Prefab — short for prefabricated — homes have become very popular over the last few years. In fact, the industry as a whole will likely reach a valuation of $11.2 billion by the end of this year.
Have you been curious about buying a prefab home? Are you unsure of the advantages of buying this type of home over a more traditional option?
Read on to learn 10 of the best reasons why you ought to invest in prefab homes. They just might convince you to do the same!
What are Prefab Homes?
Before you dive into the advantages of buying a prefab home, let’s first go over what this type of home is.
In simplest terms, a prefab home is a home that is built in a factory and then transported to the homesite later, after it’s finished.
There are three main categories of prefab homes.
Manufactured Homes
Manufactured homes were once known as mobile homes or trailer homes. Housing laws have required their reclassification, though, to differentiate them from true mobile homes that are set on wheels.
These houses get constructed in a factory offsite before they’re transported and set on a permanent foundation.
Modular Homes
Modular homes are made of several different sections, all of which get manufactured offsite. The sections don’t come together until they’ve reached the permanent building site.
Mobile Homes
The term “mobile home” refers to a home that is truly mobile. An example would be a trailer on wheels pulled by a vehicle. Tiny houses also fit the category of mobile homes because they can be loaded onto a trailer and transported.
All mobile homes are technically considered personal property — rather than housing — since they often don’t have one final destination.
Benefits of Buying Prefab Homes
Now that you understand the basics of what a prefab home is, let’s get into specifics. Why would you want to buy a prefab home? Here are 10 benefits that you ought to consider.
- Save Time
In most cases, it takes less time to construct and move into a prefab home compared to building a traditional home.
Since the prefabrication process takes place indoors, you never have to worry about weather delays or problems with the construction site.
Most inspections take place at the factory, too, and don’t have to be arranged ahead of time.
- Save Money
Buying a prefab home is also a great way to save money while still getting the kind of home you’ve always wanted.
Prefab homes often cost much less than traditional builds. This has to do, in part, with shortened construction times, as well as the fact that materials tend to get utilized in a more efficient way.
- Reduce Energy Usage
Prefab homes don’t require as much energy as traditional homes during the building process. This is because factories have all kinds of measures in place to minimize energy usage and ensure efficiency.
They’re also designed with energy efficiency in mind and tend to provide owners with lower electric and gas bills.
- Avoid Excess Maintenance
When you buy a traditionally built home, especially when you’re not building it yourself, it’s common to deal with a lot of maintenance issues when you move in. For example, the house might need expensive repairs or total renovations to get it up to par.
You don’t have to worry about this with prefab homes since they’re brand new and built to your specifications.
- Customize to Fit Your Needs
Speaking of your specifications, you get to customize your prefab home to meet you and your family’s unique needs.
In most cases, builders are happy to work with you to create a house that looks exactly as you want it inside and out. Whether you want to add extra features like a deck or customize the color, the sky’s the limit.
- Thorough Quality Control
The quality control process for factories where prefab houses get made is very thorough.
There are on-site inspectors, as well as inspectors from independent agencies, who will check out the house to make sure it meets state and local government requirements.
- Reduce Waste
Prefab homes are less wasteful than traditional homes, too. Thanks to the efficient factory setting in which they’re constructed, there are fewer pieces leftover when the project is completed and less material ends up in landfills.
- Avoid Environmental Toxins
Because prefab homes get made in factories, the materials out of which they’re constructed aren’t exposed to the elements during the building process.
You don’t have to worry about them getting rained or snowed on. This, in turn, minimizes the risk of exposing yourself to environmental toxins like mold once your home is built.
- Reduce Site Disruption
We all know how frustrating it can be to build a home from the ground up. There’s a ton of site disruption, with workers coming and going at all hours and causing traffic issues throughout the neighborhood.
With prefab homes, you don’t have to worry about any of this since the construction takes place offsite.
- Enjoy Peace of Mind
Last but not least, buying a prefab home lets you enjoy peace of mind.
You’ll be able to feel confident knowing that you’re not going to run into any extra expenses since the price is locked in from the start.
There are also lots of ways to save on prefab homes to give you even more confidence. You can view here to learn more about the best savings options for these types of homes.
Buy Your Prefab Home Today
As you can see, there are lots of reasons why you might want to invest in prefab homes. Are you interested in buying one for your next home?
If you want to buy a prefab home, we’ve got lots of resources available on our website.
Check them out for some tips that will help you choose the right home and ensure you’re getting it for the best price.
