Building a modular home is a big decision and a big investment. By knowing the right questions to ask a modular home builder, you can ensure you’re choosing the best one for your needs. We’ve put together this guide on finding a trustworthy builder and the best questions to ask them.
Why You Should Look for a Reputable Modular Home Builder
When you’re building a home, you want to choose a builder that will achieve the results you want. A reputable, experienced builder is the best way to do that. This is especially important if you’re building a modular home because it is its own construction specialty.
Look for a company with years of experience & success. You should also search for builders who are willing to walk you through the building process, answer all of your questions, and advise you on their different floor plans & style offerings. Once you’ve done your research and found a potential builder you’re interested in, schedule an appointment with them.
Top Questions to Ask in an Initial Meeting
Your first meeting with a modular home builder is the perfect time to ask questions. They should be able to provide you with a typical game plan to get started, suggest customization options, and answer any questions you may have. Here are some good questions to ask:
How long have you been building modular homes?
The most important element of choosing a modular home builder is choosing one with experience. A good rule of thumb is that the more years of experience they have, the better their track record will be. You want to choose someone who has built several modular homes in the past and can provide references from satisfied customers.
It’s always best to work with a company that has some sort of certification or accreditation. This means that the builder is following industry standards for quality construction. It also ensures that the builder meets certain requirements like having proper insurance coverage and worker’s compensation.
What is the process for designing and ordering a modular home?
If you’ve never been involved in the construction of a home, you probably aren’t familiar with the details of the process. Asking the builder about the construction process is a great way to clear up any confusion you may have about modular home construction.
The builder should explain all of the steps to designing and ordering the home. They may have a library of pre-designed floor plans and styles to choose from, and you may be able to customize them to meet your needs.
What is the building timeline?
A great aspect of modular home building is how quickly it can occur. Ask your builder for a general description of the building timeline during your first meeting. This can help you understand what to expect during the process and help you plan things like moving dates in advance.
Can you provide a portfolio of homes you’ve built?
If you’d like to see examples of modular homes they’ve built previously, you can ask them for a portfolio. This can also help you to visualize some of the floor plans & styles in a real-life example, and help you choose which one is the best fit for you.
Do you have any homes that I can tour?
Along with photos, the builder may have model homes that you can tour. Walking through a home helps you get a sense of the space, style options, and construction quality.
What does your quality assurance process look like?
Every modular home builder must have a thorough inspection and quality assurance process. Since sections of the house will be transported to your site, it’s vital that every part is well-built. You should receive a clear explanation of how inspectors examine each component of your home before and after it’s delivered to your property.
What kind of warranty do you offer?
The specifics of warranties can differ from builder to builder, so be sure to ask about theirs. It may include things like:
- Free repairs or replacements for workmanship errors
- Multiyear workmanship guarantees
- Coverage of things including foundations, waterproofing, insulation, electrical systems, roofing, siding, heating & cooling, windows, and doors.
Will you assist with obtaining the necessary permits?
All buildings require permits prior to construction. Modular homes can sometimes require additional permits compared to traditional stick-built homes. Ask the builder what permits they will need to acquire and what you’ll need to do to get those permits ready. They’ll be able to guide you through the permit process and ensure that all the right documents are filed.
Choose a Modular Home Builder That’s Ready to Answer Your Questions
Choosing the right modular home builder is an important decision. Learning the right questions to ask will help you narrow down your choices and find the best builder for you.At Family Dream Homes, we take pride in taking care of the customer before, during, and after the sale. We are a locally owned dealer whose family has been in the manufactured home business since 1970. For 3 generations, we have been serving the housing needs of families in Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, Missouri, and Florida. For any questions about our homes, financing options, and all inquiries, please contact one of our locations.
