Would you consider...

[Carrie]

I read a post talking about the size of homes in the magazine being too big to be a cottage and someone mentioned that they wanted a small home, even if it was a mobile home done in the cottage style. Would you consider a modular home in the cottage style? They are not mobile homes, they are modular, built to to meet building standards for the area they are placed in, not the standards mobile homes or manufactured homes are buit to which is the HUD standard.
Would you consider a home if it looked like this and was built to the same standards as a stick built?
http://www.harthousing.com/modfloorplanzoom.asp?page=details&model=M168
http://www.harthousing.com/modfloorplanzoom.asp?page=details&model=M166

[ChapterTwo]

Would you consider a modular home in the cottage style?

Absolutely!
While I have never been inside a modular home, there was one "built" in my former town about five years ago. Had I not seen the sections being delivered, I would have never known it was any different from other homes in town, Carrie. The two that you showed us were really very cute!

You mentioned mobile homes; a friend has a triple wide mobile home and you would not believe how beautiful it is! It has large rooms, a hot tub, and lots of amenities. Last year's project was having a gorgeous deck built.

[yarborough house]

Hey you ladies- we have a company here that has all types of modular homes on display - it is one of my fave things to do when they bring in a new one - to go see it. They are amazing places..
Here is a blog of a lady that lives in a modular home on a ranch...she said it came in three parts..take a look and you'll be amazed.
http://dreamywhites.blogspot.com/

I was told at the company that modular homes are actually stronger than stick built as they have to be to go down the highway at 60 mph..makes sense doesn't it.

And even mobile homes can be nice. Pretty much builder stock sucks no matter what you have - but once you add your own touches it doesn't look like it anymore.
We had a mobile home back home that friends lived in. You would never know as they had it sided with regular siding, extended the roof line and added a big front porch and put a new metal roof on it. Then you went inside and they put moldings around all the windows and doors to add character. Her hubby put drywall up on all the walls they put beadboard wallpaper on the ceilings to mimic wood ceilings.

It is all about personalization to make it yours that makes any "house" a "home".

[shabbychick]

I'd definitely consider a modular home. My niece had one built (log cabin style) up in the mountains where she lives, and it's a very cute little place. Some of the interiors were kind of done on the cheap and haven't held up that well, but those are things you could replace or redo and aren't that different from a contractor-built new house in a development. As long as a house has lots of windows in every room, I wouldn't care if it were modular. And if it made the house more affordable, I'd be all over that.

I don't have a problem with mobile homes, either, except that they don't tend to do well in earthquakes or severe weather. I've seen some that were as beautiful as anything stick-built. They do depreciate rather rapidly, but if you're not looking to flip it, I don't see why that would matter.

[Carrie]

Mobile homes depreciate, but if the modular home is place on foundation it will appreciate like a regular home, if you put equity into it. I own a modular home. For some reason a lot of people I mention that too can't get past that it is not a trailer. No wheels or metal frame under this house. I opted for one of these, because I can get more house for my money, plus it is energy efficient. For the price I paid for my home I would have gotten a really bad house, unless it was in foreclosure. Who would have know the economy would go belly up and their would be first time buyer programs I would have qualified for.
I wouldn't have known the house in the blog was what it is. It's decorated beautifly. I hope to do as well as that. I actually did the decorating part and some upgrades from the basic build in the house. Floors and lights done. Front door awning done. Deck painted and refurnished as of a month ago. Lots to do still. I'm not flipping it, because it is new. I'm just upgrading it.

[ChapterTwo]

Carrie, I realize those modular homes are built to the standards of the area in which they will be, but do you have a ballpark figure as far as price goes? I am curious...

[memmey]

Good morning:)I know in my area a single wide mobile home can cost $32,000,easy. I think folks are under the misconception that they are cheap. In some parts of the the country, that don't experience weather extremes to the extent that we do , a mobile home is a great entry level home for some new buyers. The modular home is a whole other type. If I understand it correctly it is built off site and brought to the "build" in sections but none the less built sturdy. I notced that on "This Old House" they had a renovation that worked like that.
You can add whatever your budget can afford, extra insulation , up grade of appliances just like in a site bilt home.
Carrie is that the way yours was offered?
I know where I live you are playing roulette to live in one. The weather is too harsh. I think the only reson this house has stood for 73 years is that even the interior walls are wood. Not sheet rock. When the wind is gusting from a tropical storm or God forbid hurricane the last place you want to be is in something less than sturdy. BTW the storm in the gulf makes me think that this year we will be having an "event" after all this time you can sorta sense what the season will bring. I hope not with all the oil in our gulf but it doesn't seem likely . The one this week has pushed the oil into the Cameron bay area . It is a delicate fishing and wildlife area....it doesn't seem real and we feel so helpless.:(

[chyna]

I really think it all depends on the manufacturer. My parents had a modular home built and all I can say at it is "Crap!!!". That however was back in 1984 and I think alot of places forgot the gold standard that was Sears, Ward and Aladdin homes. Funny that you mention This Old House. I remember them showing how modular homes are built now and was quite impressed.

