Home > Frequently Asked Questions

Location / Site / Feasibility

1) Are MHI Modular Homes AVAILABLE IN MY STATE?

Yes, MHI modular homes can be delivered to anywhere in NJ, DE, PA, NY, CT, MA, VA, NH, VT, OH, IN, KY, TN, MS, AL, GA, NC, SC, FL, LA, TX. They are pre-approved for use in all the listed states. If you live outside of any of these states, we will get our homes approved in your state or work with a manufacturer locally to build our homes to your specifications. We are getting approvals in other states as we move forward.

2) Why do I NEED TO ESTABLISH FEASIBILITY for a modular home on my site?

We need to determine if your site can accommodate both the house and its delivery. Each site has unique conditions and topography, i.e. flat, slightly sloped, steep hillside, irregular shaped, etc. We would also like to check with your local planning agency for any construction restrictions, as well as any general building requirements for your site. Depending on which Installation Plan you choose, we can either handle this process for you, or you can contact a consultant to visit the site for you.

3) Will a representative of MHI Modular Homes VISIT MY SITE?

Yes, we will need to visit your site a number of times throughout the process and during the design phase. Depending on the Installation Plan chosen, we will regularly visit your site throughout the feasibility process, site construction, craning, setting, and finishing process.

4) Can you deliver a MHI Modular Home to a HILLSIDE LOT?

Yes, a hillside lot is workable with proper preparation and additional site construction as with any form of building. Ideally, your location is fairly flat for easy delivery and installation. Depending on the degree of slope, concrete retaining walls may be required to create a level foundation for the house. Preferably, your site has a flat "staging area" to park the crane (40’+), which will lift your modules from the delivery truck and set them on your foundations. There may be instances where your site is too steep to make it economically feasible to do a modular home. If you have a hillside lot, we recommend you consult with us early in the process.

5) Do MHI Modular Homes work in MY CLIMATE?

Yes, we will work with local building codes to make modifications to our modular homes to function as an efficient and safe home for your climate. Each of our custom modular homes includes a forced-air heating/cooling system; other heating is available as an upgrade. The floor and the roof are constructed with dried kiln lumber and have an insulating value of R-38. All exterior walls have a value of R-19. The Anderson windows we use meet stringent ENERGY STAR® performance requirements - protecting the environment.

Modules

6) WHAT IS A MODULE?

A module is a standardized, three-dimensional component that is attached to other modules to compose a modular house. MHI modular homes are built out of wood frame modules. Our largest modules are approximately 15’ 9” wide x 75 ft long x 14 ft high. The modules are designed to ship on specialized trailers.

7) What is the DIFFERENCE between modular homes and a kit-of-parts or panelized home?

MHI modular homes are constructed in our factory with an experienced construction and quality control staff. The goal of our modular system is to create finished, volumetric modules that ship to your site virtually complete. Our homes are delivered to you with installed tiles, floors, countertops, appliances, windows, and doors.

We believe there are numerous benefits to finished volumetric modular construction. By maximizing factory production and minimizing the on-site work, we can have greater control over the quality, schedule, and cost of construction—no rain delays or misaligned details. Factory production minimizes construction waste through precise cutting and the ability to reuse and recycle excess materials. With a kit-of-parts or panelized home, you will still need to implement all of the above items on site increasing your overall construction time and efficiency. As such, you will confront many of the same issues scheduling subcontractors and dealing with delays in the schedule as you would with a standard site built home.

8) HOW COMPLETE IS THE HOUSE when it is delivered to my site?

We deliver your house to your site nearly move-in ready. The house is delivered with all of the finishes installed, including tile, countertops, and paint. We install the windows and doors in the factory, along with the cabinets, plumbing fixtures, appliances, and lights. After the house is delivered and bolted together, there are a few remaining items that need to be taken care of. We handle these items for you on site.

Materials / Products

9) How much can I CUSTOMIZE MY HOME?

