10 Steps to Owning a Systems Built Home

1. Financing
   It is important to get prequalified with a lender that can properly service your needs. Getting prequalified will help you determine your budget. To get started with this, you can either use a Bank or Mortgage Company, either local or we can suggest some of our lenders to you. To get started, you will have to answer a few income questions and authorize a credit check. Once you have been prequalified, you will have the buying power to search for your new home.
   
   The Uniform Residential Loan Application shows the type of information your lender will ask you for. It is a good idea to review and complete this form before you contact your lender, so you will be prepared to answer any questions they will have about your financial situation. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this form. If you do not already have it installed, click the image below and follow the instructions to download the latest version of the Adobe reader.
   
   
   
   
2. House Plan / Floor Plan
   
The process of choosing your home is the fun part; at Salty Dog Properties, Inc we enjoy the process of working with our clients to help determine the best house design for the future homeowner and the setting that the house will be in. With hundreds of standard designs available and the ability to customize those designs we will be happy to help you through the process of choosing final designs, options and colors.


3. Pricing

Once you have chosen your options Salty Dog Properties, Inc will provide a written quote with a price breakout that includes your options. In addition, a formal contract that contains all of the terms and conditions will be drafted including a payment schedule (attachment "C") and a Scope of Work "SOW" (attachments "A" and "B") you can then submit this for financing to the lender you have already prequalified with.


4. Loan Approval
   
The amount of time this process takes will vary depending on the lending institution. After the loan approval the contract execution will take place.


5. Building Permits
   
In parallel to the loan approval process the building permits should be applied for. The duration of time this process takes varies from one jurisdiction to another. It is important to start this process as early as possible to help uncover any governmental issue that maybe encountered.


6. Ordering the House

Once your loan has been approved and has closed, you are now ready to make your first draw for money to order your new home. A 10% deposit (of the house cost) is required when the house is ordered. Depending on the time of year the lead-time or production time of the house can range from 8 weeks to 11 weeks. Salty Dog Properties, Inc will provide additional detail and assist you in this process.


7. Site Preparation

Once your building permits are in place and your new home is ordered, the next step will be the site work, this includes the excavation of the house location and staging area, installation of the construction driveway, grading, foundation work, water and sewer. Depending on the site the water and sewer maybe installed after the House is set, in some cases the space might be used for the Crane location during the set.


8. Delivery of the Home
   
After the completion of the site preparation and foundation work, it is now time to plan for the delivery of your home. The route will be verified to make sure that there are no new obstructions in the route (unforeseen road work, etc), in general the road should have a width of 20’ and overhead clearance of 16’ and bridge weight limit of 23 tons. In coordination with the manufacturers transportation manager a delivery date will be set. After the delivery date is set the coordination will begin with the set crew and crane company.


9. Setting the Home
   
The 1^st step after receiving the modules is to strip off the transportation materials (plastic, straps, etc). After the modules are striped the truck driver will position the modules in the staging area, It is often necessary to use a bulldozer to assist the trucks in getting the modules into the proper position. The set crew will route lifting cables underneath the modules up to spreader bars that are connected to the cranes lifting cable. After the appropriate preparation the set crew will direct the crane operator to lift the boxes off of the trailer ("frames"), as a team the set crew and crane operator maneuver the module on to the foundation. After all of the modules are in position it is now time to raise the roof. The set crew will attach the lifting cables to the roof panels and raise the roof; nee walls will either be folded up or put in place underneath the roof panels to hold them in place. After the roof is raised the shingles that were not installed in the factory will be installed, ridge vent will be installed, the overhangs will be lowered (folded down) and the gable end wall insert panels will be installed. After the completion of these items, the Home is considered "Set and Weathered."


10. Finishing the Home

• Install Siding (provided by manufacturer)

• Gable ends 1st and 2nd floor
• Install Front and Rear 1^st and 2^nd floor
• Install ext. corners and inside corners

• Install Soffit and Fascia (provided by manufacturer)
• Gable ends only

• Install all exterior light fixtures (provided by manufacturer)

• Supply and Install gutters

• Mating wall Finish (Depending on the model there will be one or more of these 4 situations)

• Hang pre-hung door(s) at mating walls only
• Trim out openings w/jamb and trim at mating wall only
• Finish drywall on ceiling and wall for flush mate wall and ceiling
• Finish drywall on drywall openings

• Electrical
       
• Set and wire panel unless installed at plant, then terminates wires in panel
• Install any glass fixture globes, all other lighting will be installed
• Pull phone and TV wires to the electrical panel for outside connection
• Install appliances

• Plumbing

• Connect water and waste lines between 1st and 2nd floor
•  Tie in water and waste lines to the outside supply and sewer
• Connect plumbing vent pipes in attic and extend through roof
• Supply and install hot water heater
• If vinyl is omitted or shipped loose in bathrooms, toilet and vanities will be shipped loose and have to be installed
• Install drywall at plumbing connections, very minor and noted on the plans (Drywall provided by Manufacturer)

• Install Complete HVAC System

• Run all venting and duct work
• Cut holes for registers and return air
• Tie in w/furnace, heat pump, etc.
• Hang drywall and install fire stopping at chase systems after duct has been installed

• Flooring
• Install carpet and vinyl if shipped loose or omitted
• If installed, there will have to be seaming of the carpet and vinyl at the mate wall and between 1st and 2nd floor

• Paint
• Touch up paint where drywall and trim are field installed, finish paint trim. (Wall paint will be provided by manufacturer)
• Paint exterior trim, brick molding around doors to desired color

• Insulation
• Supply and Install Insulation in the crawl space

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