In today’s housing market, there really are no better options than modular homes, pre-built homes, pre-fab homes, or tiny homes—they’re all turnkey and affordable.
If saving money and a timely home construction process aren’t enough to convince you, there are also custom options and amenities, warranty options, craftsmanship, and add-ons to consider.
Turnkey, modular homes built by trusted local businesses like Pratt Homes in Tyler, Texas, are an ideal option for anyone looking to own, design, and build their own home.
When you’ve made the decision to build your own modular home, it’s important to avoid certain pitfalls.
Here’s a list of 5 common mistakes to avoid when choosing a modular home:
1. Don’t Choose the Wrong Design or Size
Once you’ve decided to purchase a pre-built home and start designing, make sure you plan carefully. Designing a new home can be very exciting, but make sure things don’t get ahead of themselves. It’s all too easy to get caught up in the moment and make decisions that aren’t what you want or need in the long run.
Plan carefully. What size house do you need? You don’t want to choose something too big, but you also don’t want to choose something too small.
What are your goals for your home? Are you going to host often? Do you plan on expanding your family? Do you have an elderly relative who might need to move in? Make sure you consider all the angles before deciding on what size home you want.
The same goes for the design. There are a great many details that should be factored in when it comes to design.
One of the main things is profitability. While designing your home with your own aesthetic is important, it’s also important to think down the road if you ever need to sell the home for profit. You don’t want the home’s design to be something that ends up taking away from what it’s worth because it doesn’t meet the buyer’s wants or needs.
When you design your turnkey home, make sure you factor in both your wants and needs while keeping an eye on the future.
2. Don’t Go Over Budget
Unfortunately, going over budget is far too easy to do. Especially if you don’t take the time to create an accurate and detailed budget ahead of time.
When creating your budget for designing and building your pre-fab home, make sure you factor in all the details.
This includes any custom craftsmanship and amenities you might want to include. It’s easy to want to change these details as you go along, but that can also mean that you end up going over budget at the completion of your home.
While planning, try to find a balance between looking ahead at what you might need from your tiny home or modular home in the future and what you need from it in the present. This balance can help you measure what’s necessary right away and what you can wait and save up for later so that you don’t go over budget.
3. Don’t Choose a Builder That Doesn’t Fit
Once you’ve made the decision to build a custom pre-built home, you need to find a builder to help make your home dreams a reality. Not just any builder: the right builder. Finding the right builder for your modular home is important on many levels.
First, you need someone who is an expert in the modular home construction process. Make sure they’re experienced and properly licensed. Luckily in today’s internet world, it’s easier than ever to check up on a business’ credentials. Look up reviews on your prospective modular home builder. See what other customers have to say about working with them. Are they easy to work with? Are there any red flags?
Take time to speak with your builder about your design ideas and needs. Are they someone you feel like you can work with? Do they hear you out? Do they answer your questions?
Being able to work well with your builder is one of the most important parts of the building process. Make sure you take the time to choose someone who’s a good fit.
4. Don’t Go in Blind—Look at Examples
Another helpful thing about the internet world is transparency. When choosing the right builder for your turnkey home, it’s important to see examples of their work.
Before you decide on your builder, look up photos and, if possible, videos of their past work. Seeing their work will give you a good idea if they’re the right fit for you.
If you’re able, request to do a walk-through of a home they designed. This will give you an even better, in-person idea of who and what you’ll be working with.
5. Don’t Forget to Check out Money-Saving Sustainable Options
Sustainable building options aren’t just beneficial for the environment. They can also be a great way to save money on your utility bills.
Talk to your custom modular home builder about their sustainable building options and how they might work within your home design.
When it comes to choosing a modular home, there are a lot of details to consider. However, avoiding these mistakes can make a big difference in building your dream turnkey modular home.
