How to save money when building a prefabricated house?

Buying a new home is always a big investment. To facilitate access to brand new homes with excellent energy-saving performance, Maisons Laprise proposes many solutions catering for different types of budgets. In this article, learn some tips for saving money when building a prefabricated home.

The 3 home building options available from Maisons Laprise

• Turnkey: Maisons Laprise takes care of all stages of the project and takes care of hiring the necessary subcontractors to carry out all the work on site. This option is the most expensive but is well suited to future homeowners who do not want to get involved in building their home. In addition, the construction is inspected regularly by a company quality control inspector to ensure the quality of the construction.
• Shared tasks: This popular home building option involves a separation of the different tasks relating to the construction of the pre-engineered house. The client and a Maisons Laprise advisor sit down and discuss the steps that can be taken on by the future owners and those for which Maisons Laprise will be responsible. This home building option offers buyers great flexibility to save money. In addition, the construction is inspected regularly by a company quality control inspector for the tasks delegated to Maisons Laprise to ensure the conformity of the works.
• DIYourself construction: This option is certainly the one that allows future owners to save the most money. Maisons Laprise is only responsible for the design, production and delivery of the complete kit including the wall panels pre-engineered in 4 "x 8" sections for ease of installation by 2 men on site. The client takes care of all the other stages of construction and finishing of his future home. Of course, an advisor, a project manager and a technical advisor from Maisons Laprise are available to help and guide buyers.

Here is the list of tasks that can be delegated selectively to Maisons Laprise or taken over selectively ‘à la carte’ by the future owners:

• The foundations
• The installation / assembly of the prefabricated panelized home kit
• Installation of exterior finishes
• Masonry
• Electricity
• Plumbing
• Plastering
• Kitchen and bathroom cabinets
• Kitchen and bathroom counters
• Floor coverings
• The painting

The choice of materials

Generally, prefabricated kit houses include building materials in the basic kit price of its structures and the quantity of materials is guaranteed. Depending on a client's preferences and needs, it is always possible to change the exterior and interior finishing materials. However, the exterior and interior finishes vary greatly depending on the materials and the quality of these. For example, hybrid (aluminum and PVC) or wood windows and doors are more expensive than PVC ones and can add to the final cost of the house.

Part of the structural home kit supplied, Maisons Laprise's energy-efficient prefabricated homes normally include the following materials:

• Energy Star certified high energy efficiency PVC windows
• A lightweight exterior cladding in vinyl, wood siding, wood fiber or fiber cement
• A roof covering in asphalt shingles
• Exterior steel doors with door handles
• Interior divisions, interior doors and moldings
• For complete inclusions, please refer to a Maisons Laprise advisor and/or website

If you want to optimize savings, it is better to stick with the predetermined building materials included in the price of the prefabricated home kit. However, it is possible to make choices for the finishing materials. All changes requested by the customer involve costs depending on the choice of exterior and interior finishing materials. Certain changes in materials can lead to plan alterations. An advisor and technical director are there to assist customers in this regard.

The location of the future house

Maisons Laprise offers free delivery up to 300 km from its Montmagny plant. For sites located at a greater distance, the delivery cost in excess of 300 km is determined according to the destination address and added to the contract price. For deliveries outside of Quebec, the customer is also responsible for all transportation and customs clearance costs as well as taxes, currency and insurance required for the safe and legal delivery of the kit.

Whatever your final choice, you must remember that a pre-engineered home is a great investment. Indeed, Maisons Laprise takes all the necessary measures to ensure optimal energy performance of its buildings. You will therefore save energy and money.