Precut or Kit Homes

As the name suggests, a kit home is just that. All the components of the home are precut at the factory and shipped to the site ready to build. It’s kind of like a model airplane or car. All you have to do is put it together, and it’ll look like the picture on the box. Many log, timber frame, and specialty homes come in kit form because of the specialized materials and hardware needed. And you can build the house or hire the dealer’s crew to put it all together. You can buy a precut or kit home in just about any size or style, from your plans or theirs. You can choose the quality and upgrades you want and can afford. You can also choose how complete you want the kit, from the structure only to a complete house with nails included and ready to build. For the do-it-yourselfer with some spare time, this can be a ticket to the most house for the least money. The biggest advantages of kit homes are that you get everything you need precut and ready to go on site. There’s no waste unless you make a mistake. Depending on the area, you should be able to get the lumber and components cheaper than if you went to the nearest Home Depot.

To see how much you would save, get a lumber list from the dealer on a home plan you’re interested in and price it at your favorite lumberyard. Also, while you’re at it, compare the hardware and appliances offered with the kit to what you can get locally. Building a kit is going to be like constructing a stick-built home with you as the general contractor. You’ll need to schedule local build-ing inspections for each phase and hire subcontractors for the installs you don’t want to tackle, like plumbing, electrical, or sheet rocking. The bottom line is that you can save quite a lot of money if you’re handy and want to do most of the work yourself. In addition, having everything on site and ready to go can save you considerable time running around as well as eliminate mistakes and waste. Financing a kit home is similar to financing a stick-built home. Most lenders will go along with the financing when there’s a contractor involved. If, for example, your brother-law isn’t a contractor and you plan on going it alone, you’ll need to convince a lender you have the background and skills to do the job. Even then, you may have to jump through a few extra hoops the lender may require to limit its liability. If you’re building a log, timber frame, geodesic, or other unusual style home you may have to shop around for a lender who specializes in these types of homes. The dealer should be able to give you a list of references.