Modular homes really do make ideal houses for anyone who is thinking about building. Pretty soon, all homes will be required to reduce their carbon footprint and new homes will be required to have a zero carbon footprint, so why not get a head start?

Not only is a modular home faster to build, it`s also very handy for saving money. Add in the fact that you are benefiting the environment by building a modular home which is just about as green as you can get with modern home building, and you have the perfect home for an individual or a family.

Modular homes are the way to go if you have been thinking about building a green home. With lower energy costs in the long run and the ability to be built entirely in a factory where all the procedures are extremely efficient and waste reducing, modular homes are an excellent choice for a home.

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Modular building has gotten a steady flow press in recent years, thanks, in no small part, o the great builders of this product which has made the construction system its darling and Web sites such as www.buildingsystemsnetwork.com . But the modular housing industry itself deserves the lion’s share of the credit for the expansion of its business. One of the fastest-growing segments of the construction industry, modular housing production increased 58 percent from 1992 to 2008, according to the NAHB’s Building Systems Councils.

1 Understand THE MODULAR PROCESS. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important. The homes are built in a factory in programmed stages from flooring to finished product and then set in place at your jobsite. “Floor treatments, framing, insulation, drywall, roofing, windows, siding, cabinetry, plumbing, and lighting fixtures are all installed and completed by skilled craftsmen utilizing state-of-the-art production technology,” the Building Systems Councils’ Web site says. “The home is then shipped up to 80 percent complete, to the building site and assembled on a foundation

2 ALL MODULAR MANUFACTURERS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL. Use a 3^rd party natural service to help advise you thought the process of selecting a plan, builder and plant try one of these 2 companies. www.buildingsystemsnetwork.com or www.prohomesamerica.com

3 What about the FINISHED PRODUCT. How the house looks when it’s done is fine enough, but your choice of manufacturer should depend on much more. “Choosing a modular manufacturer is a big decision for a builder,” says Jeremy Bertrand, executive director of the Building Systems Councils. “To determine the right company, a builder should consider a company’s geographical reach, their range of designs offered, whether there are protected territories, marketing support, training offered, etc. A builder should not focus solely on how much a company can save them on price per square foot—these other issues are just as, if not more, important.”

4 Always check you site. On a conventional stick-frame home, you can easily make adjustments for foundations that aren’t exactly plumb, level, or square. Because the modular house is built in a factory and brought to the site, you don’t have this luxury. “The foundation has to be perfectly square to within a half inch. Yet another reason to have a service to help guide you through the maze of processes. Look at www.prohomesamerica.com for more information on service they provide.

5 MODULAR MANUFACTURERS CAN DO CUSTOM. You can design almost any type of modular house—from sleek Modernist shrines to quaint cottages and Mediterranean-inspired mansions—but just because you can design anything having a custom design means wise planning is important. Work with the service provider they can help with the design options better then a builder or plant.

6 IS MODULAR ALWAYS BETTER? We understand now that modular is up to 80% complete and contains an average of 30% more building materials and that modular is never in the weather everything stays dry which makes mold less of an issue. But site builders are now using different materials trying to match the weather issues these materials when evenly matched are always more costly. Modular is the most naturally green friendly product going. Green before green was cool…

7 AND IT’S NOT NECESSARILY CHEAPER, EITHER. Once upon a time, modular was seen as the solution to America’s housing problems, a way to provide quality, inexpensive homes to those with modest means. This is true and false. “Modular is not always a cheaper option. Modular’s main benefit is speed of construction, which still affects the jobs bottom line with increased productivity .The bottom line, is that modular “can be as cheap and as high end as you want it.”

8 WHY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MANUFACTURER’S. Many manufacturers in the modular industry are not the same, so it is important to know a company’s strengths. “You need to understand what they do and how to take advantage of their systems. The same goes if you’re doing a multifamily project. They have produced thousands of these types of homes theirs always a fit for every job say Building Systems Network.

9 MAKE SURE TO CHECK YOUR DESIGNS MANY TIMES BEFORE YOU PLACE YOUR ORDER. When you’re building on site , you are free to indulge your whims—within reason—improvising and making changes and decisions on the fly through a very costly change order process. But, it’s a little harder with modular it can be done but it better to hire a service to advise you through the process. Spending a little money on the front will save you more with the outcome. Not easily with Modular Building Doing so go through a checklist carefully. Also, ask your manufacturer how much of the house will be completed in the factory..

