Construction - Builder - Pricing - Plants - Floorplans/Literature - General

More people are familiar with the term "modular" than "systems-built" when describing a home that is built off-site and trucked to its permanent foundation. The short answer is that systems-built, modular, and pre-fab all mean basically the same thing. The common misconception is that a site-built home is better than a home built off-site.

The truth is that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) confirmed that modular/off-site homes withstood a hurricane far better than site-built housing. In its report "Building Performance: Hurricane Andrew in Florida," assessment teams from FEMA concluded that modular homes withstood the 131-155 mph winds of the Category 4 storm in August of 1992 far better than site-built housing. You may obtain a copy of this publication by contacting FEMA's distribution center at 1-800-480-2520 and requesting publication number FIA-22. Additional information is available at the FEMA site, FEMA publication file FIA-22.

Systems-built homes are built in a manufacturing facility and consist of anywhere from 2 to 7 modules for typical homes up to 3,000 square feet. Modular homes come in all shapes and sizes. In June of 2007 All American Homes built a home in Marblehead, Ohio that was 16 modules and 6,500 square feet! The completed home was nearly 10,000 square feet when counting the finished basement.

The modules are transported to a job site 70-90% complete. Once the home reaches the job site, the modules are lifted onto the home's foundation by crane. A finish crew will then complete the home by tying in the roof sections, siding and interior finish. After the home is set, your builder may complete additional features such as garages, porches and decks. Want to see how it's done? View our construction video

Absolutely not. A manufactured home is built on a steel frame with wheels. The home is trailered to its site, placed on blocks or a foundation and the wheels are then removed. A manufactured home is not considered "real property," is not insured or appraised the same as a modular or stick-built home and comes with a title, much the same as a car or truck. Manufactured homes usually depreciate in value over time, unlike stick-built and modular homes which generally appreciate and are considered good investments. Manufactured homes are often referred to as "trailer homes" or "double-wides."

There are three main considerations most homebuyers face after they acquire their land and decide on the look and floor plan of their new home-the price, quality and the speed of construction.

The Price

Because of the many variables in building a home it is not possible to provide specific pricing here on our website. Factors such as building codes, transportation laws and site preparation vary from state to state and site to site. In addition, each home owner has their own unique list of features and options that they want in their new home. For these reasons pricing is only available from our independent builders.

However, you can use the following general guidelines to help you estimate what your real home costs will be. All American offers three levels of finish in its homes. The value level is the most economical. The price, on your lot, will be in the $80 to $85 range per square foot, generally. The classic level, which includes some upgrades and design elements will often cost between $90 and $95 per square foot, on your land. Our signature level homes, which are the most elaborate designs with the most amenities, can usually be priced in the $105 to $120 per square foot range, on your lot. These guidelines include the delivery and set of your home.

Often these costs are close to or just slightly below that of a similarly designed site-built (stick built) home. Don't forget however, that our homes are finished and ready for occupancy often three or four months earlier than a stick built home saving thousands of dollars on construction loan costs.

Finally, All American homes are appraised, insured, assessed and taxed exactly the same as site-built homes are. The difference is out-of-the-weather construction and speed of delivery.making your All American home a better home and a better value.

The Quality

In addition to building attractive homes with great floor plans, it is the quality of an All American home that sets it apart from conventional construction. Your home is built indoors in a controlled environment by highly trained craftsmen with stringent quality control standards in place. Every home is engineered to meet or exceed all state and local building codes.

An All American home is indistinguishable from a site built home on the outside and it is BETTER than a site-built home on the inside. An All American Home is built to withstand the stress of being trucked over hundreds of miles and being lifted by a crane to its permanent foundation. It has to be more structurally rigid to withstand these forces. As an example of a modular home's strength, be sure to check the FEMA report "Building Performance: Hurricane Andrew in Florida" referenced below.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) confirmed that modular homes withstood a hurricane far better than site-built housing. In its report "Building Performance: Hurricane Andrew in Florida," assessment teams from FEMA concluded that modular homes withstood the 131-155 mph winds of the Category 4 storm in August of 1992 far better than site-built housing. You may obtain a copy of this publication by contacting FEMA's distribution center at 1-800-480-2520, and requesting publication number FIA-22. Additional information is available at the FEMA site, FEMA publication file FIA-22

The Speed of Construction

When you start the construction process of your new home there is a great deal of excitement and anticipation. It is hard to wait for the 4 to 6 months or sometimes longer periods required for a site built home.

In addition to the tangible benefit of a shorter construction loan that puts money back in your pocket, you have the added benefits of not being displaced as long if you are renting or living with family members while your home is under construction. A shorter construction cycle also means that your new neighbors won't have as much disruption in their lives while your home is being built next door. This, along with the reduced stress associated with fewer worries about vandalism and theft, can help make your home buying experience with an independent All American Homes builder a more pleasant one.

We have a network of over 300 independent All American Homes builders. These builders are trained professionals that will walk you through each step of the construction process. Your builder is also very important in ensuring that your site work is completed on time and to our specifications. You can find a builder here.

Yes! All American Homes offers dozens of well designed floor plan combinations in 1, 1 1/2 story and 2 story designs. In addition, there are many architectural styles such as Craftsman, Victorian, Bungalow, Colonial and others available.

Most plans include a variety of floor plan options so that you can select the layout that works best for you. We can even build from your plans and are happy to provide a custom quote. To view the elevations and floor plans visit our Design Center.

Our warranty is transferable to new owners as long as the home has not been moved from its original basement or crawlspace foundation.

To direct you to a specific model we need to know some basic information like location and model type. Simply fill in the blanks on the Model Locator form and we will email you with the model information that you want.

Before you make a trip to see a model, call the builder or plant to confirm that the model is open on the date you plan to visit. It is always a good idea to confirm the date just before you make the trip as well. Builders often alter their models based on what is selling in their market. Be sure to ask questions to make sure the model you will see is similar to what you are interested in.

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