If you’ve always dreamed of having a vacation home by the beach, on the lake, in the mountains, where ever you like to spend your downtime, a modular home is for you. A modular home can make building your second home almost as enjoyable as spending your vacations and weekends relaxing there.
Chances are, you plan on building a second home some distance from where you reside. If so, this can make the process of building a second home stressful and difficult, as you probably will not be able to spend a great deal of time at the building site watching your investment as it is being built. A traditionally-built home can take several months to build on site; for the off-site homeowner, this means several months of being unable to keep a close eye on the process of the home construction. Furthermore, if you are some distance from the home site, this also means expensive trips to the home site to discuss change orders or other unforeseen circumstances, resulting in costly delays. And, if you are not familiar with construction companies at the site of your second home, it may be more difficult to find a contractor you feel comfortable leaving in charge of your investment.
Making your second home a modular home can relieve many of the stressful elements associated with building a home some distance away from your residence. While a traditionally-built home can take months to complete, a modular home can often be erected on site in matter of weeks or even days. Preparation of the home site is completed simultaneously with construction of the modular home, cutting construction time down considerably. Because much of the construction on a modular home is completed within a factory environment, there are no worries about vandalism or weather-related damage to a construction project you are unable to visit on a regular basis. The need for construction crews at the home site is greatly lessened when building a modular home; a contractor is not needed until the home is delivered and assembled on-site. In fact, you can probably treat your local contractor to a few days at your vacation home’s site and still save money, simply because a modular home is often less expensive to construct than a traditionally built home.
If a modular home sounds too good to be true, what with it’s much shorter construction time and it’s cost-efficiency versus a traditionally built home, be assured that it is not. Modular homes are constructed just as sturdily as traditionally built homes; modular homes are constructed mainly in a factory setting, using building technology to create high quality structures with all the strength of traditionally built structures. Furthermore, they are impervious to damage from severe weather conditions and vandalism, and, because they are built to be shipped by truck and assembled on site, are constructed extra-strong to withstand the trip. These same factors also make the modular home cost-effective; modular home manufacturers buy materials in bulk, and are therefore able to pass those savings on to the home buyer. Costs to ship materials to the out-of-the-way places that vacation homes are often built are eliminated. And, because construction is almost entirely completed in a factory setting, there are no costly delays due to weather conditions or vandalism.
Another factor to consider when building a second home is resale value. While you may intend to keep your second home for years to come, if you should decide you need a larger or smaller second home, or would just rather have your second home in a different area, the resale value of your second home will be of concern to you. Like a traditionally built home, a modular home will continue to appreciate in value, meaning your initial investment will grow over the years, allowing you to recoup what you initially invested in the home. Because a second home is such a large investment, making sure it appreciates in value is important.
Often, people choose to build a second home or vacation home in an area that offers advantages that the family home does not. Having a getaway home that allows you to enjoy recreational activities specific to the area, scenic views, or just an area that you love spending time in allows you to retreat from your everyday world in a place that is special, and special to you. Building a second home that works with the area in which you have chosen to build is important; not only will building for the particular area allow you to get more from your second home, it will also make your second home a part of its surroundings. You may not be able to build a log cabin on your suburban street, but if your retreat is the mountains or on the lake, not only will you be able to have the log cabin you have dreamed of, you will also be happy to find that you have built a home that is perfect in its surroundings.
No matter where you wish to build your second home, you will find an array of modular housing options that will allow you to build a home that not only makes the most of its surroundings, but is also perfect for your needs.
If you’ve always wanted a home by the beach, a modular home is the perfect choice for you. Not only are there many modular home manufacturers who offer home designs that are meant for the sand and sun, but, if you are planning to build in an area that often experiences hurricanes and high winds, then you owe it to yourself and the investment you plan to make to look at modular homes, many of which are built specifically for high-wind areas.
When building a beach front home, there are several factors that need to be considered. Among these are moisture-resistance, moisture-tolerance, and wind-resistance. Building a home that can withstand both the moisture and wind conditions that are inherent to beach front sites will protect your investment for years to come.
If you are building a beach front home, you will not only want a home that is safe for the site, but that also has that beach home look and feel. A modular home will allow you to build a home that will not only withstand the wind and water, but will also look beautiful besides.
Building homes that are perfect for beach front sites has become a specialty of sorts for several modular home manufacturers, who were quick to recognize that homes built on the beach have needs that home build farther from shore do not. Among the manufacturers that specialize in homes that are built to withstand both wind and water are:
- Harvest Builders International offer a large range of homes built to withstand hurricane-force winds. Harvest Builders International has offices in both Louisiana and New York, which means a greater likelihood that they are building in your beach front community.
- Tarpon Coast Builders is a Florida-based modular home manufacturer offering several styles of hurricane-resistant homes.
- Southern Structures offers a variety of beach house designs, and their Florida origins mean that the manufacturer is familiar with high winds.
If the mountains are more your style, then you have many options to choose from when choosing a modular home for your mountain site. Whether your mountain hideaway is near the ski slope, has a lake view, or is just nestled deep in the woods, a modular home can provide you with a home that is perfect for your site, taking advantage of the breathtaking views and the mountainous terrain.
A mountain home is often more rustic than homes built in other areas. Typically built to blend into its surroundings, a mountain home will usually incorporate natural elements, such as wood siding, or a log construction, and feature lots of windows to frame the breathtaking views. Large porches or extensive decks to allow for outdoor living, and are a hallmark of mountain homes. Chalet-style homes are often a popular choice for mountain homes, and include many of these features.
Modular home manufacturers that cater to mountain living offer homes that fit in with the setting, some incorporating a great deal of natural materials, while also offering modern amenities inside.
Here are a few of the many modular home manufacturers who offer homes ideal for mountain settings:
- Carolina Building Solutions is based in North Carolina, home to the Appalachian Mountains. Many of CBS’ designs are reflective of the mountain architecture indigenous to North Carolina.
- Heritage Homes of Nebraska offers Mid-West and Western homeowners an array of beautiful home plans that have the rustic, natural look of mountain homes.
- R-Anell manufacturers many Chalet-style homes that are perfect for scenic views, whether single or multi-story in design.
Regardless of where you’d like to build your second home, there’s a modular home perfect for your spot. Whether you dream of a beach front escape, a lake house, or a ski-slope chalet, you will find a modular home that is both beautiful and designed for your site.
Furthermore, a modular homes is the perfect choice for a second home, allowing you to build a quality home that will not only bring you years of pleasure after it’s built, but will also make the construction process much less stressful.