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Prefabricated houses. Have you ever heard this term? And if you’ve heard of it, it is very likely that you had a preconceived opinion about it. In this article we will talk about them, their advantages and disadvantages.
Finding the right home for you may not be as easy as it sounds. If you can’t find any, you may be thinking about choosing a prefab that is becoming increasingly popular.
Stick-built means that your house is built the old fashioned way, with a team of workers on site who work for a few months until the final job is done. A prefabricated house consists of prefabricated parts that only need to be put together.
Image source: Hive Modular, LLC
Many people do not go into prefabricated houses when choosing real estate agents. Of course, every house has its advantages and disadvantages, and this also applies to prefabricated houses. So let’s see if you could be the buyer of a prefabricated house.
Advantages of prefabricated houses
Strong structure
Image source: Natural Balance Home Builders
If we compare them to traditional houses, a prefabricated house offers a brand new construction, a cool and modern design and all kinds of updated devices. A building made up of modules is more durable than the traditionally built one. The great thing about them is not only that they have high design requirements, but also that they can withstand transport loads.
Image source: sagemodern
Modern prefabricated houses are very safe and long-lasting even in the event of a weather emergency, since many of them survive the hurricanes in the USA every year. This is because prefabricated houses must be built to withstand transportation by truck. The frame of these houses is very stiff and even better than the classic house frame.
Sustainability and energy efficiency added
Image source: Resolution: 4 architecture
Prefabricated houses are more sustainable than traditional buildings because the components they are made of are sent straight to the construction site. They are also very energy efficient and their windows keep the heat down while reducing energy costs.
Image source: Resolution: 4 architecture
In addition, these homes offer additional options for ancillary equipment such as energy efficient windows and solar panels that make the home sustainable. You can choose from different styles like modern, elegant etc. and they can work for different American suburban areas.
Fast construction
Image source: Modern Chicago homes
Prefabricated houses can usually be built very quickly. It depends on which model you choose, but you will definitely have good times when assembling. A small prefabricated house can be completed in its factory in less than two months. This is because automation increases the amount of work in a day.
Image source: Pavonetti architecture
By the time it reaches the construction site, it usually only takes a few days to install all of the prefabricated house parts.
The price
Image source: Resolution: 4 architecture
The price is probably one of the biggest advantages when choosing such a house. Prefabricated houses are really not expensive compared to conventional ones. Some research studies show that you can actually save 20% by opting for these type of prefabricated homes, considering that conventional homes cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Image source: Shed architecture & design
Prefabricated houses are manufactured in an air-conditioned factory, where there is little chance that weather events of any kind will take place. This reduces the cost of the house and the speed it takes to make it.
Disadvantages of prefabricated houses
Land cost
Before you can buy your own prefabricated house, we also need to get a piece of land. It is not always easy to find the right page for it. So you really need to think carefully about what you’re doing to get it right.
If you want to get prefabricated houses then you can have a huge advantage if you already have your own land and if you don’t then you have to buy one. Also, if you need a specific permit, you will need to review some laws depending on the zone you live in. You also need to check that you can connect it to electricity, water and sewage.
More prepayment
The payment process for prefabricated houses differs significantly from the traditional one. Typically, modular home builders have to pay the payment in full before the home is completed. Therefore, you need to have all the cash ready.
If you don’t have the money, you need to borrow or find a financial option that will help you in this situation. For example, if you buy an existing house, you can make an upfront payment of 20% and the rest over time, but this won’t work for many prefabricated houses.
Resale potential
The great thing about prefabricated houses is that they are flexible and affordable, but not suitable for everyone. If you choose one of these houses, you need to know that you have to look for a niche buyer if you want to sell it. Compared to a traditional house, it can take some time to find the right one.
When people offer prefabricated houses for sale, many of them may have difficulty finding a final buyer. This is because many believe that the materials used are of poor quality or that they cannot customize the home you and your sales agent are trying to sell.
Lack of adaptation and limited diversity
Because they are made on an assembly line process, prefabricated houses are not that easy to switch after deciding on the final design. You need to be sure that the design of your home is the final one when you choose it, as it can cost you a lot to make changes later.
Modular homes are still available in a variety of styles and interiors and can be completely customized to your taste.
How is a prefabricated house assembled?
Image source: Architect Heather Johnston
This is a great question since many people are not familiar with the assembly process that takes place in prefabricated houses. The idea behind this is that you put each of the modules together and then put them on a permanent foundation called a “set”. The modular home set process depends on the complexity of your home.
Image source: Architect Heather Johnston
All finished sections are first transported to the construction site and assembled using cranes. You can compare the process to the simple Lego blocks that we played around with as kids.
Image source: Architect Heather Johnston
After each module has been perfectly adjusted and aligned, it is securely attached to its foundation and to the remaining modules.
Image source: Architect Heather Johnston
As soon as the structure of the house is finished, the assembly team leaves the site and leaves the remaining order to the general contractor, who coordinates the work of the companies that carry out the technical installations. These installations include plumbing, electricity, heating and so on.
Image source: Architect Heather Johnston
The final step is to do the interior work that needs to be done to prepare the home for the owner.
Final thoughts about prefabricated houses
In summary, prefabricated houses are a great and modern solution for people who want to get their own custom houses and have certain preferences that are not found anywhere else on the market. Getting one is sure to save you a lot of time and money, and it will most likely look like the house of your dreams.
Millennials are really to be found in this type of home solution and we see more and more for them!
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