Centennial Homes

Manufactured Homes & Modular Housing in ND, SD, and MT

Monthly Archives October 2018

What Is A Manufactured Home?

October 31, 2018
Manufactured Home Exterior

Definition

A manufactured home is one that is constructed almost entirely in a factory. The house is placed on a steel chassis and transported to the building site. The wheels can be removed but the chassis stays in place.

A manufactured home can come in many different sizes and shapes. It may be a simple one-story “mobile home,” or it can be so large and complex that you might not guess that it was constructed off-site.

Local building codes do not apply to manufactured homes; instead, these houses are built according to specialized guidelines (Federal HUD regulations in the United States) for manufactured housing. Manufactured homes are not permitted in some communities.

Also Knows As

Factory-built, prefabricated housing, mobile home.

Examples

A manufactured home is one type of factory-built housing. Other types of homes that use factory-made building parts include modular homes, panelized homes, mobile homes, pre-cut homes, and other varieties of prefab homes. Factory-built houses usually cost much less than homes that are site-built.

A Family Modular Home Business With A Heart

October 31, 2018

When you think of manufactured housing, what comes to mind?  Do you think of tiny tin boxes and trailer parks?  If you do, you are not alone.  Manufactured housing has gone through a variety of changes over the years and Centennial Homes has been here since 1969 to weather those changes and to effect some positive change within the industry.  From humble beginnings in Aberdeen, South Dakota, Centennial Homes has grown to 9 locations across three states.  This family-owned company with corporate resources provides quality manufactured homes for clients in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and the surrounding region.

With the expansion of oil exploration in the Bakken region, we have been able to provide affordable modular homes in Williston, ND.

“It is our belief that putting the needs of our customers first is the key to growth and even in the face of the 2008 housing market collapse Centennial Homes has been able to grow while others faltered. We owe our success and our growth to every one of our customers and to our commitment to their satisfaction.”

Jason Collins, Director of Business Development for Centennial Homes

Having 9 model home centers means that this company can provide manufactured housing to the Aberdeen, SD area without any problems.  The corporate management center is strategically located at the heart of their coverage area and houses a professional staff of trained service personnel as well as a department devoted to assisting each manufactured home customer to clear any financial hurdles they might face when purchasing a home.  Most dealerships leave financial problems and the stress of finding the right piece of land to place the home up to the customer.  We make sure that you have someone on your team at every turn.  We believe this is what separates us from other companies.

If you are searching for manufactured homes in Aberdeen, SD, or anywhere in our area, we invite you to visit your local model home center and tour our inventory of homes.  You will find that our years of experience have honed our skills to a razor-sharp edge and that your satisfaction is our main objective.  We have a wide variety of affordable manufactured homes to fit almost any budget.  We also have a library of hundreds of floor plans so finding one that will fit your lifestyle will be easy.  If you cannot find the time to visit us, please connect with us online on Facebook, or call us at 605-225-8301.

Moving and Packing Guide

October 31, 2018

Although moving can be a stressful step for a family, it can be less of a hassle when you get a head start. Preparation is the key to a smoother move – whether you do it yourself or hire a moving company. Look over this moving and packing guide to find out how to time your move, choose a mover, rent a truck, get organized, pack your possessions and get settled in your new home.

Do-It-Yourself Moving

The most economical way to move is to do-it-yourself. Sounds simple enough, just rent a truck, load up your stuff and go. This can be a good choice if you’re not going far, don’t have a lot of things to haul and have a strong back.

But think twice about a long distance do-it-yourself move. When you factor in all the costs, gasoline, motels, meals, insurance, packing materials, truck, and equipment rental, you may not save as much as you planned.

Consider a few questions before you decide to handle your own move. Do I have time to pack, load, unload and drive? How many heavy items, like furniture and appliances, do I have to move? Am I physically capable to do this hard work? Do I have friends and family that can help me through relocation? Can I handle a big truck over a long distance?

Shop around for truck rates, and don’t rent more truck than you need. Rental companies have charts that help you calculate what’s needed to haul your belongings. Companies like U-Haul and Ryder make it easier with step-by-step moving and packing guidance.

Moving With Kids

Almost all children resist the idea of moving. The older the child, the more difficulty he or she will have with the family’s move. The thought of leaving friends, facing new kids in a new school and adjusting to a new community can be overwhelming. But there are ways to help your kids feel more comfortable before, during and after the move.

Manufactured Home Heating Maintenance Tips

October 31, 2018

It’s very important to make sure your manufactured home furnace operates safely and efficiently during winter weather. You can perform many routine furnace maintenance jobs, while other procedures are best handled by a qualified repair person. Most furnace manufacturers recommend a professional inspection of fuel lines, safety controls, burner and flue pipe every year. Your utility company may provide a free inspection.

You should replace disposable furnace filters regularly. Remove and wash, brush or vacuum permanent filters. Remove the cover of the thermostat and vacuum away dust and dirt. Check the exhaust vent from the furnace. Clear obstructions like leaves or animal nests from the vent pipe. Keep roof exhaust vents clear of excess snow build-up.

