There Are Many Choices Out There, So Do Your Homework

Category: Finance, Real Estate.

Many people dream of building their own custom designed home but don t for a variety of reasons. Some people assume you have to be rich to build your own home, others just don t know where to begin.

The complexities of the construction process can seem overwhelming. Actually, building a home can be both fun and affordable. These pre- prefabricated homes( often referred to as prefab homes, or manufactured homes, modular homes) combine the best of high- end architecture with eco- friendly living. This is especially true for modern home buyers since there are a variety of high- quality, modular and prefabricated homes which can literally be had" out of the box" . If you decide to go with a modern prefabricated home, the tasks involved in building a home become even simpler than a traditional stick- built home. Crunch the numbers. This doesn t mean that there isn t work involved, but it is a very logical, step- by- step process.

Think about what you can afford. It might be a good idea to get pre- qualified so that when you find the right property, you can get things rolling without delay. Talk to your banker or mortgage lender and find out what you qualify for. Buy your land. The layout you ultimately choose will depend to some degree on the topography, and location of, exposure the property. Obviously you must own the land before you can build the house, but what many people don t realize is that the lay of the land will help to define your housing choices. Be sure you pay attention to local building regulations, soil conditions/ drainage, and CC& Rs.

Find a prefab design company. An experienced real estate agent who has assisted other home buyers with land or lot purchases for either prefabricated or custom homes should be able to assist you with this process. This is really when the fun begins. You will quickly realize that there are modern prefab designers and architects out there for just about every need and pocketbook. There are many choices out there, so do your homework. Check out companies such as Clever Homes, Marmol Radziner Prefab, Michelle Kaufmann Designs, and the Dwell Homes by Empyrean. It wouldn t surprise me to see them eventually make their way over to our shores.

Even IKEA is assembling homes for the European market. Organize the team. Some prefab companies will handle this for you( for a fee) , but many require that you line up your own professionals. Once you ve chosen your prefab home design company, you ll need help! At a minimum you ll need a general contractor to prepare the site and assemble the home once it has been delivered. You will need building permits and perhaps design reviews, depending on your neighborhood. Get permits.

Your contractor may handle some of this for you, although you will be responsible for the permit fees, etc. Don t sweat the small stuff. Have fun. Just be sure to arrange contracts with everyone and get everything in writing! Proper due diligence and planning should result in a fabulous prefabricated home with architectural and" green living" flair which you can enjoy for many years. Building a modern prefab home requires careful coordination and patience however the result is often well worth the wait.

Copyright 2007, Renee Adelmann. All materials contained within this article are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of Renee Adelmann or Marin Modern Real Estate, Inc.

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