10 THE COMPONENTS ARE BUILT; NOW WHAT? Once the manufacturer has built the modules that will become your house, they have to be set on the foundation, and this is a crucial stage. “The modular company builds them well, but it still has to have a really good set crew to follow through “We send someone out to take care of this if the buyer need it says Building Systems Network but not all manufacturers provide it.” So make sure you ask.

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Now that winter is in full swing in most of the country, people are starting to wonder about heating their soon-to-be-built homes. With gas prices unstable, it isn`t practical to heat a house that isn`t pulling its weight. That`s why modular homes are a good bet.

Modular homes are easier to heat for several reasons.

Insulation: Modular homes come with more insulation in the roof to prevent heat from escaping upwards. Homes that don`t hold heat well are usually letting too much out the roof.

Sealant: Normal homes have small gaps around windows and electrical outlets that let in the chill. However, modular homes avoid this because, as they are being built, these potential problem areas are sealed.

Double-pane windows: Most people opt for double or triple pane windows, which means there is less cold coming in from the outside and less heat escaping. This keeps everything nice and cozy inside.

Modular homes are not only more economical to build, they are also economical to maintain and this is a big selling point, whether you plan to live in the house, rent it out or just sell it.

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Many times, homes are built in areas that are considered danger zones. Whether they are in danger from hurricanes, earthquakes or other natural disasters, it`s human nature to build in these areas. While you can`t guarantee safety, having a home that is built properly will definitely up the odds of it surviving any disaster to come its way.

Modular homes are ideal for these danger zones. If you are decided to build in an area that may not always be safe, then it`s a good idea to choose a modular home for the strength and security that it can provide.

You see, modular homes are built above and beyond normal regulations. While the building regulations dictate that a modular home be built the same way as a regular home, most factories go overboard, making beams thicker and supports stronger than necessary. This is mostly to ensure that the house arrives in perfect condition after a long transport.

These extra safety measures can really help you out if you live in a danger zone. It`s well worth investing in a home that is a little cheaper and a lot stronger, a modular home.

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From Atlanta Business Chronicle - by Lisa R. Schoolcraft

A Roswell-based company is entering the Atlanta home-building market by thinking inside the box.

New World Home LLC plans to construct modular homes, which are manufactured at a plant in Savannah and put together on site in Atlanta. The first home was expected to begin construction Nov. 12 at Sewell Mill and Murdock roads in Roswell.

Atlanta is the first — and test — market for New World Home, which hopes to expand further into the Southeast, said Michael A. Natbony, CEO.

An unnamed New York-based private equity firm has committed more than $3.5 million to the startup of the Atlanta operation.

“We think this is an exit strategy for people who are sitting on land,” said Steven R. Fader, chief operating officer of New World Home of Atlanta LLC, a division of New World Home. New World Home will reach out to banks, developers and home builders sitting on vacant lots, he said.

Metro Atlanta has traditionally been a speculative housing market, meaning builders erect homes and wait for potential buyers. During the strong housing market, builders quickly sold standing inventory of new homes and bought up lots for future development.

Today, builders are trying to pare down new-home inventory and divest themselves of surplus lots as sales have slid.

Speculative housing in metro Atlanta “will be dead for a while,” Fader said.

So for buyers who want to move into a new home quickly, modular homes are the answer, he said.

A modular home, unlike a “stick-built” home, which is erected on site from raw materials, is custom-built in components at the factory, then delivered to the site. A modular home takes just six to eight weeks to assemble on site, whereas a stick-built home can take six to 12 months to build.

With the private equity funding, “we don’t have bank financing bearing down on us right now,” Fader said.

Modular homes, or industrialized homes as they are called in Georgia zoning, have been slow to catch on in the state, according to Fred Hallahan, president of Hallahan Associates, a Baltimore-based consulting firm to the modular housing industry.

Modular homes represent about 1 percent of the home-building industry in Georgia, he said.

One of the main reasons that stick-built homes are more popular in Georgia is its construction is relatively inexpensive compared with the rest of the country, Hallahan said.

Georgia, and most of the Southeast, can also build 12 months of the year, unlike colder regions of the country, he said.

Modular homes are more popular in areas where construction costs are higher and weather affects construction, such as Pennsylvania and New York, Hallahan said.

