We all know that our expectations more or less dictate our perceptions. This has been a common issue with the modular home industry. Expectations such as boxy, mobile home, low-end building quality….words that are like the plague to modular builders. I enjoyed this article about a modular home builder in the East End, Scott McKay of Turn-Key Homes, it is a great follow up to my post last week: Modular Builders – They Aren’t all The Same. Modular Builders in every part of the country face common misperceptions. I like the last paragraph of the interview with Scott McKay the best:
Q: What are some of the challenges of working in the modular industry?
A: Almost anybody can call a company and become a modular representative of that factory. It is not unlike the old used cars dealers, when nobody was holding them accountable for the product they were selling. Anybody can be a modular home guy, and that’s not right. I think there needs to be more regulation. I’ve heard horror stories of people taking delivery of their homes and the builder disappears.
That’s how my company got its name. My predecessor said, “I just want to be clear—you are a builder and developer. You need to deliver a turn-key product. You don’t just set the house on the foundation and disappear.”
“Almost anybody can call a company and become a modular representative of that factory.” This is the foremost reason that the perceptions and expectations of modular building never really gets a good grade. New guys and fly-by-night companies come and go so fast your head spins. There are some precautions you can take when deciding to build a custom modular home. Here at Schiavi Home Builders we encourage clients to do a little research into their builder. We have been in the housing business since 1959 – around long enough that we aren’t planning on disappearing anytime soon. It’s important to check how long a builder has been in business because it builds an automatic trust level just by knowing they’ve been around awhile. We hold a license from the State of Maine Manufactured Housing Board which means they keep tabs on us and hold us accountable for meeting set standards. Many states require licensing and they often have an archive of good and bad business practices for each builder. Contacting your state agency is a good place to start researching a builder. Another good idea is to ask your builder for some personal references. If they can’t produce several satisfied customers for you, I’d look for another builder. If your builder passes these tests, then you can pursue looking at their homes and talking price. Don’t forget once you’ve found a builder you think you can work with, you still need to research the manufacturer of your home. A bit of diligence will make for clear perceptions and your expectations will me met and hopefully exceeded.
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