Inspect blower motor. Vacuum any accumulated dirt. Inspect V-belt and pulleys for wear. If the belt moves more than an inch when you push it, tighten it. Check air intake. Most manufactured home furnaces draw combustion air from beneath the home, so keep four to six vents in the skirting to allow free air passage.

Check flue assembly for alignment and rigidity. It should run in a straight line from the top of the furnace through the ceiling. Be sure the flue is attached to the furnace collar. Check to make sure there is no loose wiring near the flue. If there is wiring in the flue area, move and secure it well away from the flue pipe.

Carpeting in furnace compartment should be removed and replaced with fireproof material. Some manufactured home furnaces have wire mesh in front of the stack to prevent storage on top of the furnace. If this mesh is missing, replace it.

Clean out debris in furnace area, and don’t allow even small amounts to accumulate. Never use your furnace closet for storage or drying clothes. This is a fire hazard.

Adding An Air Conditioner To Your Home

October 31, 2018

Nothing beats the comfort of a central air conditioner in your home. Central air conditioners (also called split-system air conditioners) work with your furnace to blow cool air throughout the home. Achieving the same results using a window air conditioner would require using 2-3 units.

We wrote this article to help you understand some of the processes involved in adding an air conditioner to your home. If you decide to add air conditioning, it should only be installed by a licensed competent technician. This article will give you a basic understanding of what to ask when talking to your technician.

Typical Components of a Heat Pump or Split A/C System

Understanding Split System Air Conditioners

As mentioned above, the split-system air conditioner works with your furnace to distribute the cool air. It’s referred to as a split-system because the condenser unit sits outside of the home, and the a-coil sits inside the home in the furnace. When running, the compressor, located inside the condenser, pumps freon to and from the home. This, along with the aid of the A-coil, removes heat from the home. During the process, the a-coil becomes very cold. The furnace’s blower then distributes the coolness from the a-coil throughout the home.

A-Coil

When choosing an air conditioner, choosing one that’s the same brand as your furnace may help simplify the installation process. Then you’ll need to know how big of an a/c to get. The size of an a/c is measured in ‘tons.’ Talk to your technician about which size is best for your home. 2-4 tons is the range for most homes. If you get too small of an a/c, it’ll run all the time. If you get too large of an a/c, it may not run long enough; therefore, leaving excess humidity in the home.

If you want an a/c that runs efficiently, then you need one with the most ‘seers’. Today most air conditioners are 12 seers. Older ones tend to be 10   seers or less. However, our government has now mandated that all air conditioners sold will have a minimum seer of 13. Like anything, the more efficient the air conditioner, the more it will cost to buy. Then you need to take a look at your furnace. Is your furnace a/c ready, or do you may need to get it ready?

Manufactured Home Myths

October 30, 2018

Manufacturing Practices and Construction Standards Have Changed a Lot in the Last 50 Years. Today’s Manufactured Home Has Evolved From the 1950s Trailer Into a Modern, Spacious, Comfortable, Durable, Year-Round Dwelling For Over 18 Million Americans.

The facts cannot be ignored. More and more South Dakotans are turning to manufactured homes to meet their housing needs. No longer considered a stepping stone, today’s manufactured homes are occupied by the people who enjoy high-quality, long-term housing.

Where Can I Put My Manufactured Home?

There are many site location possibilities for a manufactured homeowner in South Dakota. Most homes are placed in a subdivision or manufactured housing park, while rural residents enjoy the freedom of placing their manufactured home on private land. Each choice has its advantages.

Mobile Home Cost Per Square Foot

The average cost per square foot for a manufactured home is about $28.00 — almost one-third the cost of a site-built home. The average cost of a manufactured home in South Dakota is $34,600 constructed at an average square footage cost of $28. On the other hand, the average square footage cost for a site-built home is $68.

Based on square footage cost, manufactured homes are less than half the cost of site-built homes. Utilizing the latest construction techniques, manufactured homes are energy efficient and provide lower utility costs. Most manufactured homes are delivered complete with all fixtures, major appliances, carpets, and drapes.

Manufactured Home Value

According to recent state studies, manufactured homes do not depreciate in value. Nor do manufactured homes depreciate the value of neighboring site-built homes.

Danburry Interior

Manufactured Homes Vs. Site-built Homes

Manufactured homes are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. home market. Recent statistics show that over 45% of the single family homes sold in South Dakota are manufactured homes.

Are Manufactured Homes Durable?

Just as site-built homes are constructed according to a specific building code to ensure proper design and safety, manufactured homes are constructed in accordance with the Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards, in effect since 1976. This building code is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD regulates manufactured home design and construction, strength and durability, fire resistance and energy efficiency. No manufactured home may be shipped from the factory unless it complies with the HUD Code and received the certification from an independent, third-party inspection agency. This is your assurance of a safe, quality constructed home.

