Modular Homes in NEPA? (Scranton, Moosic: for sale, new construction, live in)

[I LOVE PA!]

Originally Posted by xinajean

You were one of the few lucky ones with Shorten. It took you 2 weeks for you. It took 2 MONTHS for us (ordered beginning of July, had it put on foundation middle of September). It's December and we're still waiting for them to come finish it. Very poor service. Everytime we call, we get different answers. They tell us parts are in, waiting for them to deliver and set them up. No one comes, call again and told parts aren't in. Don't know how they managed to stay in business for as long as they did. Ready to file a complaint with Better Business Bureau.

I'd consider myself FAR from lucky with my Shorten experience. The reason why they built our home in 2 weeks was due to months of delay in simply getting a correct invoice for our mortgage company.
The reason why we did so much work ourselves was partly to save money...but we also realized it would NEVER get done if we waited for Shorten to come around. We were dealing with a character named Buzz, I had heard he wasn't there anymore and that things improved, but I guess not from what you are saying. Yes...getting a return phone call was horrible. When it is all over, you tend to forget...but you are bringing back some horrible memories. I am very happy with my house, and thankfully aside from the plumber and electrician that we used from them, there wasn't much for them to return to do. There werea few minor thnigs, but I wouldn't let them go and YES, I did have to make a bazillion phone calls to get things resolved. Some things we gave up on and fixed ourselves or just learned to live with.
The only reason why I would deal with them again is to save money by being our own subcontractor. It probably save close to $100,000. The thought of going through that again is downright scary though! I hope when ahd IF my house sells, I find one that's already built to suit our needs.

[Eileen Talalas]

Pleasant Valley homes are very nice and some feature spectacular master baths and kitchens. Thet are also very flexible with customizing the homes to suit your needs. D&D homes in Lake Ariel deals exclusively with Pleasant Valley and have some models that you can tour.

Originally Posted by Bagldot

My husband and I are looking into modular homes in NEPA and have narrowed our choices down to 3 companies: Signature Homes built in Moosic, Simplex Homes built in Scranton, and Pleasant Valley Homes built in Pine Grove, PA. We've visited Signature and Simplex, and will be visiting Pleasant Valley next Saturday.

My question: Does anyone own one of these homes, or know anyone who does? If so, do you have any insight to share - and do you have any recommendations as to contractors/dealers? Would love to hear some first hand accounts or info.

Thanks in advance for any information.

[I LOVE PA!]

Yes, pleasant Valley homes are beautiful, and about the same price as a stick built. They are gorgeous, D & D does a beautiful job in a very short amount of time. There again though...putting up with Shorten and doing a lot of our own work probably saved us over $80,000. That's a big chunk of money.

[Lehigh Valley Native]

Originally Posted by builderforthepeople

Hi,
Just passing on info fyi about manufactured homes - they do not have to be built to the same standards as a stick built home. "Manufactured/Industrialized Housing (Mobile Homes and Modulars) have been completely exempted from the PA UCC code compliance particularly when they come directly from the factory." The code applies to site preperation, foundation construction, utilities connection, installation. Also applies to construction, alteration or repair to the industrialized housing after installation, if resold or if relocated. The code does not apply at factory! When building stick-built, the code applies for every single step of construction.

good luck!

Only Manufactured homes aka mobile homes are built to HUD codes and not local codes. Modular homes are built to local code and meet the same requirements as a site built home.

Ritz-Craft makes high end Manufactured homes and Modular homes. I don't think I have heard anything bad about them.

[Bagldot]

Can someone PM me with information about D & D? I only found reference to them in association with ReMax realtors, and would be interested in hearing where they're located, and contacting them.

Thanks!

[I LOVE PA!]

Originally Posted by Bagldot

Can someone PM me with information about D & D? I only found reference to them in association with ReMax realtors, and would be interested in hearing where they're located, and contacting them.

Thanks!

Their model home sits right in the parking lot of Remax Best. If you contact them, I'm sure they can give you all the information you need. The model is gorgeous, they do a great job. They have been popping up in The Hideout for a few years now, all over the place.

[lookin'for"home"]

hmm.... I always believed that both Manufactured and Modular homes are built
to BOCA due to being transported

[rdlr]

Originally Posted by builderforthepeople

Hi,
Just passing on info fyi about manufactured homes - they do not have to be built to the same standards as a stick built home. "Manufactured/Industrialized Housing (Mobile Homes and Modulars) have been completely exempted from the PA UCC code compliance particularly when they come directly from the factory." The code applies to site preperation, foundation construction, utilities connection, installation. Also applies to construction, alteration or repair to the industrialized housing after installation, if resold or if relocated. The code does not apply at factory! When building stick-built, the code applies for every single step of construction.

good luck!

Good information in the above post.

Manufactured (doublewide, singlewide, triplewides) are built according to HUD code, and are "vehicles" when they are delivered to your lot, and each carries a motor vehicle title. There's a metal plate at the corner of each section, and there should be a sticker on the wall stating building specs. The HUD code/seal specifies which 3rd party company did the final inspection. A doublewide (usually) has a steel frame carriage, is delivered to the lot, and put together by a contractor. This is a very important step. I've seen some where there's a ridge right through the middle of the house, where the marriage wall has not been matched properly. Upon placement on a permanent foundation, the county comes out to the home, inspects the foundation, the motor vehicle title is surrendered, and a letter is issued by the county stating the property will now be taxed as real estate, and is no longer a motor vehicle.

Manufactured (modulars) must meet a different building code. In our state, it's BOCA. A modular does not fall into the motor vehicle category; it does not have a steel frame carriage, nor HUD seals/tags. In our state, the county is responsible for monitoring the building code, in stages. And, as was said, various companies carry various qualities of construction.

It's so important to know the difference between these two types of homes. I've seen a few disappointed people thinking they bought a modular, when they really bought a doublewide manufactured home. If you're in the market for one of these homes, it's crucial that one knows the difference between these 2 types of homes. There's a different lending criteria, when you have a doublewide, singlewide, or triplewide manufactured home. Think ahead, as in "refinancing".

[roxxy38]

Can anyone give me the name of a reputable builder in pa. We are in the process of looking at modular's also and have been to both Shorten homes and D & D. D & D are a little too pricey and thought we might be better off to choose a different builder. If we go with shorten than we still need to find someone to do the foundation. I would appreciate any information anyone can give us.

[I LOVE PA!]

Originally Posted by roxxy38

Can anyone give me the name of a reputable builder in pa. We are in the process of looking at modular's also and have been to both Shorten homes and D & D. D & D are a little too pricey and thought we might be better off to choose a different builder. If we go with shorten than we still need to find someone to do the foundation. I would appreciate any information anyone can give us.

If you have looked at D&D in Lake Ariel, I'm assuming you are in that area. I would highly recommend Sam Wilmot to do your foundation if you go with Shorten. I used him and he was not only really knowledgeable, he was a pleasure to do business with. He put my windows in and came back after the house was delivered and did a stone driveway, lined up the boulders on the property and leveled off all the dirt as well as pour the concrete in the basement.
As far as builder...there are so many, it would depend on the area.