Buying a Prefabricated House: Everything You Need to Know in 2024

This post will show Important Things to Know Before Buying a Prefabricated House.

Thinking of buying a prefabricated house? Prefabricated houses, also known as prefab homes, are becoming increasingly popular due to their affordability, speed of construction, and design flexibility. These homes are constructed in sections in a controlled factory environment, allowing for greater quality control and faster assembly on-site. This translates to potentially significant cost savings and a quicker move-in date for you and your family.

However, before diving into the world of prefab homes, it’s important to be well-informed about the process. This blog will guide you through everything you need to know about buying a prefabricated house, from understanding the different types and benefits to crucial considerations before you embark on your prefab journey.

What do you need to know about buying a prefabricated home

Before you start the process of buying a prefab home, it is important to take some time to understand the nature of this type of construction to have a clear idea about what to look for and what to expect.

How do prefab homes work?

• Manufacturers are quite specialized: Since prefab construction is highly systematized, most manufacturers specialist in a design style. Choosing the right manufacturer allows us to acquire exactly what we are looking for.
• The land characteristics matter: When building a prefab house, choosing a suitable plot of land is a must to ensure a smooth construction process.
• The design phase shouldn’t be rushed: Given that most of the construction is done in a factory-like environment, once the building works start there isn’t much margin for the owner to look at the space as it is being built and modify any design features. Take some time to decide on the design before approving it.

What type of prefab should you buy?

There are four main types of prefab houses. Each one of them follows a different construction process which translates into advantages as well as inconveniences depending on our expectations, needs, or preferences.

Modular houses: You can get a construction that looks just like an on-site built house with either a modern or a traditional look. Since modular homes are built by joining prefabricated three-dimensional modules, the assembly of the house is fast and easy. However, a modular house might not be a good choice if the roads leading to your property aren’t accessible by the lorry of great dimension required to transport the modules.

Panel-built houses: By acquiring this type of prefab, we also obtain a house that looks just like a traditional construction of our preferred style. In this case, however, the prefabricated compounds aren’t volumetric but flat: a set of panels designed as walls, roofs, and ceilings. This translates into an assembly that isn’t as fast, though the delivery is often more flexible and a narrower road might not disrupt it as much.

Log houses: Logs can be entirely prepared offsite and then transported to the construction site as a ready-to-assemble kit. So buying a log house can be a good option if the access road leading to your plot is complicated.

Tiny Houses: A tiny house is a unique type of prefab that is small but also moveable. It is built entirely off-site and usually placed on wheels which makes it a great option if you are looking for a flexible and minimal lifestyle where you don’t permanently place the house on one specific plot of land.

Cost of building a prefabricated house

Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or are looking to upgrade your current home, a prefabricated home can save you time and money. Prefab houses are built in a factory and transported to the site on their own chassis, eliminating the need for assembly on-site. Because they’re prefabricated, the manufacturing process is highly controlled, leading to less waste and overall savings.

The cost of a prefabricated house depends on several factors, including the size and number of bedrooms. You can expect to spend about 15% less on a prefabricated house than on a stick-built home. Plus, a prefabricated home will appreciate in value as the market goes up.

Prefabricated homes are also more energy-efficient than stick-built homes. They can cost as little as $100 per square foot, and the price of a prefab home can vary significantly from place to place. Depending on size and amenities, prefabricated homes can range from $100 to $220 per square foot. Some homes even come with interior fixtures and appliances, saving you even more money.

The process of buying a prefab home:

1.Look for a prefab manufacturer

Once you have decided what type of prefab home seems to work best for you, it is time to look for a manufacturer. Given the nature of the prefab process; it is important to choose a prefab builder based on the following:

• Type of prefab: Find a manufacturer who builds the type of prefab you are looking for.
• Style: Prefab manufacturers tend to specialise in one architectural style, define what aesthetic best suits you and look for a manufacturer who focuses on that style.
• Pre-designed or customised: Some manufacturers offer pre-designed prefabricated homes, some focus on custom designs only and a few offer both options. Decide if a predesigned floor plan is good for you or would rather design a house from scratch before settling on a manufacturer.
• Delivery: Make sure that the manufacturer can assure the shipment to your country.

2.Find your plot of land

Look for a plot of land to build your prefab house and consult with your manufacturer before purchasing it. This consultation allows you to verify that the land is suitable both on the legal and on the physical aspects to build the type of prefab that you have in mind.

As a general rule, these are the most important things to consider when buying land to build a prefab:

• Flat topography: Some prefabricated houses, especially those that are predesigned, require a flat surface to be raised.
• Accessible roads: To ensure all the prefabricated components can reach the property, the roads leading to the plot should be wide and obstacle free.

3.Start working with your manufacturer

As soon as you start working with your manufacturer you begin designing the prefab home and defining the building process with the different professionals involved. Every company and every country follows slightly different processes so it is important to take your time discussing all the important aspects of the building process with your manufacturer.

These are some of the most important things to consider:

• You might need to hire a contractor: some manufacturers take care of both off-site and on-site construction, though others only focus on the house prefabrication. In this case, you will have to hire a contractor to carry out all the on-site works such as building the foundations, landscaping, and connecting to the site utilities.
• You might need to hire an architect: In some European countries, such as Spain, in order to obtain the building permits, you will need a registered architect. Some prefab companies might include this service, clarify with them what is included.
• You will most likely need to apply for a building permit: All prefabs, except most tiny homes, need a building permit to be built. In most countries, such as the UK, it is the owner of the property who has to apply for this permit. Your architect will prepare most of the documents for you but it is your responsibility to obtain the permits that will allow you to build.

Energy efficiency of prefabricated houses

One of the major benefits of prefabricated houses is their energy efficiency. Compared to conventional construction methods, prefabricated homes require 80% less energy. They can also be built in a shorter amount of time. Some prefabricated homes even meet the strict funding requirement. However, there is a lot to consider before buying a prefabricated house.

Prefabricated house use less electricity because they are built using more advanced parts and materials. In addition, they arrive at their destination ready for installation. This greatly reduces installation time. Another advantage of prefabricated homes is their quality. Some manufacturers even install ductwork at the factory to improve energy efficiency. However, it is important to remember that ductwork must be properly sized and sealed to prevent air loss.

Energy-efficient prefabricated house use structural panels instead of bricks. Structural panels are heavier than bricks, which are difficult to manufacture and produce emissions. Prefabricated panels, on the other hand, consist of a layer of insulating material sandwiched by tiles. They are therefore more environmentally-friendly than bricks.

Time to build a prefabricated house

There are several factors that affect the time it takes to build a prefabricated house. Firstly, finding an empty lot to build on takes time. You will also need to select the perfect home design. Next, you’ll need to secure building permits and prepare the site. And, you’ll need to get the financing for the project. The whole process can take between 16 to 31 weeks.

Secondly, you’ll need to connect the prefab house to utilities and the grid. You’ll need to set up water, gas and septic systems. These may take longer than you thought, but an experienced builder knows which steps to take to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible.

A prefabricated house is also more affordable than a traditional stick-built one. Because the materials are mass-produced on an assembly line, labor costs are lower as well. Plus, the time it takes to build a prefabricated house is shorter than building a stick-built home. This saves money by allowing you to move into the house faster.

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