Category Archives: Modular Homes

Modular or Manufactured Home – What’s the Difference?

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People often mix up the terms when asking about their housing options. There are distinct differences in the products. I could list them until your eyes glaze over, but I’ll keep it simple.

Modular Homes (MODS) and Manufactured Homes (MFH) are built in the same factory, using an assembly line for efficiency. MODS are built to local building codes, for a specific address. MFH are built to national HUD codes so they can go anywhere in the country.
When they arrive on site, MODS lift off the steel frame used for the assembly line and go onto a standard stem-wall foundation. Then it is back-filled. MFH stay on the steel frame and are set on blocks on a Runner foundation (3 slab). Then they are strapped down to the foundation. Split-faced concrete blocks are used as “skirting” around the perimeter to keep animals out, and back filled. Only the top block of the crawl space shows for a very low to the ground, site-built look.

MODS need 2X10 floor joists because there will be no steel frame under the home. MFH can use 2X6 or 2X8 joists because the steel frame is also giving support. There are other construction details that are slightly different, but the home will look exactly the same on the inside and out. You cannot tell them apart by looking, except for the HUD tag in the corner.

The big difference in a MOD is time and money. The factory specs are for HUD homes. When you choose a MOD, the specs all have to be changed. Then they have to be approved and stamped by an engineer. Then they go to the local L&I Department for approval. MODS can take 3 months or more to work through this process. After such approval is given, special insignias are issued and sent to the State, that inspects the home as it is being built. Additional fees are required for each of these special approval processes. MODS can cost $35,000-$40,000 more than the same home built at as MFH.
Some people think a MOD is a better investment because the appraiser can use site-built homes as “Comparables” for higher appraisals. In this market, that may not be wise. Higher appraisals mean higher taxes. The loan amount will be more, so monthly payments will be higher. If you are paying cash, you will have less in your investments, earning dividends.

If you do not plan to sell, it makes no sense to pay more for a MOD. If you do plan to sell, you pay more for a MOD, and may get more when you sell. An MFH costs less. If you get less when you sell, you have still saved money while enjoying the same beautiful home.
I live in an MFH home. It has gone up in value every year, except during the recession, just like site-built homes. Our owners, Diane and Dana DeTray, chose a beautiful MFH home. They added a 3-car garage and lots of options instead of choosing the higher cost of a MOD. Our Senior Housing Consultant, Marlene Lemoine, lives in her 5th MFH home, and made money on all 4 previous sales.

We believe MFH homes are the best value for your housing needs. At DeTray’s Custom Housing of Puyallup, we “Walk Our Talk”. Let us custom design a beautiful Skyline or Kit West home for your family.

 

Laura Whitemarsh,
Housing Consultant

Why We Have Model Homes

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"We have so much to offer..." Michelle Dux

“We have so much to offer…” Michelle Dux

Do you know what I love about Detray’s model homes? They all have well-appointed features for the purpose of showing the customization that is available to the buyers. Who doesn’t want a one-of-a-kind home?

We take great pride in pointing out what the standard features are, so that our customers can accurately compare and determine the true value of the home that works best for them rather than the best “price”. Our focus as “Housing Consultants” is to help our customers make the best decision for them. We hope they are taking advantage of the knowledge available to them to help them make the best decision.

I might have been here a short time, but I have customers coming back to purchase because they were given the information to “help” them make a “forever home” decision that will impact them for a lifetime. And folks, that’s the true measure of reward for everyone!

Seattle Home Show & The MHRV Show Success

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Seattle home and garden show and the MHRV show was a great success. After the final numbers came in, the shows experienced a 14% increase in visitors from previous years. Our facebook also receive a huge bump by gaining over 5,000 reviews. With people saying words like “Awesome”, “Cool”, “Wow”, “Amazing”, and “Unbelievable” as well as other sayings, we feel we accomplished our goal by introducing something new and exciting. We continually try to grow with the demand and find ways to amaze everyone.

Other news you may like to hear is that Last Week’s Economic News in Review stated:

Winter slowed the pace of housing construction, while lay-offs continued to drop and core inflation saw a sizable gain.

Housing Starts

January’s cold snap had its impact on real estate as housing starts and building permits both contracted during the month.

Permits issued for housing units of all types dipped to an annual rate of 1,202,000 for the month, marking a 0.2 percent decline from the December rate of 1,204,000, according to last week’s report from the Census Bureau. Similarly, permits issued for single-family homes in January notched down to a rate of 720,000, which was a 1.6 percent decline from December’s pace of 732,000.

Actual starts on housing units of all types in January dropped to an annual rate of 1,099,000, which was 3.8 percent down from December’s rate of 1,143,000. Starts on single-family homes fell to a rate of 731,000, which was 3.9 percent off from December’s rate of 761,000.

