Some interior finish work is done by touching up drywall, splicing carpet and finishing trim, installing doors in the area where the sections join together. The enclosed house is still usually several weeks from completion, however. The local builder oversees the final plumbing and electrical hook-ups, heat and air conditioning installation as well as construction of garage and porches. Modular, like any building system, is not for every buyer or every location. Some subdivisions have covenants against modular homes.
Inspection is a major issue.
All modular homes are inspected on the production line by an independent third-party inspector. Not all municipalities accept third-party inspections. And codes differ from area to area. State and local transportation regulations may limit the size of the boxes that can be transported to a particular site, effectively curtailing the size and design of a house. And while securing a house from elements and intruders within hours make modular a natural for city neighborhoods, the narrow lots and close proximity of other buildings make assembly difficult, says Mahoney.