Avalon Building Systems Blog

Winter is certainly here in New England, but did you know you can build a new modular home any time of year? At Avalon Building Systems, we are used to building homes in the winter.

So if you want to take advantage of the low mortgage rates, and you have been thinking about building yourself a new home, you can!
 
If there is danger of a hard frost, specially formulated cement is used to pour the foundation of your new modular home during the winter. All of our custom built homes are constructed in a factory in a protected environment, where there is no weather to impair the process or the materials. Your modular home is constructed to the floor plan that you have designed and that we have built for you. The modules are then driven out to the site and assembled via crane.

You do not need to be concerned about the materials used for your new home being subjected to the elements. Take advantage of these low mortgage rates feel free to start your new home construction. Contact Avalon Building Systems.

Modular home construction offers you more customization when building a new home than even 10 years ago. There are hundreds of options available now both in the modular home floor plans and in the design.

The number and variety of options that are available to you may come as a surprise. However, it is important to review what you want in relation to your budget. Depending on your new home construction budget, determine which options present the highest value or ROI on your modular home.

A good idea is to list what you want in regards to home amenities and then rank them in terms of your family's priorities. A great place to start is to think about what you need for rooms, do you need an office? Think about design enhancements, do you want under cabinet lighting in the kitchen?

Think about the features of your existing home and what you like and dislike. Does your home now have a deck and would you like one on your new home, how about an attached garage or working fireplace? When finalizing your priorities and your budget, think about which items add the most value and which can be delayed to a later date.

For more information regarding a custom modular home for your family, contact Avalon Building Systems.

Avalon Building Systems would like to help rebuild Joplin, MO.  We can put those devastated by the disaster in a brand new home, in as little as 3 months.

The massive twister of three-quarters of a mile struck Joplin, MO just weeks after several tornadoes struck southern states. National Weather Service said the twister,  an EF5, the strongest rating assigned to tornadoes, had winds of more than 200 mph.  An estimated 8,000 homes and apartments, and more than 500 commercial properties, were damaged or destroyed in the Joplin Missouri tornado.

Avalon Building Systems, a modular home construction company, has set out to help victims displaced from their homes in Joplin to rebuild. Modular homes are every bit as strong, often stronger than site built homes. Meeting or exceeding state home construction standards, you will feel comfortable and safe in a modular home.

Modular homes are built in much less time than traditionally built homes. The modules are built in factories to exacting standards and then brought to your property. From the time the modules are set on the home’s foundation to the time you can move in to your new home is about 4-6 weeks.  These modular homes are also highly customizable. Replicate your old home, make those changes to your floor plan that you had been thinking about, or start with a fresh design.

Contact Avalon Building Systems today, and let us help you get into your new home faster and easier than you had thought was possible. Avalon would like to help rebuild Joplin, MO.

Sometimes it’s not that easy to buy a new home. Paying rent in New England and New York is equal to, or in some cases higher than, a monthly mortgage would be. But looking for a reasonably priced home, in a town where you want to put down roots sometimes can be disheartening. Often times, homes in the affordable price range means there is a lot of fixing up to do. Really it is often more than just fixing up, it’s tearing down, remodeling or adding on. Once you figure in all of that, it may be easier to buy property and build your own new home.

This may seem daunting to many. Paying rent while paying a construction loan for a year or more! Not when you build a modular home. Modular homes provide to you better quality than a stick built home, with competitive and budget friendly costs, in a fraction of the time. Additionally, you can design your new home to meet your family’s needs.  Modular homes are customizable, with no construction delays. Approximately 4-6 weeks after your home is set on its foundation, you are ready to move in.

Modular homes are built to the toughest construction codes required by the state, and are built out of the same type of building materials and name brands you would find in site-built homes. If you qualify for a home mortgage, you will almost certainly qualify for a construction loan to build a modular home. And modular homes are built in a fraction of the time. Contact Avalon Building Systems for more information on the modular building process.

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) are prefabricated insulated structural elements for use in building walls, ceilings, floors, and roofs. Avalon Building Systems, Inc. was the designer and builder of the very first "modular SIPS" home in the United States. Potential home owners often have the initial perception that SIP modular homes are “kits” that you buy out of a catalog with predetermined floor plans. This is not the case. Modular home floor plans can be and are most often custom designed.

In doing research regarding building a new home, a homeowner will try to seek out ways to speed up the building process while lowering labor costs and energy bills. Structural insulated panels are the answer to this search.
Avalon Building Systems and the homeowner design the plans. Those plans then go to the SIP manufacturer who custom builds all the SIP components needed to build the home. So the home is a modular home, but a custom one. However, you can purchase actual predesigned homes where speed is increased and the costs are even lower.

SIP’s provide superior and uniform insulation compared to stick built homes, offering energy savings of 12%–14%. When installed properly, SIPs also provide a more airtight dwelling, which makes a house more comfortable and quiet. A home built using SIPs are typically airtight. Therefore families are not affected by seasonal allergens. Additionally, in the summer cool air stays in, in the winter, cold air stays out with no cold or drafty spots.

For a new modular home which is custom designed and energy efficient, contact Avalon Building Systems.

There are many things to consider when deciding whether to buy or to build a new home. Even though building your dream house may seem a lot more difficult than looking for a home that is already built, it can actually be very rewarding.