“Despite the modest dip in starts this month, we expect to see ongoing, gradual growth in housing production in 2016,” National Association of Home Builders’ Chief Economist David Crowe wrote in a public statement. “An improving economy, solid job creation and pent-up demand for housing should keep the market moving forward.”

Additional good news is that spring is near and weather conditions are improving. This always creates motivation for buyers and sellers. Now is the time to get back in gear to sell, find, and buy.

We would also like to thank everyone who took the time to come view our version of the “tiny home”. This trend currently is very popular with the nation and many other countries. Our “little home” version we displayed at Seattle’s Century Link had many viewing a manufactured home for the first time. It seems as though society as a whole is looking at other affordable housing options and realize the benefits from living in a manufactured home.

For those who visited the show or did not get a chance to come see us, the factory is extending the special that was offered to homes ordered. The “Little home” displayed is now back at our property as well as our new Evergreen home. This is our new 1765 Square Foot Home custom built by Skyline. The design is an open floor plan with many upgraded options, including quartz counter tops and a beautiful 72″ walk in tiled shower. We are confident you will get the “Wow” factor on the homes once you get a viewing.

Hope to see you soon!

Vacation Explained

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Please join us @ the Seattle RV Show Feb 7-10th and the Seattle Home Show Feb 16-24th…You may just find your new “stay-cation” home- Hurry come see us soon!

 

 

Webster’s New World Dictionary defines Vacation as “a period of rest from work or study”. My wife and I just returned from a sunny climate for a week. It is amazing how good it feels leaving routine behind, and at the same time excited to return to the comfortable surroundings we call home. Although we were gone only a short time, I missed the same old routine. Don’t get me wrong the beautiful weather, sightseeing, laying around the pool, going out to dinner, and experiencing a totally different environment is always fun, but getting “home” is great too. So if that is the better of two worlds I’m in favor of combining these two into one perfectly beautiful place.

Let’s call it a “Stay-cation”. It would be like paradise at your fingertips. A place to go to anytime of the year. A gathering place with family and friends, a place to heal or find solitude and surrender, or possibly enrich relationships with those closest to you. I like this place, I love the concept, and how can I get one? Well it isn’t all that difficult. Here at DeTrays Custom Housing we understand the relationship of working hard to enjoy life’s vacations. One simply needs to commit to the fact vacations are really important, and you want to have that get-away sooner rather than later. Here is how.

We place our vacation homes anywhere in the great Northwest. We arrange the pre- planning of the custom design of the home, arrange to obtain all necessary feasibility issues to place your vacation home on your lot, and build the home package to your specifications including options, colors, and furnishings. A “Stay-cation” experience is completely unbelievable as it is your home away from home. DeTrays Custom Housing has three builders, Skyline Homes, Kit Homebuilders, and Karsten Homes. Can you imagine leaving home to go on a vacation, leaving that routine behind, going to warm comfortable surroundings where you can meet family and friends in the comfort of your vacation home? Perfectly beautiful!

We are showing one of our hand crafted Custom Vacation Homes soon at The Seattle RV Show, February 7-10th. I want to extend an invitation to please come out to see how inexpensive and remarkably easy it is to obtain this affordable lifestyle. We hope you can relax and enjoy our little piece of paradise, it can be yours, and we are here to help make it happen. For more information on these homes and all of our other 270+ designs, please go to our web site www.detrayscustomhousing.com I hope to see you soon, check out TheSeattleRV Show.com for ticketing options and all other related show information. Thank you for your consideration.

Respectfully Submitted,

Dana DeTray, GM

50 Year Anniversary Comes to a Golden End

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2012 marked our Golden Anniversary for our family business. It is true; we started selling “trailers” in 1962. In the 1970’s the term “mobile homes” was popular, and in the 1980’s “manufactured homes” was our industries new label. Today “modular homes”, “pre-fab” homes, or “custom manufactured homes” are used to describe the homes that we provide to our customers. Whatever is comfortable for our clients, we feel we have the highest value in housing in the Northwest, and a lot of people must feel the same way. They prefer our homes over our competition, and that is proven by our steady growth of our business during the most challenging economy since the depression era. I set a modest goal to be the highest volume dealer and at the same time exceed our previous Customer Satisfaction Index levels, which were accomplished in 2012. In order to accomplish that goal, we absolutely needed the help of our “business partners”. From the builders of our homes, Skyline Homes, Kit Homebuilders, and Karsten Homes, the transportation company Westspan Haulers, the set up construction company Horsley Mobile Home Service, our site General Contractors, Paramount Builders and Sound Exteriors, the interior detail contractor Puget Sound Home Services, the flooring contractor Hannah’s Floor Covering, and of course our own sales representatives and office staff. It truly “takes a village” to pull off this endeavor, all with the best of intentions, a customer first philosophy, and great synergy by our “team”.

