Why We Consider a Prefab Over a Stick-Built, 4 Best Reasons

Have you purchased a lot and planning to get your dream house built? Well, before you go on planning, consider looking into Prefabricated homes: either Modular, Manufactured, or Kit Homes.

Prefabricated homes (prefab) or what is sometimes called ‘off-site’ construction homes are, as the name indicates, houses built off-site. This could be in a factory or warehouse, or other specialized areas a manufacturer deem appropriate. The elements/modules are then transported to the site where the house is to be built. Prefab homes’ prices are definitely much lower than houses planned and constructed from scratch. Nevertheless, the cost isn’t the only reason for you to opt for buying one over a stick-built. You now have a variety of brands, designs, and kit inclusions to choose from for prefabricated houses these days, so the appearance and quality aren’t what was considered “weaknesses”.

Also, you’ll always save more time if you choose a prefab home instead of doing the whole house planning and construction, even if you’ve got a team of professionals with you. And because it takes shorter to build, you can spend your extra time preserving your property and beautifying it.

Important Things to Consider Before Construction

Before having a home constructed, or before buying a prefab home, consider these factors to ensure that you are not just getting your money’s worth but what you decide on would be less the hassle in the long run.

Affordability

Even you have the means, you still need to calculate on expenses involving construction, land costs, permit fees, mortgages, property insurance, maintenance and utility fees, and other such factors.

Under all these fees also comes types that you need to decide on. For example, if you are to loan for financing your property, lenders will have to determine what kind of loan you are allowed to apply for. They will also determine the mortgage that you are to pay for the coming years considering factors like: your family’s expected income, credit score, to name a few.

You can also look beforehand with the help of an online Mortgage calculator – these calculators help you see an estimate of what you would pay for in the long run if you decide to opt for a certain type of mortgage. This is particularly helpful as this year saw the UK mortgage approvals at highest level in 13 years – people are really looking into real estate.

Your Land

How big is the land you would build on? Consider an allowance for garden spaces and also the land to building ratio. It wouldn’t be so nice to have your house placed in the exact measurement of the land you own. Though land to building ratio isn’t seen much in residential appraisals, having a certain percentage of the home size allotted in proportion to lot space is ideal.

Real Estate Agents, Architects, and Other Experts

Whether building your home from scratch or buying a prefab that only needs placing, fixing on your property, you need the experts to give you a hand – literally, at some areas.

Differences Between Modular, Manufactured, Kit Homes

Although all classified under the umbrella Prefabricated homes, these three differ when it comes to build. Read on to know the differences.

Modular Homes

Modular homes are delivered (or built on your land) with electrical fittings, water connections, and everything else you need for everyday living. All you have to do is pay, get your keys and occupy. 🙂 They are also relocatable, so in case you want to move, you can bring your home along. 😉

Manufactured Homes

Manufactured homes are the ones fabricated off-site and would then be craned into your area. Static caravans are the best example. There is no construction that happens on site as manufactured homes are constructed on a steel frame, shipped on its own wheels, and then placed on the space allotted on lot, or a slab of concrete. Sometimes, the wheels aren’t even removed, just covered up.

Kit Homes

Kit homes are like your regular modular home, but delivered to you as a puzzle. These properties are constructed on site and are designed to be assembled by the homeowner.

Why Consider a Prefab

There are disadvantages to think of when one consider a prefab over a stick-built, but there are of course benefits too to having them. It always depends on one’s needs. Here are some reasons why one should consider a prefab.

Not Your Ordinary Home

Homes that are prefabricated, while more inexpensive than stick-built houses, don’t mean structures that look cheap. It also isn’t true that you’ll get a house that’s poorly conditioned against environmental factors like heat, rain, etc. Many manufacturers of Prefab homes today produce plans and materials that are of exceptional quality.

Cheaper

Prefab home prices are much lower than stick-built costs, mainly because these prefabricated structures have materials done in a manner that saves costs in labor and tools. Materials are also purchased in bulk, so all the more reason for manufacturers to be able to cut down their prices.

Easy Transport

Transportation usually gives additional risk factors for construction materials. Since the materials of these products have to be transported, manufacturers of top-quality kit homes make sure that everything included in every kit they sell are engineered perfectly. These manufacturing companies usually hire laborers that specialize in whichever housing material they’re assigned to do. In most construction teams for stick-built types, they usually engage all-around workers.

Sturdy

In addition, your home should give you shelter under any kind of weather condition or other outside factors. This is why houses have to have insulation, pest control treatments, and other important procedures. For our readers in Australia, you’ll be glad to know that cheap kit homes come with insulation batting that’s right for the type, size, and design that you choose. They also usually have tempered doors, termite-treated flooring, and many other conditioned supplies.

Consider a Prefab Over a Stick-Built Takeaways

Prefab homes also give you the advantage of convenience and speed. As mentioned earlier, each package comes complete with materials that are already processed for installation. You also don’t need to think much about whether each aspect of your house follows the building codes in your area, because the manufacturer must already make sure that the whole prefab home, when built, would be according to all whatever building code needs to be followed. This type of house can be ready to move in to approximately 12 weeks from the time that you order it.

Definitely, there’s more to prefab homes than saving money. They can also give you less worry about the quality of materials and construction and more time to enjoy having a new home. So do consider a prefab home for you and your family like we did.