How to Prep Your Site for a Factory-Built Home
Now that you’ve settled on your new home, the next stop on the path is preparing your home site for the new delivery!
This whole process may seem daunting, but it’s one of the most important tasks on the home-buying journey.
We work tirelessly to ensure a seamless installation that’s free of unnecessary obstacles, and of course, lasts a lifetime.
Our Home Consultants are often asked what can be done to guarantee a smooth home delivery and installation, and what they (the buyers) can expect.
We’re covering a few of the highlights of how to prepare your homesite for delivery and what to expect.
Starting the Process
The most important advice we give our customers is that preparation is key.
There are no two properties alike, and what your property may need to be considered “home-ready” could drastically change the time, budget, and resource estimates provided.
The following points we recommend starting as early as possible to make the process as easy and effective as possible.
- Contact local utility companies servicing your home’s lot location. Here you will confirm service availability, fees, and any actions required to set up utilities for your property. Bonus: Do this before you’re at the point of purchasing your home. You’ll be more prepared to move on to the next step
- Contact local Building or Health Departments (County or City) that have jurisdiction over your desired location. It’s best to confirm the installation of your new home complies with local zoning, ordinances, and land use regulations in your area. Permits, impact fees, and home inspections are just a few of the areas this covers.
While it may seem like overkill, it’s better to do the leg work at the beginning of the project than to scramble in the middle and run into snags that add time or money to the overall process.
Getting Closer
Before our contractors can start a project, a site must be inspected, utilities properly marked, any necessary excavation completed, and access confirmed for large transport equipment.
A Baird Representative and/or Licensed Contractor will visit your site to inspect the following:
- Is your site standard or will it require additional ground work?
- In preparation for your foundation, the ground has to be level. This area must also be free of natural and foreign objects. If this area is uneven by more than 24 inches, additional groundwork will be required.
- Is there a clear path to the foundation for delivery?
- There must be a clear path, free of trees, shrubbery, overhead wiring, fencing, trenches, and personal property for delivery of your home.
- Are utilities and property lines marked?
- Any existing underground utilities should be marked to avoid possible damage during installation and construction.
Additionally, property lines must be researched and laid out to ensure the home is properly positioned on the property and we avoid damage to neighboring land.
Almost There
Once the work mentioned above is completed, a foundation contractor can begin working on the foundation of your home.
Like all things in life, a firm foundation sets you up for long-term success, so there are no shortcuts here!
After foundation work is complete, it’s time to prep for the delivery of your home!
Keep in mind, that these homes are built out of the elements in a factory.
The on-site construction phases are not, and weather can lead to unforeseen delays during any phase of construction on your site.
Once everything is finished and the elements have aligned, the home is then installed on the finished foundation.
Water and electricity will be connected shortly after, ensuring move-in day won’t be far behind!
Many unforeseen and inconvenient circumstances could arise at any point during the process, but taking a proactive approach will help ward off those potential problems.
Do you have any lingering questions about preparing your site?
If you do, we want to hear from you!