Building a modular home is a big decision, but we’re so glad we did it! We love our new home and the process was much easier than we thought it would be. It’s been a year since we finished building our modular home, and we couldn’t be happier! We’ve had some great experiences and learned a lot in the process. – The Schwinghammers
If you’re considering building a modular home, here are a few things to keep in mind. The first thing to know is that modular homes are built in factories, which means they’re built to exacting standards and are built to last. Having a new home is very exciting, and you will want everything to be finished as quickly as possible. However, there are some things that are best to wait until the one year mark to complete.
Wait until one year after building:
- Do not paint your walls. It is best to wait one year since the house settles and new cracks will appear. Excelsior Homes does a one time overall fix of any cracks that appear within the first year, so it is recommended to wait until after that time, just in case any minor repairs are needed.
- Review your warranty. A short-term warranty comes with most new builds to help cover any faults in workmanship or materials. Be sure to do a complete check all the way around the home to inspect for any damages. Fixing any small leaks or cracks with caulking can cut your heating and cooling costs and increase the energy efficiency of your home. To save time for our customers, we now have our own repair technician who can come out and look at any warranty related service items.
- Wait to plant your grass. It is a good idea to wait until the ground settles around the foundation of the home in case back fill in needed to be added. Watch to make certain that the landscape is sloped away from the home so that water runoff will not flow back into the house.
- Clean your gutters. Gutters should be cleaned at least twice a year to remove the build-up of debris and leaves that get caught in them to prevent damage to the roof.
Before one year:
- Contact your Plumbing and Heating technicians to do a walk-through inspection. Some of the heating and cooling items in your home will need cleaning and servicing every couple of months. It is best they give you a checklist of their maintenance recommendations such as when filters need to be changed.
- Regulate the humidity. It is recommended to keep the humidity level between 30-50 percent to prevent mold from growing and to keep your home more comfortable. Purchasing a humidity gauge for each level of the home is an easy way to keep an eye on it throughout the year. An air conditioner and/or a dehumidifier can regulate the humidity in the summers and a humidifier and/or air exchangers can help in the winter months to keep frost off the windows or gaps from forming in the floors.
- Check that intake and exhaust vents are clear. If vents are blocked or damaged they can allow carbon monoxide back into the house. Best practice is to replace batteries in smoke and CO detectors every six months.
- Read owners manuals. It is important to understand how to keep your appliances working properly and if any special requirements are needed for cleaning or maintenance. This goes for appliances, flooring/carpets, countertops and windows as well.
- Change your furnace filter. We recommend changing your furnace filter monthly after a new build for at least the first couple of months to remove any construction particles that are remaining in the air.
“If you’re thinking of building a modular home, we highly recommend it! It’s been an amazing experience for us and we love our new home.”
Have you considered building a modular or manufactured home? What tips do you have for others who are thinking of doing the same? Share your thoughts and experiences with us. We would love to hear from you.
