FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - MODULAR HOMES

Where are you located?
We have local offices in both Keene and Winchester, NH.

What are your hours of operations?
Because we schedule meetings by appointment, we do not have set office hours.  We are generally available to meet with you at your convenience, seven days a week. 

Does where the houses are built make a difference to me?
It should.  Most modular home companies, especially the ones in Pennsylvania, started out life building double-wide manufactured, or mobile, homes.  Not the case with the two modular home companies we represent. 

Preferred Building Systems is owned by LaValley Lumber Company, a second generation business founded in Newport, NH in 1962.  Starting out manufacturing roof trusses, wall panels, door units and kitchen countertops, LaValley purchased and renovated an old photo album factory in Claremont in 2006 and retooled it to manufacture custom energy efficient modular homes.  As a member of the Lumberman’s Merchandising Corporation,  La Valley Lumber combines their purchasing power with over 300 other independent lumberyards and home centers, which allows them to pass on these savings to the modular home end of the business. 

Huntington Homes was founded in Berlin, Vermont in 1978 by Henry Huntington to serve the central Vermont area with quality custom modular homes, built by Vermont craftsmen to withstand the harsh New England weather conditions.  Since that time they have designed and built their current 100,000 square foot manufacturing facility in East Montpelier, Vermont, servicing all of New England and Eastern New York State.  Huntington Homes is proud of the fact that most of their sales come by way of referral from satisfied customers.

What areas do you build in?
We build in southwestern New Hampshire (Cheshire County), northern Massachusetts (Franklin County) and southeastern Vermont (Windham County).

Are modular and manufactured homes the same?
No.  Modular homes are constructed to the same state, county and specific local building codes as site built homes.  Keep in mind that your new modular home is inspected at the factory during each phase of construction and an independent third party inspection agency approves each home before it is delivered to the home site.  Manufactured homes, sometimes referred to as mobile homes, are constructed to the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Code, which differs from state and local building codes.

How long does it take to build a modular home?
One of the most popular benefits of modular construction is quick turnaround between groundbreaking and occupancy.  On average, a home consisting of four modules can be completed in the factory in just a few weeks.  Once the modules are set on the foundation at the home site, final completion by the Beaman Land & Home Sales crew can be completed in roughly one month, depending on the size and scope of work of the project. 

What do modulars look like?
Modular homes look like any other home.  The design flexibility of modular construction allows our manufacturers to build from the simplest to the most complex designs in residential, multi-family and commercial construction. 

Is financing a modular home different than financing a site-built home?
There is no distinction between modular and site built homes as far as appraisal or financing.  Banks and lending institutions treat both types of construction the same.  In fact, they like modular construction better because there is a shorter time frame involved and all costs are known up front.  Likewise, there is no difference insuring the modular property.

What are the prices of your homes?
Because we custom design and custom build each home, we do not have set house plans and a set price list.  Each home will be priced out individually.  However, a Beaman Land & Home Sales modular will price comparably to any of our competitors, both modular and site built, when compared side by side.

Do I need to hire a contractor to finish the house?
Not if you don’t want to.  We sell our modular’s two ways – “drop shipment” and “turn key”. 

Drop shipment is just that, we drop the house on your foundation, finish the shingling, make it weather tight and the rest is up to you.  If you are a contractor, or have one in the family, and are able to do some of the work yourselves, this may be the option for you.  Otherwise, a turnkey home would probably fit you better.  All you do is turn the key and move in, we do the rest.

How much work is there to do to finish a modular?
Although the homes come 90% complete directly from the factory, there is a lot of work to be done on site.  A foundation has to be poured and a bulkhead or walk-out installed.  There will be no siding on the gable ends of the house when it arrives and trim boards, soffits and fascias need to be installed.  Heat pipes, plumbing and wiring is stubbed down through the floor so all of that has to be connected, the panel box needs to be installed and wired to the outside meter, a boiler installed and vented, marriage wall trim and doors need to be installed, flooring laid, toilets set and a million other little details that turn the house into a home.   Every one of these details is dependent upon another detail – the boiler can’t be fired until the electrician wires it and until the mason builds the chimney (if that’s how it’s vented) and on and on.  Having built over 100 modulars, we are completely familiar with this process and our subcontractors, all of whom have been with us for years, know and like each other and work very well together.

Do I need to hire an excavating contractor to do site work?
Another part of our company, Beaman Logging, clears land, installs septic systems, digs and backfills cellar holes, provides for underground utilities, builds driveways and everything else that’s necessary to turn a plot of earth into a home site.  You are welcome to hire your own contractor, as well.

Do I need to have my own land?
Not necessarily.  If you don’t already have a building lot, we usually have land available, and, as Realtors, we have access to all land listed in the Multiple Listing Service.   We can assist you with a search for your special place.

OK - Let’s go…………

How do I get started?
The first thing to do is to call or email us to set up an appointment at our offices.  There we will get to know one another, talk about house plans, budgets and schedules.

Our next step will be a home tour and/or a factory tour.  We have a variety of homes at our disposal to bring potential clients to and encourage everyone to visit the factory.  It is most interesting an impressive.   After that,  we will start working on your house plan and pricing. 

Do I need to have my own plan? 
Most people have a general idea of what they want – how many stories, square footage, etc.  It is very helpful to start with a basic modular plan and customize it from there.  It doesn’t have to be one of our plans – any plan will work – as long as it fits into the modular concept.  Maximum length of each module is ___feet, maximum width is _______feet.  Multiple modules may be put together in multiple ways to form unique designs.

Do you do custom design?
We do.  I, Kathy Beaman, am a Certified Kitchen Designer (NKBA) and a Certified Green Professional (NAHB), schooled in Integrated Design.  I will take your basic plan, add your wants and wishes and weave it into a total package for you, within your target budget, or I will custom design a home for you from scratch.  We have not built a house from a stock plan without changes in many years.  Having built over 100 modular homes, Kathy is very well versed in what works and what doesn’t and is able to make visitors to one of her homes say “I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS IS A MODULAR HOME”. 

Does a custom designed modular cost more?
No, each house is priced out as planned and as requested, according to what the price of building materials is at the time. 

Do I need to get a building permit?
Yes, you do, but we will provide you with everything you need to get one.

What is the company motto?
TURNING THE ORDINARY INTO THE EXTRAORDINARY