Ranch Style Modular
Quality Homes, Made Affordable
What Are the Pros and Cons of a Ranch Style Home ?
These ranch-style dwellings serve as highly customizable living spaces, meticulously crafted off-site before being transported and assembled on your property. Whether you choose a CrossMod ranch style home or a full custom prefab ranch home, our streamlined process ensures precision, reducing both waste and construction time and costs, all while maintaining impeccable quality standards.
Upon delivery, a modular home arrives in semi-complete sections, already mostly finished. These sections, known as modules, are then seamlessly connected on-site, necessitating only minor finishing touches. In contrast, a prefab ranch home is delivered as a building envelope (separate sections of frame, windows, doors, trusses and floors) fully prepared for on-site assembly. Although modular homes typically come with most fixtures pre-installed, prefab homes require additional components to be finished at the installation location.
Modular ranch homes offer numerous advantages over traditionally constructed homes. Homeowners building prefab can typically expect to save between 15-20% (or more). Our CrossMod homes can save as much as 45% compared to the cost of conventionally built homes. However, one potential challenge is ensuring that the modules can be transported to the home site with adequate clearance. Prefab homes, consisting of smaller sections, may encounter less limitations regarding land access.
Depending on your budget, single-story CrossMod ranch homes can be constructed for as low as $225 per square foot (excluding land costs). For those with a more generous budget, our custom ranch homes can be fully tailored to luxurious standards reminiscent of another era. In addition to offering aesthetic appeal and cost savings, these homes prioritize sustainability. Most of our homes are built using eco-friendly materials and construction practices, minimizing their environmental impact while providing superior style, quality, and functionality.
Benefits:
How Do I Build A Modular Home?
The majority of the steps involved in constructing a prefab, CrossMod, or modular ranch home follow the same process as building a traditional home on-site. It all starts with a dream, which is then translated into a concept. Next, a budget is established, playing a crucial role in shaping the final design of the home.
So, why opt for a prefab or modular approach? The benefits are numerous. However, the only circumstance where building on-site might be preferred over modular construction is when the home site presents limited access. Areas with restricted access points can pose challenges during the delivery and assembly process of prefab or modular home sections. While these challenges can sometimes be overcome, there are instances where constructing a home on-site may be the only practical option.
Pros and Cons of Off-Site Construction
1. Establish Your Budget
Before embarking on the journey of building a home, it’s essential to establish a budget, much like any other significant investment. If financing is required, the initial step involves consulting with a knowledgeable lender. The lender will guide you through various down payment options and discuss strategies for acquiring land if you don’t already own it. Whether you’re envisioning a modern design or a classic ranch style, financing a modular or prefab construction demands specialized expertise.
Once your financing is secured, the subsequent step is to choose a home that aligns with your budget. It’s crucial to allocate your budget for both hard and soft construction costs. Soft costs encompass expenses such as land acquisition, appraisals, utility connections, planning and permitting fees, contingencies, project management, and other predevelopment costs. On the other hand, hard costs encompass the actual materials and construction expenses.
Given that each home is unique, your design constitutes the most significant soft cost, while your land stands out as the most critical hard cost. By meticulously budgeting for both soft and hard costs, you can ensure a smooth and successful journey toward owning your dream modular or prefab home.
Important Notes
2. Pick Your Land
With your budget in hand, start to look for your future home site. Developing land can become very expensive. Things that are most overlooked in the land buying decision are access, utilities, suitability, and zoning.
Homes built off-site require the ability for large equipment such as semis and sometimes cranes to access the site. Sharp curves, overhead power lines, gated entry and other obstacles may make the land unsuitable to build using prefab construction.
The next consideration is utilities. Adding power, septic and water can cost $20,000 for an urban site and rural can cost $100,000+. Telephone poles and electrical can be the greatest cost. Septic and well can also become very expensive. In most of California, you will need a soils report and septic plan designed by a qualified engineer.
