Unity Homes Pre-Fab Question
Hello,
I know there has been a great deal of advancement in the world of “pre-fab” especially when you look at what Ted Benson is doing with Unity. I spoke with one of the sales folks there a while ago and they had plans of expanding to the west coast to address cost prohibitiveness of sites outside New England. I’m curious if anyone has their finger on the pulse of the pre-fab world on the west coast. I just finished homesteading and building my own place (small TF workshop enclosed with SIPS) after years of reading and posting questions on GBA. Building is whole different ballgame when compared to design… I know since I did both. Excruciating but it’s great when a building functions as designed (3 dollar electric bill).
Anyhow, I do hope that there are folks out there trying to offer something with a reasonable pricepoint in the intermountain west/PNW. Once you take the onsite climate and elements out of the picture, it can be a game changer (logistics of transportation and assembly notwithstanding of course).
Thanks.
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Replies
Hi John,
I'm sure there are others, but this company is based in Western Colorado. They seem to be a kind of West Coast version of Ecocor.
https://www.phoenixhaus.com/
What is "reasonable price point?"
Joe,
Unity has it pricing (and your exclusions) on its site. https://unityhomes.com/our-designs/
I don’t think it’s out-of-line with what a better quality modular builder might charge.
As an aside, I am wondering if these companies are finally reaching a point where they are cost-competitive with the traditional home building industry. Maybe some of the professionals who frequent GBA have some insights.
Steve,
If these pre-fab firms gain a large enough market share, I wonder if they will act as a leveller for regional building cost differences? Perhaps they will act as a brake in situations like we are experiencing here, where a real estate boom has lead to a huge increase in the price of construction.
Malcolm,
That would be great, wouldn't it? Speaking of construction costs, I was talking to my handyman (a former builder) about current prices and how crazy everything is at the moment. He shared that a friend was trying to build a new home in Charleston, South Carolina, and had been quoted $750 a square foot.
I have been looking at these guys https://www.ideabox.us
There are many others in the NW but these seem to strike a balance between junk and super high-end.
These are good questions. I would say reasonable price point would be what price per square foot is in one's area. I live in a mountainous region in the west. Builders used to take the winters off and enjoy the snow... It's crazy to see how it's full steam ahead. I just watched a roof get some asphalt shingles. Sheathing was covered with snow for 2 weeks and then they put finally put the WRB on it. It's probably a spec project but I just can't see how any of this is good. I know exterior grade plywood can handle weather but it seems like in a climate with a compressed building season, I would want to be enclosed by October. These jobs all do concrete pours with blankets too. I guess that's how it goes...