System-built or modular homes are homes that are pre-fabricated in a climate-controlled plant and shipped to the home site as modules. The modules are then professionally joined together on crawl spaces or basements with the use of a crane.  Interior and exterior finish work, as well as utility connections and land improvement, is needed to complete the home once it is erected. The home is usually 80% complete when it arrives from the plant.

1. Quality - System-built homes are produced in a climate-controlled environment by trained craftsman. Jigs are used to make sure every wall, floor and component is square and plumb. These homes typically have 25% more structural material than site-built homes.

2. Time - Since the home is manufactured in a facility, there are efficiencies that allow it to be made much quicker than on-site construction. Delays such as weather, vandalism, lack of labor, and shortage of material availability rarely effect system-built construction. The manufacturing process normally takes about 6 weeks from order to delivery. More time efficiency is realized because site preparation and footer and foundation work can be completed while the home is being manufactured in the factory.  These efficiencies allow a system-built house to be completed in about 60% of the time required to finish a site-built home.

3. Value - System-built homes usually provide new homebuyers with a better value proposition compared with site-built alternatives. So system-built homes can still offer all the options and choices of custom site-built construction at a better value.

•  From 1995 to 2005 sales of modular homes increased by 72% with 28% of all modular homes built, placed in North and South Carolina.

•  Even though the Northeast is the most popular area for modular homes, North Carolina is the #1 state in modular home sales and has experienced double-digit growth over the last few years.

•  Modular homes now comprise 5% of all homes being built in the US.

•  Modular homes are projected by industry experts to account for 90% of all homes in 20 years.

•  Recently the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) confirmed that modular homes withstood a hurricane far better than site built housing.  In its report "Building Performance: Hurricane Andrew in Florida." assessment teams from FEMA concluded that modular homes withstood the 131-155 mph winds of the Category 4 storm in August of '92 far better than site built housing. "Overall, relatively minimal structural damage was noted in modular housing developments.  The module-to-module combination of units appears to have provided an inherently rigid system that performed much better than conventional residential framing.  This was evident in both the transverse and longitudinal directions of the modular buildings," according to the report. (Get your free copy by calling 800-480-2520, publication number FIA-22, item 3-0180)