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What are some things to consider when you want to buy a prefabricated or modular home ?

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Disha Bangera

Prefabricated homes are homes where the parts of the home are manufactured on a site and then brought to a location ready for assembly or installation. Many prefab homes are modular, which means they can be assembled on site in a factory setting with a minimum of travel time and expense... This can be a benefit in some situations, such as when it is too expensive to hire cranes or other heavy equipment needed to move finished homes from place to place.


Prefabricated homes are usually made of steel, wood or some combination of the two. Prefabricated homes are built on site by skilled craftsmen using the standardized details of the building system. The materials used for prefab construction also make it more durable than mobile home construction. Prefab homes can be insulated with foam (or other appropriate materials) and covered with sheathing, which makes them very energy efficient.


The main advantage of prefab housing is that it is constructed in a factory environment with minimum travel time and expense to save time and money on construction.


Finding the Right Home


Here is a list of things to consider in selecting a prefabricated house:


1. Your Alaskan connection - Is the development in Alaska? If so, it will be subject to the same building and zoning requirements as any site-built home. Outside of Alaska (in Canada or elsewhere), different rules may apply. You need to know these rules before you buy.


2. Local building codes and zoning requirements - Some communities adopt their own building code and zoning requirements, but most communities follow local or state building codes and zoning ordinances that apply to site-built homes also. The difference is that these codes and ordinances may be more stringent, which means you must plan for extra expenses.


3. The building process - Most builders use a factory-based building process. If the production method is not adhered to properly, then there may be delays or other problems that can increase your cost and/or put the entire project at risk of falling apart.


4. Site preparation - After factory assembly is complete, there will be landscaping and other site preparation chores to complete before move-in day. This will determine how long you have to wait before moving in.


5. Finishing touches - Every home is different, and some builders will finish off each project with a unique personal touch. Some builders leave the inside of the home almost completely bare, while others add random pieces of art to make the inside look more inviting.


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Disha Bangera
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