Modular Home Cost - Land, Home and Sitework

So you are looking at property and have decided to build a modular home. You may have even decided to act as your own general contractor. You are now putting together a budget. It is fairly easy to get the prices for the land and the modular home, but it is not as cut and dry to piece together everything else that will be needed at your jobsite.

I built a modular home about two years ago and went through the same process. I had a difficult time finding ballpark figures for many things when trying to budget my modular home cost. Below is a list of things to keep in mind when putting together your budget:

1. Utility hooks ups and your distance from existing utilities (electric, natural gas, propane, water)

2. Survey and site layout

3. Excavation for foundation/basement

4. Foundation and basement

5. Driveway costs

6. Electrician to wire up basement

7. Plumber to do rough plumbing under basement floor prior to setting house

8. Concrete flatwork (basement floor)

9. Plumber to do finish plumbing (hook home to rough plumbing)

10. Electrician to hook house to utilities

11. Plumber and electrician for a septic tank (if needed)

12. Carpenters for a deck

13. Contractor for a patio

It is important to get multiple bids when costing your project. Another thing to keep in mind is that you should not necessarily choose your contractors because they are the cheapest. You must check with references, view previous work they have done, verify that they are insured and licensed to work in your city. I met with my foundation contractor at a jobsite he was working on and was so impressed that I chose him even though he was the highest of my three bidders. I could have saved a couple of thousand dollars with someone else but I doubt it would have been worth it.

If you do not feel that you have the time or expertise to manage the contractors involved many modular home builders will act as your general contractor for a fee. This may be the route to choose if you do not have time to meet with all of your contractors at the jobsite.

Finally, keep in mind that you should pad your budget by about 20% for unforeseen things. Even though the site work is minimal on a modular home versus a site built home, you must be prepared for contingencies. Weather delays can cost you more interest on your construction loan, excavation costs can rise if it is a difficult jobsite, etc. Every construction job has its problems, so be prepared with extra money in the budget to be able to handle these issues as they arise.