilities.
Casazza, for example, says he offers about 200 off-the-shelf designs, while Clayton also has a wide variety.
“Farmhouse-style homes were our top homes in , with the Southern Charm floor plan being our most popular,” Powell says. Clayton doesn’t currently offer multifamily layouts, and it would almost certainly be harder for multifamily modular homes than single-family homes to pass muster with local building codes and zoning requirements.
Clayton has also introduced a new line of homes called CrossMod Homes, which Powell describes as using a blend of off-site and on-site construction practices for homes on permanent foundations.
From browsing the catalog to crossing the threshold to your new home, you could see a modular home in move-in condition much more quickly—sometimes half or even a third of the time—than it might take for a comparable stick-built home, experts say.
“Because the home is being constructed on an assembly line, with all the various construction trades located in one spot, a home can be completed in as little as two days,” Powell says. “The land prep and foundation work can happen concurrently. This can pull months out of the typical on-site construction process.”
“I put in writing that I’ll complete the home within six months, and I’ve never gone longer,” Casazza says. In fact, he says, what tends to slow down modular home construction the most is the homebuyers arguing with each other over exactly what they want the layout to be and what they want to go in it.
“The longest part is the decision-making on what you want,” Cassaza says. “They always say they’ll decide in a week, but the fastest I’ve seen is a month.”
Both Casazza and Powell stressed that the primary savings with modular home construction is in the time, not necessarily the money—though faster construction time almost always also means spending considerably less.
“The largest savings in a modular home is in the speed,” Casazza says. “Let’s say you’re building a home for $1 million. That costs money—someone has to pay that money cost when no one’s living in the home. A modular home narrows that up so much, from a vacant piece of land to someone living inside it within six months, as opposed to a traditional home build taking a year, year and a half.”
“The biggest benefit of off-site home building is time,” Powell agrees.
By leveraging economies of scale, modular-home construction can also negotiate with suppliers to get discounts on fixtures, appliances, and so on, passing on savings to their clients. But, just as with Lowe’s or Home Depot or Costco or Sam’s Club, that means a limited number of base options.
“[When it comes to] the theory behind a big-box store, a modular home’s not much different,“ Casazza says. “A modular home goes to Moen and says, ‘Your most widely sold faucet is the one with the pulldown sprayer. We’ll take 10,000 of them next year, but we want to pay $160 instead of $190, and that’s the faucet we’re going to offer. If I had a customer who was a chef who wanted a different faucet, I can get him his new faucet down the road, but the buyer’ll pay more. If the manufacturer has a deal with Andersen Windows but wants Pella, they can get Pella—but it’ll cost them more.”
Compared to a custom home that’s stick-built, you’d spent a lot less with a modular home on an architect too. “All they have to do is draw the room sizes and elevations, and that’s a lot of savings,” Casazza says.
Powell says an entry-level Clayton layout would be nearly a 66% savings over an average stick-built home (assuming a minimal price for the vacant lot). “Clayton offers modular-home floor plans starting at $150,000, not including delivery or home installation, setup costs, or land,” he says. “The average price of a new site-built home is over $450,000 including land. In addition to strong partnerships with key vendors, we’ve vertically integrated our supply chain. We build our own windows, doors, cabinets, and roof trusses. All of this allows us to pass those savings on to homebuyers.”
And that’s all before you factor in the long-term energy savings.
Because they’re mostly built inside in controlled environments, modular homes are usually more energy-efficient than comparable homes built entirely on-site.
“Construction takes place inside a building facility, so your materials are never subjected to weather degradation,” Powell says. “Additionally, the use of jigs and fixtures ensures a tight building envelope that improves the home’s energy efficiency.”
Manufacturers also routinely use or offer energy-efficient appliances, fixtures, and other features meant to drive down energy bills. Plus they’re built inside a specialized facility, so it’s much easier to pressure-test modular-home sections to make sure they meet Energy Star standards.
Modular homes still suffer from their historical association with mobile homes—including the mental image Americans have of trailer parks being torn apart by tornadoes and other natural disasters. The truth, our experts say, is that factory-built homes are probably safer than similar stick-built homes.
Third-party inspectors check out the building work both as sections are assembled at the facility and put together on-site—coming by noticeably more frequently than they would for homes built entirely on-site. “Each home is inspected multiple times throughout the construction process to confirm proper construction and quality,” Powell says.
And because each section has to be able to withstand the rigors of being driven on the US highway system, local roads, and construction sites, they’re also inherently sturdier. “A modular home is built with 30% more wood than a site-built home,” Cassaza says." “It has to be picked up with a crane, it has to go down the highway, [so] it must be built stronger than a site-built home to meet those standards. [Even] the junctures are actually stronger—they’re engineered connections from box to box, inspected locally.”
Remember how sections of a modular home are such tightly built units when they leave the factory and how the junctures connecting them on-site are especially well-done? That can actually make certain home repairs trickier later on, Casazza says.
“It’s a very good system: You get less nails and screws,” he says. “The disadvantage is that if you want to take a piece of sheetrock down, it’s built so well that it’s harder. But, on the other hand, the structural integrity is so good that’s it’s easier to add on to [a modular home].”
That said, you still have to take care of a modular home just as you would with any other.
“All homes require maintenance, and an off-site built home is no different than any other home,” Powell says. “Properly maintained, the lifespan is the same as a site-built home.”
It’s hard to do an apples to apples comparison since the way real estate appreciates has so much to do with the factors that are unique to each property and time of sale, such as the economy, supply and demand, location, condition, history, and so on. But the fact that a house is a modular home or stick-built home doesn’t seem to have any effect on its resale price, the experts say.
“An off-site built home is no different than an on-site built home,” Powell says. “Studies show off-site built homes appreciate in value the same as site-built homes.”
Casazza says that it won’t be long before the distinctions between modular homes and homes built entirely on-site disappear from the public mind.
“Change is coming—it’s just a matter of how long it takes,” he says. “Eventually, we’ll look at a local site-built home and think it’s not as good as a modular—that’s where the industry’s heading.”
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Expandable Container House For Sale.