Pre-built (insurance, new home, heat pump)

[K9-Power]

We are actively looking in the Inlets and Tidewater. We have some listings for houses that are already completed and also pre-owned. Has anyone purchased a home that was pre-built? How is the quality compared to homes people have built to spec. Seems the process is a real pain.

[froglipz]

Building will take somewhere around 9 months and you get the house YOU want. Otherwise you are getting what someone else wanted.

[bbronston]

Are you talking about manufactured homes (i.e. built in a factory and assembled onsite) or are you talking about re-sale homes?

[photoman_6]

confusing. could be talking about homes built in new developments without a committed buyer. Or maybe preowned homes? Or maybe premanufactured homes. or something else entirely

[dpbarr2000]

They use the same contruction techniques, on an "inventory" or spec home, or a custom build home. The "custom" part is the finishes and upgrades the future home owner has elected.

[motordavid]

Agree with posters above: houses built in 'communities', whether a spec or built to order, or pre existing, are usually built to a print/design(s), and other than quality of materials available at build time and the luck of a good to not so good set of subs/construction mgr, they will be about the same.

In a very high end community, often with a few 'approved' builders, each builder may have different specs and degree of close oversight...in one developer communities, it is more like pick your model, pick the add on/overpriced 'options', and hope the crew(s) do a decent job.

In the FL communities we have had a house built in, the builder/developer will often add in some features in the end of build out houses for 'free', (usually buried in the increased pricing), that were 'optional' in the earlier section builds.
GL, mD

[dpbarr2000]

Originally Posted by pickelpete

Building in Florida is a mine field of permits and impact fees. If you buy a home existing you can still get a bargain and let someone else take the hit. The way they build down here is almost criminal, Low e glass is missing on many homes, no double glaze Argon filled windows, Insulation is on several homes I have seen bubble foil on 3/4 furring strips. And in several attics I have been in the blown in is not up to par. But the idiots at zoning passed it, which shows Zoning cares about fees not what people are getting. Its a joke here.

I agree. There are newer resale homes in several new home communities are that are cheaper than comparable new homes.

[froglipz]

Originally Posted by pickelpete

Building in Florida is a mine field of permits and impact fees. If you buy a home existing you can still get a bargain and let someone else take the hit. The way they build down here is almost criminal, Low e glass is missing on many homes, no double glaze Argon filled windows, Insulation is on several homes I have seen bubble foil on 3/4 furring strips. And in several attics I have been in the blown in is not up to par. But the idiots at zoning passed it, which shows Zoning cares about fees not what people are getting. Its a joke here.

Don't agree at all! Most old construction is substandard to current building codes. New construction is built to current hurricane and energy standards, and most builders DO use low E glass windows building codes require compliance. Buying an existing home is ALWAYS buying someone else's problems!

[d4g4m]

^^^
Agree with above. Almost all pre 1994 homes are not hurricane code. Trusses toe nailed, no straps. no re-bar roof to footing. Garage door no cross bars. If home over 15 years old, will very soon need shingles, A/C or heat pump is only seer 10 [these two items $16,000+] If septic system, it is at ground level. Ceiling may have only 4" or 6" or 8" of insulation [new is 12"] Might have a real gable roof. [adds to insurance] Kitchen is dated, coil range, no microwave [80's almond or oak C pulls] Bath vanities at 30" height. 5 gal flush toilet.

[dpbarr2000]

Originally Posted by d4g4m

^^^
Agree with above. Almost all pre 1994 homes are not hurricane code. Trusses toe nailed, no straps. no re-bar roof to footing. Garage door no cross bars. If home over 15 years old, will very soon need shingles, A/C or heat pump is only seer 10 [these two items $16,000+] If septic system, it is at ground level. Ceiling may have only 4" or 6" or 8" of insulation [new is 12"] Might have a real gable roof. [adds to insurance] Kitchen is dated, coil range, no microwave [80's almond or oak C pulls] Bath vanities at 30" height. 5 gal flush toilet.

Yup those roofs are just flying off left and right and the garage doors are blowing in at alarming rates.