What is the Cost of a Modular Home?

Ask yourself:

• How many square feet do you plan on building?
• What size porch will your modular home have?
• Do you want to upgrade your windows, front door, cabinets?
• Does your site have any challenges, like trees to remove or dirt to bring in?

In fact, modular homes are inspected more often, put under intense quality control processes, and in some cases have more or better materials than site-built homes because they are built in a controlled environment and must be strong to be transported to your site. 

Since homes built using modular construction and site-built homes are so similar, you can look at the site building costs in your area to get a ballpark idea on total cost.

WHAT’S IN IT?

All home builders build to a basic set of specifications, as to the type of wood, glue, drywall and building materials that are used with the opportunity to upgrade in some instances. You will be asked to choose among standard offerings and color offerings, as well as select upgrade options in all product categories. By choosing basic standard amenities, your home will be less expensive.

SQUARE FOOTAGE

The larger a home is, the larger its overall cost. What may be overlooked in building modular homes is that the actual cost per square foot may actually decrease, thus more value derived. This discussion is best had with your builder, and again there are caveats to every case.  

MATERIAL

The last thing that might influence the final cost of your home is material cost. If we have learned anything in 2021, it is to expect the unexpected when it comes to the availability and market price of raw materials. Rochester Homes is committed to obtaining the best deals on name-brand components to use in your home. However, we want to be transparent in that rising material cost during the construction of your home could influence the final cost of your home.

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF
YOUR DESIGN

Start here by asking what type of home best lends itself your lifestyle in the coming years. This decision mostly involves your current stage of life and can determine whether a Ranch home (one level), a Cape Cod home (one and a half levels), or a Two-Story home will work best for your family. If your family is in a growth phase, a two-story home might be up your alley whereas if you’re an empty nester a ranch home might be more appropriate.

WHAT’S YOUR
STYLE?

Are you attracted to Traditional, Contemporary, Transitional, French Country, and Victorian or Colonial styles? Most builders can build in a variety of building styles, but be sure to ask your builder lots of questions, bring examples of your preferences, and evaluate for yourself if he or she is up to the job! Do not feel pressured to accept a design that you may not be happy with in the long run. Always choose the best plan for you and your family.

THE FLOOR PLAN

Your floor plan is basically the layout of your home. This is key because what is inside your home affects the outside. Pay close attention to not only how floor plan affects functionality inside the home but also how it looks externally. This can be seen in window configurations, porches, decks, etc, and your builder should always provide you with exterior elevations that illustrate all the sides of your home.

EXTERIOR FINISH

This an essential, up-front decision you have to make for your modular home. The options are numerous and include everything from brick to vinyl siding to composite board and many more, including mix and matching finishes. These decisions greatly impact your homes look, feel and costs, but make sure you don’t sacrifice too much of what you want just to hit a set amount. 

PITCH, ROOFLINES, AND MORE

Pitch, rooflines, gables and dormers have the potential to greatly elevate a home’s design. The pitch is the angle or steepness of a slope of a roof, while roof lines pertain to how various roof pitches are combined in a home. These small details combined with gable choice and the potential addition of a dormer are excellent ways to give your home’s exterior a little something extra.

WINDOWS

Window style and configuration are key to exterior design. Your choices are numerous and often relate to the overall look, style and function of the home. Dynamic effects can be accomplished with a complementary style and window combination. Additionally, transoms or other specialty windows can be added according to ceiling height and open areas inside the home.

PORCHES AND DECKS

In most circumstances, your builder will accomplish decks on-site whereas porches can be built directly into your home off-site. Porches and decks can actually extend the perceivable living area of your home while providing a place to relax and entertain, and columns, while common, can add stylistic integrity. Most likely the plan that you choose will dictate the columns you receive, but the key is just to remember to add a porch or deck to your design overall.

LIGHTING

A home’s exterior lighting provides functional illumination for when you arrive home at the end of the day, but lighting can add much to a home, such as mood and warmth. There are almost limitless options and your choices should be dictated by the style of your home.

DOORS AND LOCKSETS

Your front door is meant to welcome you and your guests into your home. Fiberglass doors take the cake; they are sturdy, won’t warp, and are available in simulated wood textures and colors. Doors can also contain decorative windows and detailing or be accompanied by sidelights and transoms. Another detail could be the addition of a lockset with handle in a popular finish.

FIREPLACES

A fireplace is more than a heat source, they are an investment. According to a survey from National Association of Realtors 46% of prospective home buyers will pay more for a home with at least one fireplace.