Modular Construction Specifications

If you build a custom home you’ll select hundreds of modular construction specifications. The sheer volume makes it very difficult for you and your modular dealer to get every detail right. Think of it this way: if you select 200 modular construction specifications and features and you or your dealer get 99% correct, the two of you will still have made 2 mistakes. That’s 2 too many, regardless of who made them.

How to Avoid Mistakes in Your Modular Construction Specifications

The best way to catch mistakes is to share responsibility with your modular dealer for carefully reviewing every item listed in the contract. After all, they’re going to build your home according to the modular construction specifications and features written in the signed contract. This makes it very important that you carefully review the items that have been specified as well as any accompanying notes. Because there will be scores of items in the contract, I recommend that you review it closely at least twice, each time on a different day. This will help you pick up things you missed the first time. If you do your homework before signing the contract, you will be able to correct any mistakes or misunderstandings before your home is built.

However, this is easier said than done, since you’ll probably be unsure what some of the modular construction specifications are. So by all means ask. If you don’t know what an item looks like, ask the dealer to show you the item or a picture of one. Remember, the worst thing that you can do is to assume you know what you’re getting.

Why Mistakes in Your Modular Construction Specifications Can Happen

• The dealer enters the wrong modular construction specifications and features even though he knows the correct ones. After all, everyone makes mistakes.
• The dealer misunderstands the modular construction specifications you want. This is very different from an unintentional error. It’s almost impossible for a dealer to catch this kind of mistake without your help, since they won’t realize they’ve made it until you tell them.
• You’ve misunderstood what modular construction specifications you’re getting. This kind of mistake is also nearly impossible for the dealer to catch without your help, since only you know what you think you’re getting.

If you are hiring your own contractors to complete the turnkey, you need to put as much time and care into reviewing the modular construction specifications and notes in their contracts as you do when reviewing your modular contract.
In a future post, I will discuss verifying the accuracy of your modular construction drawings.
For more information about verifying the accuracy of your modular construction specifications see Designing a Modular Home, Modular Home Specifications and Features, and The General Contractor’s Responsibilities for Building a Modular Home in my book The Modular Home