The next consideration is suitability. Grading and clearing land can become very expensive depending on the soil condition, trees, boulders, etc. Flat, open land that is already cleared is the best option.
Zoning can be overlooked and it’s an important consideration. Some land may not meet the minimum size requirements for residential use. Land that isn’t zoned for your use can sometimes be changed to fit your needs. However, this can be a long and costly process that involves attorneys.
If you’re on a tight budget, finding land that is flat, zoned properly and that has some or all utilities on site will be the wisest choice.
Things to Consider
3. Select Your Home
Once you have your land selected, its time to start to design the home. Select the home and the basic design finishes while you are still in your due diligence period. The due diligence period, also called the contingency period, is the time where you can investigate the property before you risk losing your deposit. Before you close escrow on the land, pick the home and start to select your finishes. Be sure to mind the budget. Keep a buffer beyond the cost of the home to pay for options, setup, landscaping, etc.
Things to Consider
4. Apply for Permits
At this stage, you should apply for permits. The advantage modular homes have oversite built is that the permit process is much faster compared to a site-built home.
Even though morular building permits are expedited, navigating through the permitting process can often feel like a lengthy and arduous journey. However, it’s crucial to recognize that despite its bureaucratic nature, the permitting process prioritizes your safety.
Pre-engineered homes and ADUs offer the advantage of reduced engineering costs. In addition to this, they undergo inspection and certification for building code compliance at the factory. Nevertheless, there are still permitting requirements for site-specific elements such as attached or detached structures like decks, driveways, wells, solar installations, swimming pools, outdoor kitchens, or garages. Additionally, certain municipalities may necessitate fire department approval and adherence to specific setback regulations.
A standard permit application typically mandates submission of civil and structural engineered plans, elevations, and certifications affirming the home’s compliance with relevant codes and standards. Despite the intricacies involved, understanding and adhering to the permitting process ensures not only regulatory compliance but also the safety and structural integrity of your modular or prefab home.
Advantages Over Site-Built
5. Build The Homesite
With your home approved and set to be built, this phase involves breaking ground. During this stage, various tasks are undertaken: the site is marked out, the land undergoes clearing, grading, and compaction, utilities are connected to the grid and positioned on-site, retaining walls and foundations are erected, access points are secured, and any other necessary preparations for construction are finalized.
It’s imperative to emphasize safety during construction. Building sites can pose significant hazards, and neglecting safety protocols can have severe consequences, including fatalities. Regular communication with the project manager is essential to stay informed about current hazards. Remaining vigilant at all times, avoiding hazardous areas such as trenches and wires, and wearing appropriate footwear are crucial safety measures to uphold throughout the construction process.
Things To Consider
6. Finishing Touches
Your finishing touches can range from custom flooring and fixtures, window coverings, mirrors, light fixtures, and touch up paint to external structures like garages, decks, swimming pools etc. Because it is still an active jobsite, avoid moving items into the home or scheduling furniture delivery until the home and your final checklist are complete.
Pro Tips
7. Moving In
When moving in, its best to have a un-packing plan. Prelabeled boxes will allow you to unpack essentials first. Verify the utilities are in your name, add your internet, cable, etc.
Pros and Cons
7. Quality / Warranty / Service
Our dedication to your satisfaction extends beyond the day you receive the keys to move in. We’re here to provide ongoing support for as long as you desire. Our Prefab and Modular Farmhouses are backed by a best-in-class 10-year craftsman warranty. Should any concerns arise, we’re committed to assisting you by promptly addressing and resolving any defects through repairs or replacements as necessary.
Warranty Highlights
Conclusion
Building your ranch style home using prefab and modular components can save you time and money. Our buildings are made to a higher standard and we back that up with a 10 year full craftsman warranty. We can custom design and build the home from scratch for the most discerning tastes or we can build a pre-engineered quality CrossMod home for the most budget minded.
