Fred Bostick made an interesting business decision in 1971. He was disturbed by the closing of a Commodore owned plant in his neighborhood, so he bought it hoping to save jobs and make money when his current business was in its slower season. Why is this interesting? His existing business was pet food! The company was successful but would see a bit of a slump in the summer season; just when manufactured homes were selling best. This way there was profit being made one place or the other all year long. As a gimmick, a bag of dog food was placed under the kitchen sink of each new home, a tradition that continues to this day. Still a small, efficient company, Fred’s son, John, is now at the helm of Sunshine Homes. They deliver with their own trucks and even have their own warranty crew that boasts a 30 day response time for repairs.
Modular
Home Book Resources Popular Buying Guides for
Modular Homebuyers
When trying to select a modular home the
first place to start is at the factory level. Knowing which factories
deliver to your area is the first step in understanding your options.
The second and most important step is determining how the factories
compare to each other in the areas of: Quality Construction,
Design/Style, Appraised Value and Price.
The manufactured housing industry has made some serious
improvements in recent years regarding quality construction and
residential appeal. With modern day technology and assembly line
techniques, the industry is overcoming the misconception that
manufactured homes are poorly built and don’t measure up to stick-built
homes.
Knowing your financing options is the first step to
securing a good deal. We have spoken with hundreds of modular home
lenders and Mr. Eaton the author has gone through the process himself.
Learn from his insight and you can avoid some common mistakes people
make when financing their home.
On average 80% of homebuyers pay too much for their
modular home. Not surprising with all the choices one must make from
negotiating with your builder to purchasing property and
site-improvements. This resource will reveal important negotiating
secrets and dealer profit margins that will give you an edge when
negotiating with your builder.
Most modular home builders have display models for
potential home buyers to walk through. These models are professionally
decorated to impress buyers with elaborate decorations, elegant
furniture and dazzling floorplans. Aesthetics are important but would
you purchase a modular home based on looks and compromise structural
integrity? Don’t be fooled by appearances and miss what really matters;
“Quality Construction.”
Advantages of Modular Home Construction In the 1960s, the mobile home industry made an evolutionary split. One branch evolved into recreational vehicles RVs to the point where the house now tows the car. The other branch evolved into manufactured homes, 95 percent of which now become permanent dwellings once they are transported from the factory to the site. Factory built housing is also popular in many countries around the world.
Modular Housing Facts Sheetrock is often glued and screwed to wall studs and triple headers are used over window openings and around stairwells to withstand the stress of transportation and being lifted by a crane.
Modular Homes Maryland A manufactured home is built entirely in the factory under a federal building code administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD and is classified as a Manufactured Home. These homes are constructed to meet the Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards Act, which has been in effect since June 15, 1976. The Federal standards regulate, manufactured housing design, construction, strength, durability, transportability, fire resistance, energy efficiency and quality. The HUD Code also sets performance standards for the heating, plumbing, air conditioning, thermal and electrical systems.
