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Modular Home Checklist

29 June 2011

In order to ensure your modular home construction project flows smoothly, here is a brief checklist to make ensure you have considered everything and there are no work stoppages in the process.

Modular Homes Checklist

  • Determine your entire budget for land, home, labor, transportation and ensure that all these items are covered
  • Arrange financing - interest rate, length of loan, closing costs
  • Determine your needs for your new home– size/ sq. ft, bedrooms, bathrooms,
  • Pick floor plan and home style - colonial, ranch, split level, cape cod
  • Select your customizations, flooring, cabinets, etc
  • Select home extras or additions such as decks, garages
  • Choose foundation type - basement, slab-on-grade, crawlspace
  • Check references on the modular manufacturer and their local builder
  • Site preparation work (clearing, grading, etc.)
  • Shop for insurance

Original article- Modular Today

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Modular Construction Myths Busted

22 June 2011

Modular construction is confusing for new home buyers and for people in the construction industry. Modular construction has been around awhile, but has been increasing dramatically therefore,  the concept seems relatively new. It is also confusing trying to discern the information you do come across about modular homes and modular home manufacturers.

This blog is to help clarify these myths and to help you make a good educated decision for your personal situation.

MYTH: Modular homes are far less expensive
FACT: Modular homes are still quite an investment; and the price increases obviously as the square footage increases.  Usually, they cost 10-35% less than stick built homes, or $20- $30 per square foot. In making your decision between traditional and modular construction, be sure you are comparing the same type of house.

MYTH: Modular homes are stronger
FACT: Yes, this is true. Modular homes are built to be shipped on a truck. So, rather than using nails, modular homes are built with screws and glue. 

MYTH: Modular homes don't last
FACT: Many of the modular homes  that were constructed in the 50's are still around. With the proper maintenance and repairs, modular homes last just like stick built homes, and they also appreciate over time.

MYTH: Modular buildings all look alike
FACT: Modular homes can all be customized. You can choose from many different floor plans of modular home from the manufacturer. Those floor plan designs can be further customized. With modular homes you can have a custom home at an affordable price.

Source:  Modular Today


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The Modular Home Process Saves Time and Money

16 June 2011

Modular homes are built using an engineered approach to produce buildings more efficiently and cost effectively that can deliver lower home prices per square foot. Rather than built with traditional construction methods, sections of the home are pre-fabricated at an off-site climate controlled factory. As the modules are finished they are brought to the construction site and assembled. The GC then completes the finishing touches which create a beautiful, custom designed home that match and often exceed the quality and appearance of stick built homes.

According to industry statistics, homes built by modular construction has more than doubled in the last ten years. This is because the modular building process saves time and money. They are built similar to an assembly line, to deliver more efficiency and quality. Also because they are built indoors in a factory, the weather does not cause delays or defects which greatly reduces labor and materials costs. With the fabrication for all homes done in one place, the factories can buy bulk quantities of supplies at lower rates.

Modular home prices will vary depending where you live but a general guide is that modular homes pricing will be about $20-$30 less per sq. ft. than stick built homes which can really add up on a 2000 square foot home.


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Avalon Building Systems Helps Those Rebuilding Joplin, MO

8 June 2011

Devastating tornadoes damaged over 8,000 homes and 500 commercial buildings in Joplin, MO.  There are numerous organizations, business and private groups of people who want to help out, including Avalon Building Systems.

  • The St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals will be teaming up to help raise money for tornado recovery efforts.
  • A caravan of New Orleans-area goodwill volunteers arrived in the Missouri city with dozens of refrigerated trucks, trailers.  Also along for the ride are a stage, sound equipment, and singer Amanda Shaw to provide entertainment.
  • A Home Furnishings Store is sending a semi-trailer filled with supplies donated by community members.
  • Volunteers in Ohio loaded a truck with $15,000 worth of donations and boxes of supplies to send to the victims.
  • Acupuncturists from Springfield, Kansas City, St. Louis, Van Buren, Brixey and beyond have teamed up to provide Joplin residents with relief for trauma and pain.
Avalon Building Systems would like to help out in rebuilding Joplin, Mo.  Avalon Building Systems, a builder of modular homes, has set out to help victims displaced from their homes in Joplin to rebuild.  We can deliver brand new homes in 4 - 6 weeks after orders are placed and have those devastated by the disaster in a brand new home in a total of 3 months.  

Avalon Building Systems modular homes are superior in construction and quality as compared to conventionally built buildings.  Our homes and buildings are computer engineered using the latest technology to meet or exceed national, state, and local building codes. The result is that the customer gets exceptional quality and performance while recognizing significant savings in time and cost. Our company offers an unlimited option of specifications and all our homes are fully customizable to your design choices.

Call us today @ 866-282-2458



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Avalon Building Systems Would Like to Help Rebuild Joplin, MO

2 June 2011

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.


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Often it is Easier to Build a New Home than Buy an Existing Home

26 May 2011

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.


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Modular Homes are Green Homes

18 May 2011

There is more and more interest in creating and buying new environmentally green homes. Green is in, and modular homes are green, but even better, their designs are versatile and appealing. Their popularity is definitely on the rise. With new methods of construction and transportation, designers and builders are cutting waste and energy consumption, and cutting production costs while achieving greater methods of sustainability.

Because modular homes are prefabricated, the modules allow you to design a home that will complement the space you are placing it on. You can change the design and make it fit the space rather than make the space fit the home. This allows for lesser cutting of trees and the use of less machinery on your lot.

The modules are built in a factory which saves time and energy. Much of the waste is recycled; however, modular home factories produce less waste than on-site construction. Modular home production generates around 2% waste whereas stick built homes generate 30-40% waste. Everything is cut with more exactness and applied and assembled more accurately. This extends the life of the home and cuts down on upkeep of the home over time. Also, less time is spent constructing modular homes resulting in lower production costs, including utilities. Ultimately, modular homes allow eco-friendly construction at a fraction of the cost to a larger consumer base.


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Things to Consider When Deciding Whether to Buy or Build a New Home

27 April 2011

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.


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Modular Home Construction is Stronger

20 April 2011

Modular construction is one of the fastest growing forms of home building in the market today. Increased efficiency and our ability to apply modern technology to the needs of the market place are what make modular homes so desirable. Avalon Building Systems offers designs that encompass the entire spectrum of the market; from affordable single-family designs to high end luxury homes to vacation getaways. The combination of more efficient construction with reduced construction time, and unlimited customizations are the primary reasons why many home buyers are switching from traditional stick-building to modular home construction.

There is one question that always seems to come up in our conversations with people as they contemplate their construction choices. “Which type of home is stronger, modular or traditional?” The consensual answer is that modular homes are stronger. They are built in a controlled environment where outside elements cannot add wear and tear to the process or materials. Modular home builders also use screws instead of nails and add glue to all the joints to increase the strength of the home.

Today’s modular homes rival any site-built home in design and functionality. Advancements in computer design and factory technology allows almost any custom home plan to be constructed as a modular home. For those interested in a finely crafted home that can be built and completed in a fraction of the time of a conventional home, modular homes have become the preferred type of construction by many.


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Frequently Asked Questions about Modular Homes

13 April 2011

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.


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