“That doesn’t mean that modular housing cannot grow above the 1 percent range in Georgia,” he said. “There is tremendous potential for modular growth.”

Grant Smereczynsky, managing member and CEO of Building Systems Network LLC in Gainesville, has been building modular homes in metro Atlanta for 12 years.

“The product is extremely misunderstood,” he said. “When you say modular home, you are probably thinking about mobile homes, but it compares to a stick-built house.”

Modular homes are usually built above building codes and are extremely energy-efficient, Smereczynsky said. “Modular was green before green was cool.”

A modular home can be made with any number of modules, Smereczynsky said. “You can make it a mansion.”

That means modular homes can run the gamut on price points.

New World Home plans to build its first home in the mid-$600,000 range, Natbony said. “But we are developing lines of homes that will meet modest-priced homes.”

New World Homes expects to offer 20 different designs by early next year, with prices ranging from the low $300,000s on up, he said.

Smereczynsky expects the modular home industry will have a boom in Georgia in the next five years or less, “because there has been a cleansing of the building industry and some of the stronger builders will recognize the value of modular homes.”

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If you`ve considered building homes to rent out then you will definitely want to check out modular homes as an option. They are perfect for renting out.

First of all, the cost of building a modular home is lower than a stick built home, so you won`t need as long to earn your money back. This is a definite advantage when you are looking at making money back through rent to pay for the home that you`ve constructed.

Of course, the speed with which modular homes are built is a huge bonus, as well. You`ll find that a modestly sized home can be completed within a few months and ready for residence, so you`ll be able to start earning your money back faster.

With all the advantages of a modular home over a stick built one, it seems like an obvious choice for building rental homes, doesn`t it?

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If you aren`t yet convinced that a modular home is the right type of home for you and your family, then it might be time to take a second look at this type of construction.

Modular homes allow you to build in record time . . . yet they don`t look any different than the homes that are site built. That means your new house will blend right into the neighborhood, there is literally no reason for anyone to pick it out of the rows of homes.

In addition, if you`re on a tight budget, you`ll find that modular homes are an excellent option. You`ll save around 10% over a site built house. That might not sound like much, but when you`re talking about building a home, it really does add up quickly.

Having a home is something that gives comfort. So if you can do it better, faster and cheaper, why wouldn`t you opt for a modular home?

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Modular homes aren`t for any specific type of person, they literally fit all walks of life and just about every budget. It`s one of the advantages of a factory built home.

You can have a modular home built to any size that you desire. The smaller homes are quite affordable, not only to build, but to maintain. It`s always a good idea to keep in mind how much you`ll be paying to maintain a full size home, modular or not, once it`s built and being lived in.

With modular homes, you`ll find such a wide array of options and house plans that you can literally have any home you dream of. That includes custom designs that you`ve come up with on your own, if you so desire. So, really, anything goes.

Modular homes are for everyone, no matter what your tastes. Whether you are interested in a one room cabin or a 20 room mansion, modular homes can come through for you.

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It`s no secret that modular homes are growing in popularity. With the recent upsets due to natural disasters in the US, modular homes have become a popular method of getting people housed and back on their feet in as little time as possible.

While modular homes aren`t as expensive as site built homes, the end result is just as spectacular and no one will even realize that the homes are actually modular. This makes them ideal for use in disaster zones, but also in other areas.

Apart from staying on a tight budget, you can expect to move into your modular home a lot faster than any stick built house. These homes, depending on size, can be ready as soon as a month or two! This means that displaced families are ready to move back into their home very quickly and is a huge bonus for many home builders.

Modular homes are definitely on the rise. You probably see them every day and have no idea, since they blend so well into the neighborhood.

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If you plan to build a home that is off the beaten track, it`s a good idea to consider just how you`re going to be getting the materials to the building site and how much that will cost. Often, it ends up being cheaper having a modular home here.

The main benefit of using a modular home in a remote building location is that the expense can be kept low. Everything will be built in the factory where the material are brought, keeping those costs down for you.

Modular homes are built in the factory and then shipped to you, wherever you are. Most of the time, trucks will be used to move the modules from one location to the other, but there are other methods of transport if you happen to be building in an even more remote area such as on an island or a cliff.

There are a lot of remote building spaces in the world and you`ll be able to build cheaper by going with a modular home.

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