Let’s face it, everyone wants a nice home, but not everyone can afford it. That’s where modular homes come in; they offer all the benefits of a custom-built home without the high price tag.
So, what makes modular homes so much cheaper than traditional construction?
Why Are Modular Homes Cheaper? The Low-Dow
Here are just a few reasons:
- First, modular homes are built in a factory, there is less waste and labor involved. This means that the cost of materials can be kept down since they don’t have to be transported long distances.
- Second, the construction process is sped up, modular homes are often completed in half the time it takes to build a traditional home.
- Third, modular homes are built to order, you can often get exactly what you want without having to make any compromises.
If you are looking to build a new home and wondering whether modular or conventional site-built homes are the better choice, then you are in the right place.
There are many benefits to both, but if you want to improve your ROI on your investment, modular housing may be the way to go. There are several reasons for this;
- Technological Advancements in Factory-Built Homes
- Benefits of Economics of Scale
- Low Labour Costs
- Low Cost of Buying Materials
Technological Advancements in Factory-Built Homes
The construction of factory-built homes has evolved over the years, resulting in an improved building process and more options for home buyers.
Consumers can customize their factory-built home based on style and price range, taking advantage of the many benefits of purchasing a home made in a state-of-the-art factory.
Technological advancements allow modular homebuilders to produce products meeting quality requirements. An efficient, balanced, and modular schedule helps in building better homes.
In a well-run operation, the scheduling process enables the project team to uncover any weaknesses in the plan and correct any defects that could disrupt the completion of the project on time and within budget.
Factory building process efficiency, reduced human error, and shorter cycle times result in greater productivity per unit production cost.
These processes allow modular home builders to deliver homes faster at a lower cost.
Economics of Scale Advantage
When you buy more of something, the price per item tends to go down. This same concept applies to homebuilders. When they purchase a lot of materials, they can get a much better price on them.
For example, purchasing 100 windows at once will typically be cheaper than buying one window at a time. This type of buying strategy allows builders to pass these savings on to their customers.
Low Labor Costs
A custom home with a high level of construction detail can take over a year to build.
On the other hand, modular construction saves time on the front end, which makes other elements of the project, such as site work and planning to be completed more quickly.
This results in lower labor costs, and savings can be passed on to the consumer.
The house is built on a factory and delivered to a site where minimal work is needed to finish it off. These homes do not require any extra finishing work or landscaping.
You can have your home faster without extra charges or compromise on quality and style.
Low Cost of Buying Materials
When building a site-built home, you need to get the materials onto your property.
This could mean higher transportation costs depending on the distance between the material supplier and your building site.
You will save a lot of money when you build your home with pre-cut lumber.
This is because you will not be required to order materials based on what the builders need and eventually come up with a plan for leftover materials.
When you make a home out of a bunch of standard sizes and lengths of pre-cut lumber, there is going to be some waste.
For instance, if a beam needs to be 8 feet long but all you have are 10 foot long beams, you can only use half of it without cutting it down, which means 2 feet of wasted material.
Since modular homes are built in factories instead of on construction sites, they can use any length that they need without worrying about waste.
FAQs
Why is modular cheaper?
A modular home can be finished faster and at a lower cost than a traditionally built home.
When the project cost is managed properly, the payoff is a quicker turnaround time for your project and lower total construction costs.
What is the difference between a modular and a prefab home?
A modular home is constructed in pieces and transported to the site where it is assembled.
A prefabricated or prefab home is built on site. Modular homes are normally moved via flatbed truck, while prefabs can be easily installed onto a foundation, transported by a crane, or erected in place using cranes, crawlers, and rigging towers.
How much money can I save by building a modular home?
You could potentially save up to 30% on the cost of your new home. Keep in mind, though, that the amount of savings you see will depend on many factors, including the size and features of your home.
Final Thoughts
There’s no doubt that modular construction has made a big splash in recent years. They offer homeowners cost-effective options with a plethora of benefits.
The question of whether or not this “new” trend will become a long-term solution or fad remains up in the air.
Generally, modular homes are faster and cheaper to build, which is bound to appeal to the average homeowner.
Plus, the opportunity for customization afforded by these services should be a step in the right direction for those who want to design their own home from a blank slate.
There’s enough promise that modular housing will continue to grow in popularity as more companies get involved, and more homes get built.
