Modular homes are often pitched as a low-cost, environmentally friendly alternative to conventional, site-built homes. With many people priced out of the conventional housing market and looking to keep monthly energy costs down, these homes are starting to look more and more attractive. Best Buy Homes has an array of home options, and we are ready to help you find your perfect home.
What is a Modular Home?
Modular homes are simply homes built in modules at a factory rather than at a building site. Homeowners work with the manufacturers, along with their own builders, to design a home that suits their needs. Homeowners can choose from pre-existing plans or create a custom design.
The builder is responsible for preparing the building site and excavating a foundation for the house to sit on, as well as utility and sewer hookups. The modular home manufacturer builds the home itself. Most manufacturers will have options that let homeowners decide whether to have the manufacturer complete finishings like cabinetry and trim or to let the on-site builder (or the homeowner) do it themselves.
Once the modules are completed, they’re trucked to the building site and assembled on the prepared foundation. After assembly, the finishing work looks much like it would with any conventional home.
Are Modular Homes Greener?
In terms of their “green” value, modular homes outcompete conventionally built new homes in a few different areas. The first is waste reduction. Since each manufacturer is building many of the same component parts, materials can be cut more precisely, and scrap materials used on the next project instead of thrown away.
The second is likely to be emissions. Studies find that emissions from conventional construction were about 40% higher than for modular construction.
The third way modular homes can have an advantage over conventionally built homes is in energy efficiency. Since these homes are built under factory conditions, they can test for, and achieve, a tighter building envelope. That’s not to say that all manufacturers do, though.
How environmentally friendly a modular home is depends largely on the manufacturer’s, and the homeowner’s, priorities. As with any home, a modular home could incorporate water-saving measures, renewable energy sources, waste management strategies and sustainable finishing materials.
Like conventionally built homes, modular homes can be designed to hit very strict environmental building standards. That said, it’s important to note that eco-friendly features aren’t automatically included with all modular homes. Many, like solar panels, might be upgrades. Others, like exclusively FSC-certified lumber, might not be possible with your manufacturer. Talk to the company about the materials they use and the green options they offer.
Are Modular Homes More Affordable?
Consumer Affairs’ Kate Williams says that while buying an existing home is less expensive than buying a new modular, building a new modular home will generally cost “10 to 20 percent less” than building a new, conventional home on-site. She notes, however, that “modular home prices vary widely and can range from under $100,000 to over $1 million.”
The cost of any modular home depends not just on whether you go for fancy upgrades, but also on basic things like how far you are from the factory where your modular home is being built. In addition, you’ll need to factor in transportation costs, plumbing, electrical and sewer hookups, permits, customizations and, most importantly, land, as you’re budgeting for a modular home.