How Can I Be Sure That A Manufactured Home Is A Quality-Built Home? Do Manufactured Homes Use The Same Building Materials and Processes?

Today's manufactured homes are built with the same building materials as site-built homes, but in a controlled factory environment where quality of construction is invariably superior to what can be done outdoors. The HUD Code regulates and monitors the manufactured home's design and construction, strength and durability, transportability, fire resistance, energy efficiency and overall quality. It also sets standards for the heating, plumbing, air-conditioning, thermal and electrical systems. The HUD Code also ensures compliance with these standards with a thorough inspection system that takes place at each step as the home is being constructed in the factory.

There are major benefits to having your home built in a factory:

• All aspects of the construction process are quality controlled.
• The weather doesn't interfere with construction, cause costly delays and warp or damage building materials.
• All technicians, craftsmen and assemblers are on the same team and professionally supervised.
• Inventory is better controlled and materials are protected from theft and weather-related damage.
• All construction materials, as well as interior features and appliances, are purchased in volume for additional savings. All aspects of construction are continually inspected by not one, but several, inspectors.

Is The HUD-Code Less Stringent Than State Or Local Building Codes?

No. While there are some differences between the codes, this difference has more to do with how the codes are intended to operate. While state or local building codes are basically prescriptive, meaning that they prescribe what type of lumber or what type of electric wire must be used in the construction of a home, the HUD- Code is more focused on performance, allowing the manufacturer to use products that are most compatible with the factory-building process as long as these products perform according to the guidelines established in the HUD Code.

Independent analyses comparing the state or local building codes with the HUD Code have found that "on balance, the codes are comparable" and "the net cummulative effect of the differences between the two codes is more likely on the order of hundreds of dollars, rather than thousands of dollars per unit." In some cases, the local or state codes are more restrictive, while the HUD Code is the more restrictive in other situations such as ventilation, flame spread, and structural loads.

Can I Customize A Manufactured Home To Meet My Particular Needs / Wants?

Today's manufactured homes come with "standard" features that you would find in a site-built home. Many floor plans are available that range from basic models to more elaborate designs that feature vaulted ceilings, drywall, fully equipped modern kitchens, comfortable bedrooms with walk-in closets, and bathrooms with recessed bathtubs and whirlpools. You may also select from a variety of exterior designs and siding materials, including wood, hardboard, or vinyl siding.

With the vast majority of manufacturers now using the latest in computer-assisted design, you have the flexibility of customizing your home's floor plans, interior finishes, and exterior designs. Your lifestyle and your budget are the only limitations to the options available to you. Many manufacturers also provide homes that are "accessible" for those with special needs. If you are interested in such a home, work with your retailer to order a home with accessible features, such as extra-wide halls and doorways, accessible counters and appliances, and specially equipped bathrooms.

Are There Limits On Where I Can Locate or Place A Manufactured Home?

Many cities and towns, still relying on outdated perceptions and stereotypes of "mobile homes," have zoning regulations limiting where you can place a manufactured home. However, more and more urban and suburban governments are recognizing that today's manufactured homes are virtually indistinguishable from site-built homes and are allowing manufactured homes to be placed in their communities. Before purchasing a manufactured home, be sure to check the zoning regulations in the area where you want to live.

Who Takes Care Of Installing A Manufactured Home? Can I Do It Myself?

Most states have laws that govern the installation of a new manufactured home. Your retailer or the subcontractor installing the home is responsible for ensuring that the home is installed in accordance with state regulations and the manufacturer's installation instructions or with an installation designed and approved by a licensed, registered engineer. The proper method of installing the home will depend on the design of the home and the conditions of the location, such as climate and soil type.Depending on the type of loan used to finance the home, the lender may have some specific requirements for the foundation and installation of the home as well.