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Originally Posted by Esther
Anyone know anything about "panel" homes. I'm not talking about modulars.
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sorry I have not visited this thread.
Modular builders and their field assembly contractor networks are extremely local. I have rarely ever heard of anyone shipping a modular over 120 miles. If you are in the south, please be sure to differentiate from Mobile home construction --these are NOT the same.
If you can find panelized construction it is certainly a good half-way approach between stick-built and modular. We had one in the middle atlantic area and it no longer is in business (Cardinal Homes). Panelized may be able and willing to ship further since the sub-assemblies are "flattened. The on-site construction skill sets are increased and I am pretty confident you will have to deal with the manufacturer's approved site contractors.
With all the building 'plan' packages out there, don't give up on shopping these kind of drawing sets. Then with these available, shopping 3-4 framing contractors would be much easier and normally a building supply house will do the take-offs for a material cost estimate. If you could find a framing contractor that is a kind of "general contractor lite", he may be happy to coordinate the foundation, work with you on site utilities, and get you framed in. You would need to coordinate your utility services (electric, sewer, water, heating fuel) with your site planning but you may find a very workable range of costs. If you are able to UNBUNDLE the effort (pay him t&m for his non-framing work) the upgrades involving your house's sub-systems, windows or other material items, may not even be a part of your contract with the "general contractor lite --framing contractor".
Enjoy.
You may want to consider putting together a spreadsheet.
AIA (Amer Inst. of Archetects) specs typically acknowledge 16 areas, these would be a readily available outline of work categories that a residential project may only involve a subset of. By example, my world is mechanical and electrical systems which are sections 15000 and 16000...just a thought to help you start to get your cost centers lined up. (a google search may bring you to the category listings...."AIA section listings"