 

This time of year is for families to come together, and we hope the homes we have provided to all those folks over the years serve this purpose tenfold.  It is with great pride that I can take the time to give the gratitude to all our customers, and team mates, wishing you all the Happiest of Holidays, and a Merry Christmas. We hope to see you soon, please visit our display center or web site at DeTraysCustomHousing.com

 

Respectfully submitted;

Dana DeTray GM

 

Aude Lang Syne; times long past and our 50th Anniversary

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As the Holiday Season shifts into high gear, DeTrays Custom Housing is pushing forward to finish the year strong. We had our “Holiday Open House” last weekend, and I want to extend a hearty “thank you” to all of you that came in and also contributed to the DeTrays Food Drive. We have filled two large boxes of goods that will help needy families in our area. Our Open House was December 1st and 2nd, and if you did not know those very same days were also National Pie Day and National Fritters Day. December 3rd was National “Roof over your Head Day”. I would have preferred to have our Open House on that day, but I can’t control the calendar.

 

Now that we have completed our Open House, we can start our next project, updating our web site. When we last completed the main structure overhaul last January, we have added new content as necessary in 2012. The biggest challenge has been keeping it relevant and interesting. Our customers advocate that we expand our offering, which necessitates constant editing, adding pictures, dialog, and revisions. Our entire inventory is now totally decorated with new pictures, plants and furniture. Our customers will have all new interiors to look forward to viewing at their leisure. In addition to that, we are adding a furniture catalog so if you see furniture or décor that you wish to purchase that is shown; we can price it for you immediately. This will hopefully allow all our customers to envision how their new custom home can look, just request a quote, we are happy to help you.

 

Finally, the staff at DeTrays Custom Housing is looking toward 2013 with great optimism. We will be attending our annual Shows in the Spring and Fall, but this year we are adding a show in February. We want to take our “product to the people”, so to speak. I really enjoy going to the shows, as we get to speak to folks we otherwise may not get to see. It is always fun and interesting to hear comments about our homes like “wow, I had no idea these homes were this beautiful”; or “what is this? A manufactured home? I think my grandma had one once”; right, these homes aren’t your grandmas mobile home anymore. We build the most energy efficient, cost effective, innovative custom homes in the North West. Please check us out at detrayscustomhousing.com and I look forward to seeing you soon. For more information on the shows, check us out at MHRVshows.com until then, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy Kwanza, Happy Boxer Day, and if I forgot someone, Happy Day to you too.

 

Respectfully submitted; Dana DeTray GM

A Season for Giving

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When one reflects over the last year, it is easy to find many reasons to be Thankful. My priorities are like most, I value good health, family, and striving for balance each and every day, juggling both mental and physical activities, to stay in tune with my ever-changing world. What a world in 2012 we have evolved to! Many of my fellow citizen’s marvel at all the changes in global economics, technology, climate changes, scientific and medical advancements, social changes, and all brought immediately to us almost instantaneously by way of social interaction devices. What would our grandparents have thought? One can be left behind very quickly and feel quite dumb if you don’t possess a “smart” device. Personally, I’m slow to react to all this, and have taken a wait-see attitude, but like most have eventually been persuaded to concede to the inevitable.  Through these means, I’ve also been convinced to utilize these mediums to communicate to all of you via my Blog. Bear with me, as this is all new but fairly entertaining. I’ve been getting plenty of encouragement and tips as well.

 

Here at DeTrays Custom Housing, we discussed how can we reach out and participate to help our community. We contacted our local food bank, and have set up a food drive to help feed the hungry in our community. We are encouraging our customers to bring in canned goods from November 15th through December 15th at which time we will donate all our collected items. We are also having an “open house” to feature our newest model home, here at our sales display located at 10209 149th St. E. Puyallup, Washington where you can drop off your donations as well. It is with great joy and determination that our staff is involved with this endeavor to help our community, so please come by and help out. We look forward to seeing you. As a company, we also wanted to share with you that DeTrays Custom Housing donated funds to a charitable organization to benefit victims of the Super Storm Sandy. We feel it’s important to do what you can, even if it is a little bit, as doing something is better than doing nothing. Should the situation be reversed, one wants to feel it would come back, if we pass it forward, right? I personally had that right in my face during the East Coast tragedy. Most of here in the West Coast watched Sandy obliterate the North East, but on Oct. 28th we came close to an equally devastating disaster when we had a 7.7 earthquake just north of us in the Queen Charlottes. I received word from my daughter in Hawaii that NOAA immediately issued a tsunami warning, shut down major utilities, and set up disaster relief centers in the event of a crisis which was looming. This did not happen, in fact virtually no one even heard about this, but until you feel the panic and helplessness one feels about not being able to help your loved ones, it isn’t all that important.

Please don’t forget to give, it brings good Karma.