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Surprisingly Safe: Modular Homes

May 30, 17 • News

The purchase of a home can be a stressful period, with a number of concerns factoring into the final decision. In some cases, that can be deciding if a modular home is the right idea. Given some of the horror stories heard about these non-traditional residences, many people simply don’t consider their options when the decision boils down to modular vs traditional.

That can be a mistake that’s based on the belief that modular home safety is either non-existent or an afterthought to the builders that construct such residences. The staff at Basic Components has heard many such fears, which is why they’ve put together a list of facts to consider when the modular vs traditional debate comes up for a prospective buyer.

The Vulnerability Myth

One of the the reasons that modular homes get a bad rap is because media reports seemingly push the myth that a traditional home will be able to withstand a weather disaster like a tornado or hurricane better than their modular counterpart. While such concerns are a fact of life, the reality is that you’re no safer in those circumstances when you live in traditional housing.

Over the past four decades, the building codes when it comes to modular homes have been strongly enhanced for those areas that can be vulnerable to weather disasters. For example, the modular-constructed homes for hurricane areas have to be able to withstand winds of up to 110 miles per hour and up to 70 miles per hour everywhere else. That helps provide comforting reassurance for the modular home buyer.

Documented Proof

A number of research studies over the past few decades have reinforced the idea of modular home safety when it comes to any potential debate regarding modular vs traditional homes. In 2001, researchers at Texas Tech put a modular home under a sustained wind blast of close to 100 miles per hour, with only minor damage resulting.

Six years later, the aforementioned standards when it comes to installing and anchoring a modular home were upgraded at the federal level. For individual states that are more prone to a tornado or hurricane, the ability to make those standard even more rigid has been provided to them, if necessary.

Finally, an insurance industry organization conducted a 2014 study found that proper installation and attachment of any addition to a home is one of the keys to being able to deal with high winds, with modular homes topping their traditional competitors. The most amount of damage that modular homes see comes from poor installation.

A Good Investment

Over the years, the idea has been fostered that that living in a modular home is a waste of money since the property will depreciate, while traditional homes appreciate in value. Any home that takes the proper steps to maintain and care for the home, which includes making sure that the residence remains attached to the foundation during any weather emergency, will maintain its value.

Like any parcel of real estate, location also plays a key role in the level of appreciation. However, given the lower cost involved when it comes to purchasing a modular home and the safety factors that have been accounted for during construction, a reconsideration of your options might be worthwhile.

The Right Choice

Basic Components offers the necessary parts and supplies to help improve your protection when severe weather strikes. Modular home safety requires just as much attention as those living in traditional housing, so make sure to either call Basic Components or fill out our convenient online form today.