Pros for Building a new home:

• You can customize your new home to meet the needs of your family. You can feel free to add an exercise room, a home office, or surround sound.
• Your home may be more resalable in the future because of the modern customizations.
• Your home will have the most up to date building codes and materials, therefore it may be more resalable down the line.
• You can hire a professional to oversee the day to day issues of building a new home.
• And, keep in mind, when building a modular home, the move in time line could be the same as buying a new home. With modular construction, you could be in your new home in a couple months.
• If you already love your neighborhood and schools, but just need more space, why move? Build your new home in the environment you already love.
• With a newly constructed modular home, you know you will have a more energy efficient home that any home you would buy.
• With your home buying budget, you can build a home built with the floor plan you want and need.
• When buying a new home, you are also stuck with the problems you bought in the home unless you spend money and time fixing them.
• If you buy a home planning to renovate in the future, you have to pull permits and live in the mess until you get it done.

How much do modular homes cost?
As with stick built construction the cost of a modular home will vary depending on what you put in the home and the style of home you choose. Modular homes prices compare favorably with an equivalent site-built home.

How long does it take to build a modular home?
Generally, it is approximately 4 months to complete the typical modular home, from the time of final plans. This is, of course, a rough estimate. However, the timeframe can be shortened with various alterations.

Are modular homes built as well as stick built homes?
Talk with homeowners, inspectors and do the research and you will see that the answer to this question is a "YES!" Modular homes have around 30% more lumber which makes them strong enough to be lifted and moved by a crane. Modular homes are far more square and level than site built homes. There are numerous inspections during the construction process to ensure a quality finished home.

Can modular floor plans be customized?
Yes. There are standard floor plans of course, however, floor plans of each style home can be customized, as well as the amenities inside the home.

Is it hard to finance a modular home?
No. In fact, it's quite simple. Modular homes generally qualify for the same rates as site-built homes.

Does it cost more to insure a modular home?
No. A modular home will usually get the same insurance rates as a traditional site-built home.

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to call Avalon Building Systems. We are happy to help.

Many empty nesters are contemplating downsizing their homes. Of all the numerous reasons for downsizing, the most common is that the children have moved out. Perhaps you are looking to stay in or near the same community you have grown to love over the years, or perhaps you want to relocate to Cape Cod. Building a modular home may be a great choice for you. We have many styles and floor plans that will fit your needs. Also, building a modular home is cost effective, efficient and downsizing can save you tax dollars.

A ranch style home, our favorite being the Deerfield, offers you the style you have grown accustomed to with a floor plan to match. With 1150 square feet, the Deerfield is a single story three bedroom and two bathroom house. The floor plan includes an open living, kitchen and dining area and is perfect for a narrow lot. It also has an option to add a front porch. With this ranch home you will still have the space you are used to and the room for visitors or grandchildren.
 
If it is the waterfront that draws you, we have vacation home floor plans to suit your needs as well. The Wellfleet is a single story floor plan, 1120 square feet, with two bedrooms and a bathroom. This floor plan also offers an easily accessible laundry area right off the kitchen. The open space of the kitchen, dining and living areas make this floor plan a great vacation home. You can enjoy your new home in class and style.
 
Then of course, we have the traditional cape style home. Two of our cape style floor plans, the Barnstable (650 sq ft) and the Beverly (1245 sq ft), both offer unfinished upstairs to be molded into a space of your choosing. Both styles offer all the charm of a cape style home.

Feel free to ask us about any of these style homes or any other styles that we offer. And remember, at Avalon Building Systems, we can create the home you are looking for within the price parameters you require.

In order to buy a new home, the home must be appraised so you can begin the process of getting a mortgage or loan. An appraisal of a modular home is the estimated amount a home buyer can expect to pay for their new home. When buying any piece of property, including modular homes you need a licensed professional appraiser. However, if the home is not yet built, how is it actually appraised?

The appraiser will inspect the modular home plans to have an idea of how much your new home should cost. Generally, they use information on labor rates, building costs, and depreciation and appreciation in the area where the property is being built. Also during the appraisal process, they will use sales comparisons, prices and values of compatible homes sold in the area, to determine the current modular home value.
 
Once a thorough analysis of the property has been completed, a report is created which is used to initiate the mortgage or loan process. Included in the report would be the property specifications, the replacement cost analysis and the comparative sales analysis.

The replacement cost analysis is total amount spent on the construction and the materials of the modular home, and the lot value. The comparative sales analysis, as mentioned, is the comparison of the actual property to other similar properties that have been sold in the same town or county.

These factors will determine the current total value of the property. The modular home appraisal will then be finalized so that the loan transaction can take place. The calculated total value of the modular home will help you determine future expenses such as utilities and real estate taxes.

Building and buying a new modular home is exciting and there has never been a better time to build! There are many details to consider as you begin this process. Whether you’ve built several homes or this is your first, we’ll strive the make the experience a pleasant one. With the coming of springtime it is perfect weather to start thinking about building a dream home for you and your family.

We offer many different floor plans for you to choose from or we can build a custom design home for you. With our integrated SIP panel technology, building sturdy, reliable homes is what we have to offer for all of our valued customers. We also offer a vast array of information regarding modular technology and its benefits.When decided for a modular home please consider the following:

• What budget you are trying to stay within?
• Your time-frame for building your new home.
• The style of home you are looking to build.
• The area or area(s) you have interest in.

Contact us today should you have any questions regarding modular homes and their benefits. Be sure to navigate through our site to learn more about modular construction how you can have your beautiful dream home this coming spring.