[Carrie]

I think for a modular home to survive a hurricane, it would have to be fortified with metal straps securing the wood and the roof to the house frame and the house has to be elevated on cement piers, just like a normal home in hurricane territory. My home is made to withstand tornados, but it has withstood hurricane winds too, although they weren't as strong as the ones you get there.
I was happy that when Ike came through that I wasn't replacing my roof or siding or anything like the neighbors were. We came through with no damage thank goodness.
I had the option to get upgrades. I was offered a package deal that would let me have what they considered a dream kitchen and bath. I don't like stainless. I've cleaned it often enough to know that I would be afraid to touch my appliances and would be yelling at anyone that did. No thanks. I like my white side by side ( the side by side was an option I chose though ).
As far as bathrooms go, I don't need a fireplace in my bathroom. I got the garden tub. Probably shouldn't have, much prefer the shower. I didn't even like the surfaces offered in the kitchen and bath. I want to pick my own. I love the wood cabinet, so I have a fine slate for doing renovations.
In the dream living room, I was offered furniture provided. I already had that and I kind of like to find special bargains and finds, so it would have been wasted on me. I just chose the normal package deal with the options I liked and decided that I would do my own upgrade for less than they wanted. Something I do want is the option to put on a garage. The garages are really just another modular and kind of a pricey one, but I have shiny red cars and a motorcycle that would appreciate one. I was even told that basements were possible. I don't know how, but they are. Another pricey module. I have a bad knee so not good for me. Besides the more stuff I added, the more my budget took a hit.
My house was originally $45,000. I paid less because it was a year old model that was originally made for someone else. Something fell through. Worked for me. I originally had wanted a red farmhouse I had seen, but it was in the 60,000 range. I didn't like it's layout inside either. You walked into that house and you looked at a wall. You walked into the living room and you were closed in. You couldn't see any other rooms just walls and doors. For a huge five bedroom, it felt clausterphobic. This house had charm and an open layout and was small, and a heck of a lot easier to clean. Throw in the front door and big front deck and it was love.
As far as prices go, the mobile homes were cheaper. I saw homes from $23,000 to $35,000. The modulars were more, going from the mid forties to the seventy thousand range. That price sounds cheap, but figure out land, set up, foundation, electric, sewer, ect. Still cheaper than getting a stick home built, though you might find a diamond in the rough house to renovate for that price.
I am sorry for what is happening to you all in the Gulf. This is much worse than any damage caused by a hurricane. I cry for the lost lives, human and otherwise, and they way of life that is now gone, and may be for many years, or possibly forever.

[Carrie]

Fans of Cottage Living might recognise this:
http://www.us.kohler.com/idea_homes/ideahomes.jsp?home=cottage&action=videos

[shabbychick]

Moser's Sugarberry Cottage is my dream home. When I can afford to sell this condo and have a house built, that is the design I've chosen. I think he does wonderful work creating small homes that look and live big. Here's the Sugarberry: http://allthingscottage.com/moser_cottage.html

[ChapterTwo]

Oh, shabbychick, I just love that house! It truly has all the charm of an older home - I'd swear it was one. And it's got everything I need and want. Wow...I'll be drooling and dreaming over building one of those too. Thanks so much for sharing!

[shabbychick]

You're welcome, Chapter Two. I would have to convert the screened porch to a sunroom where I live because it's rarely warm enough to need three porches (whereas a place that collects warm sunbeams and lets in light is a bonus) but I love the layout of the rooms, the fact that there are windows everywhere, and the laundry room that's missing from so many designs these days. I wonder if they can convert this plan into a modular plan? Wouldn't it be nice to have it arrive on a truck all ready to snap together?

[ChapterTwo]

Wouldn't it be nice to have it arrive on a truck all ready to snap together?

Yeah, sorta like LEGOS. HaHaHa!

And I agree - an enclosed sunroom would be a better use of space than another porch. I miss my sunparlor, from my other house, dearly!

[mac78]

I absolutely love both those houses. My sister put up a home, it was not a modular, but came in 2 sections. It is stick built at the factory. It is at the lake.

New Orleans.....it is sad they we really no longer hear of the situation there. How people are doing, if they are rebuilding, the situation today, etc.

[Carrie]

I put so many entries in for that house, lol. I would have liked that one or the Habersham house.

[yarborough house]

Wow Carrie your prices for modular are way better than what we have here..the cheapest here is like 129K and goes on up to about 275K. They are nice like you said and you have so many options to chose from.