Homebuyer Checklists
- 1. Ensure You Are Ready Willing and Able to Build a Modular Home
- 2. Selecting a Modular Home Dealer
- 3. Your Modular Home Dealer Customer References
- 4. Selecting a Modular Home General Contractor
- 5. Your Modular Home General Contractor References
- 6. What to Include in Your Modular Home Legalese
- 7. Selecting the Right Modular Home Plan
- 8. What You Should Ask Modular Home General Contractors
- 9. Reviewing Your Modular Home Floor Plans
- 10. Reviewing Your Modular Home Elevation Plans
- 11. Building a Modular Home Addition
- 12. Building a Universal Design Modular Home
- 13. What Your Modular Manufacturer Needs from Your Contractor
- 14. How to Air Seal a Modular Home
- 15. Making an Offer To Purchase for a Building Lot
- 16. Your Municipal Water and Sewer Connections
- 17. Reviewing Your Modular Construction Drawings
- 18. Potential Permits and Supporting Documents
- 19. Your Modular Dealer and Financing Tasks
- 20. Your Permit and General Contracting Tasks
- 21. Omitting Materials from the Modular Manufacturer
The Modular Homebook

“If you are thinking of ‘going modular,’ this could be your primer: it covers all the steps of the process and features a 16-page color insert that helps you visualize the possibilities.”
Browse Floor Plans

The Home Store offers over 450 standard floor plans for modular homes. Browse Floor Plans
1. Checklist to Ensure You Are Ready Willing and Able to Build a Modular Home
It takes most customers awhile to shop for a new home. When they’re finally ready to build, the last thing they want is to be slowed down by some unanticipated steps. Unfortunately, that’s what usually happens. Most customers are surprised by these delays because they haven’t given enough thought to what they need to do to be ready, willing, and able to build their modular home.
Steps to Be Ready Willing and Able to Build a Modular Home
Personal Situation
- Start a new job
- Get married
- Welcome a new baby
- Say goodbye to your oldest child
- Receive an inheritance
- Receive an insurance settlement
- Close on the sale of your house or have no house to sell
Selections
- Home style
- Home specifications
- Modular dealer
- Scope of on-site contracting work
- General contractor
Building Lot
- Purchase or receive as gift
- Survey
- Subdivide
Town Approvals
- Zoning board
- Planning board
- Wetlands
- Septic design
- Building Permit
Financing
- Lender financing or a sufficient source of private funds
- Acceptable debt
- Acceptable credit
Cash to Cover
- Mortgage down payment
- Bank and legal fees
- Carrying costs during construction
- Dealer deposit requirements
- GC deposit requirements
Some of the steps will only take a day or two to complete, but others can take months. The sooner you identify where you stand with each step, the sooner you’ll be able to form a realistic schedule and begin working on overcoming any obstacles.
Even if you’re facing delays, we recommend that you sign a contract with the dealer and contractor as soon as you’ve selected them. Otherwise, you may unwittingly create even more delays. To protect yourself, make sure your contracts include the contingencies mentioned in my checklist, “What You Need in Your Modular Home Contract”.
For a more information about being ready willing and able to build a modular home, see Building a Modular Home on Schedule in The Modular Home by Andy Gianino, President of The Home Store.