Manufactured Homes Materials Used in Construction

Manufactured homes use materials that are identical to the materials used in site-built homes.  Did you know that today’s manufactured homes can be decorated to suit your tastes, lifestyle and your budget? From gourmet kitchens to vaulted ceilings, fireplaces, and bathrooms with recessed tubs and whirlpools, the choices are endless. You can even select the carpeting, cabinets and bathroom fixtures that you’ve always dreamed of.  In many cases, these comforts, including furniture and appliances, come complete with your new manufactured home. Just step in and start living in style!

Manufactured Home Fires Per Capita

According to recent insurance research, there are fewer than 30% fewer fires per capita than in site-built homes.

Can Retrofitting An Older Manufactured Home Benefit You?

October 30, 2018
Upgrading Insulation
Updating manufactured home insulation could be the first step.

Throughout the years, homes built in factories have gone by many names, “mobile homes” or “manufactured homes” or “modular homes” or “trailer houses,” they all have one very important thing in common: many of the older units tend to be gas and electricity consuming monsters. Correcting this problem isn’t easy.

Before you embark on a project to make your factory-built home more energy efficient you must make sure that this is the right step for you.

Wear and tear is something to be expected with any home. It doesn’t matter if your home is four years old or 40 years old, there is a good chance that you could benefit from some low-cost changes that will improve energy efficiency. Sunlight, seasonal temperature changes, win and vibration can compromise the seals in a home, increasing air infiltration; windows may no longer seal a properly, and ductwork can begin to leak, allowing large amounts of heating and cooling energy to be blown into the air under the house instead of into the house. Heating systems, air conditioners, and hot water heaters gradually lose efficiency after years of service. This is especially true if a regular maintenance and cleaning have been neglected. Each of these energy draining problems soon add up to significant increases in heating and cooling costs.

Technology has changed over the years. Manufactured homes that were built to the energy standards of the time can be seen as extremely inefficient by today’s standards. Over the past 10 to 20 years dramatic progress has been made with high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment, improvements in insulation, window design, and many other things. Another great change that has emerged in recent years is our understanding of how to retrofit old or manufactured homes making them nearly as energy efficient as a new manufactured home.

It’s no secret that in today’s economy energy costs are skyrocketing. It doesn’t matter if you’re using propane, natural gas, heating oil, or electricity, experts agree that prices will continue to escalate. Making energy efficient changes to your home now will guard against future price increases, and reduce some of the costs that are currently paying today.

Retrofitting your home with newer materials and modern mechanical systems will help you too lower or your energy costs which will reduce your overall homeownership expense. Making these changes will also protect you against future energy cost increases, raise your comfort level by reducing drafts, and providing a more consistent room-to-room temperature, reduce the chances of moisture infiltration, increased the resale value of your home, and help to protect the environment by using less energy.

How Much Home Can I Afford?

October 30, 2018
Home Consultant

When people think about buying a new manufactured or modular home one of the first questions many ask is; How much home can I afford? This is a very legitimate question and our years of experience have shown that without accurate information people usually make one of two common mistakes. They either buy too much home and find that making the monthly payments can be a real challenge. Other times, people buy too little home and later find that they have very quickly outgrown the home. In this article, you will learn how to determine how much home you can afford.

Manufactured homes are often sold separately from the land on which they will be placed. When calculating how much home you can afford, you need to factor in the cost of the land or land rental.

If you purchase land to be sure to include costs to prepare it for your home: clearance and grade work, a well or septic system, electrical and water connections, driveways, porches, landscaping, and more.

If you place the home in a park, these costs may be bundled into “park packages,” which pay for improvements such as driveways and carports for lots owned by the landlord. Don’t forget to factor in likely rent increases when budgeting this option.

Charges to transport the home from the factory and install it at its final destination may be included in the price of the home. If you buy used homes sold in place, you will not incur these costs.

New mobile-home owners also shoulder long-term costs that need to be factored into your budget: insurance, utilities, taxes, maintenance, and repairs. Despite warranties, new mobile-home owners, like the owners of traditional homes can have significant out-of-pocket repair costs in the first years of ownership.

Home Consultant 2

Compare the total cost of a manufactured home (not just the purchase price) to the cost of condos, houses, and apartments in your area. You will likely discover that even with some of the added costs, the cost of ownership of a manufactured or modular home is still well below that of any other housing option. Knowing all your options will also help you to negotiate the final price if you decide to buy a manufactured home.

If this is your first home, consider homeownership counseling. A mobile home is no less a commitment than a conventional home, and a counselor can help you prepare for the purchase process and the responsibilities of homeownership. Each Centennial Homes consultant has the training and experience to act as your guide in what can be a confusing process. When you visit one of our 8 model home centers, be sure to ask questions and your personal home consultant will be happy to provide you with enough information so you can be sure that you have purchased exactly the right home.

Click here to be connected to a professional home consultant in your area today.

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