MHI modular homes are completely customizable, so we can design homes in nearly any size or configuration. We take great care to work with your site to maximize the views and possibilities for indoor/outdoor living. We design to your specific needs, from a small workout room to a special home theater system.  When we design a customized modular home we would enter into a design contract and work with you to develop a custom modular home exactly suited to your needs and the site conditions.

10) Does MHI offer more than ONE AND TWO STORY modular homes?

Yes, many of our custom single family homes, town homes and condominium buildings are three and even four stories.

11) Can I order the modular home with CUSTOM CABINETS?

Yes, we offer the option to purchase the homes with the custom cabinetry installed in our factory. MHI is one of the few modular home companies that has the ability to use Renninger’s Custom Cabinetree (www.customcabinetree.com) which can design and handcraft to your specific needs. We feel the cabinets are integral to both the design and fabrication process. Electrical fixtures, plumbing fixtures, and appliances all need to be coordinated with the cabinetry. We want to ship you a home that is near complete.

12) Can I purchase and INSTALL MY OWN APPLIANCES?

Yes, but keep in mind that appliances have specific requirements; they are all different sizes and have different gas, plumbing, and electrical requirements. We have to design our cabinetry layout around the requirements of the appliances. Therefore, it’s required to have this information before the construction process begins.

Financing / Warranties

13) What kind of WARRANTY will my MHI modular home have?

MHI modular homes come with a 10 year home warranty. All applicable statute of limitations will apply for your state. In addition, we provide all of the product warranties.

14) Do I need SPECIAL FINANCING?

No, conventional construction loan financing from a bank or other mortgage lender is available. MHI modular homes are not US Department of Housing and Urban Development homes or mobile homes. They do not have an attached chassis and once they are delivered to your site they are permanently attached to the foundation. The homes are considered "real property".

15) Do you have any CONTACTS FOR FINANCING OR FOR LAND BROKERAGE?

For the NJ area, we have worked with real estate broker Paul Barret from Weichert Realty (732.583.5400) in the past. He is understands our product and site requirements and is familiar with the New Jersey area. If you are looking at a site outside of the New Jersey area, please call or email us, and we can provide you with some specifications of what your land realtor should be looking for. We can also recommend Judy Ascot (908.310.7648) as a lender/financer.

Process

16) WHAT AGENCY GOVERNS and approves modular homes?

Modular homes must be approved at the state level, while site related permits must be secured from your local jurisdiction. These include permits for your foundation, utility hook ups, and the installation of the modular home on the site.

17) Is there a FREE CONSULTATION?

You can call or email us at any time. We can answer most questions by phone. If you feel you would like to meet with us in person at our Design Center, we can arrange for that as well. We will meet with you at your site if you have retained us to Establish Feasibility of Modular Home on Your Site (Installation Plans).

18) Will MHI Modular Homes DO EVERYTHING FOR ME?

If you choose the Deluxe Installation Plan, we can do everything from designing to building your foundations and, of course, delivering and finishing your home. If you have chosen an Installation Plan that includes us doing the site work, we are available to do this too, including hardscapes and site walls.

19) What is an INSTALLATION PLAN?

After you have selected and customized your home with your chosen options, you then need to select an Installation Plan. There are essential steps to complete your MHI modular home in addition to building the home in our factory. We have three different plans to choose from. With each plan, you can determine how involved you would like us to be with these steps. For instance, you may want to have us build the foundations on your site or you may choose to use a local contractor. The plans offer flexibility to suit your needs.

20) HOW LONG will it take?

We estimate that within 6 to 8 weeks of placing your order, we will deliver your home. After the house is completed in the factory, setting of the modules happens in one day. Once the house is secured to the foundation, there will be an additional 12 to 16 weeks of finish installation. Keep in mind that financing, securing local permits, and other external factors may affect timing.

21) Can I visit your FACTORY?

Yes, we offer regularly scheduled factory tours. For insurance reasons, all tours must be scheduled with the factory in advance.