Twenty years ago, I was fortunate to be given some land in the midcoast from my parents. The land had no road to it and was on rocky ledge. I was determined to construct a home there, but first I had to bring in infrastructure: build a half mile long road through dense spruce, bring in power, and put in a well and septic. By the time I managed to get in the infrastructure, my bank account was looking quite diminished! My plans for a custom stick built home began to evaporate, as I realized we could never afford what I wanted. My mother suggested looking at modular homes. I scoffed; I didn’t want a factory built home, I wanted something unique, a custom home, after all I had been planning this home in my mind for years. But my budget could not accommodate a custom stick build, and, reluctantly, I began researching modular builds. What I found surprised me, and as is so often the case, Mom was right.
What I found was that I could design and build exactly what I wanted, with considerable savings and much more certainty, both in terms of timing and pricing. That original house, built by Keiser, which was subsequently bought out by KBS Builders, has withstood 20 seasons along Maine’s coast, enduring storm after storm, completely exposed to the East. The home remains solid, weathertight and cozy. It’s a place my family has enjoyed since it was first set on its foundation all those years ago.
I did not know at the time that years down the road I would leverage modular construction for a wide variety of projects: from custom builds for clients to my own developments. The technology for modular builds continues to improve, creating more value, more design opportunities, and greener construction.
The process is streamlined, and you can customize across the board. On a budget? use laminite countertops, and a standard trim package. Love the look of shaker doors? upgrade to shaker doors. Have a specific Marvin window style you prefer? not a problem. Already have an architect and an idea of what you want to build? Great, we can work with your architect (though for cost savings, we recommend involving the manufacturer before you pay for a full set of architectural plans). In short, as I found all those years ago, you can do just about anything you want with a modular.
And while there are many modular home builders around the country, and in Canada, we partner exclusively with KBS Builders, located in South Paris, Maine. We believe in supporting the Maine economy and supporting Maine businesses. Best of all, you can visit the facility to understand the process; we offer tours for all our prospective clients, and once your house is being manufactured, we encourage (read: insist) you to come and see your house while it’s “on the line”.
On the heels of the pandemic, I built a custom modular for my mother next to the original one we built 20 years ago, with a first floor bedroom and bath. She’s now 88, but she’s still usually right about things.
If you’d like to learn more about building modular, please send us a note, we’d be happy to set up a tour of KBS for you, jump on a call or have you visit some of the modulars we’ve constructed. And remember, always listen to your mother, she’s probably right.