Residential Elevators for Custom Modular Homes

There are many building features that are unique to custom modular homes, particularly those built around the New Jersey shore.  Some of these features include pilings to support the structure in a sandy environment, wind rated windows and doors, and living spaces above the ground level.  Depending on the design of your custom modular home, you may find that the kitchen and family room areas are on the second level with the master bedroom and bath on the third or even fourth level of the home. This design style is known as reverse living and is very popular in homes built near or on the water. Logistically, this can be challenging for any homeowner when it comes to bringing items into the home, particularly for those upper level areas. For this reason, some of our homeowners are opting to install residential elevators in their custom modular homes.

Residential elevators come in many styles and can easily blend into the design of any type of multi-level home. They also come with a variety of features, some of which may be more important to a homeowner than others.  For example, many residential elevators need a machine room for operation. If space is an issue you could opt for a machine room free design. Some elevators are more energy-efficient and will work better for a homeowner who is environmentally sensitive. Others offer a quiet gearless premium design and style. With many well-known manufacturers offering residential elevators, custom modular homeowners can be sure that quality, style and functionality are not far from reach.

RBA Homes, at the homeowner’s request, can incorporate a residential elevator, or a shaft for a future elevator, in almost any custom modular home. If the homeowner would like the option of adding an elevator in the future, the shaft can be designed as a closet on the first floor, approximately 5’X5’, providing the homeowner with the option of adding an elevator at a later date.

Making day-to-day living more convenient is part of the reason many homeowners choose to add a residential elevator, or the option for one in the future.  It’s a must-have for any family that is challenged by elderly or handicapped family members too.  While convenience is a large part of the reason to consider a residential elevator, adding prestige and resale value to the home can also be a great reason to add one.  

We recommend you speak to your custom modular builder about the different styles, prices and types of elevators while you are in the design phase of your home, as it’s more cost effective to add it to the design before you begin construction. RBA Homes has built many custom modular homes along the New Jersey shore, in Monmouth and Ocean counties.  Several of our homes include optional residential elevators.  For more details on building a custom modular home, available coastal designs, or information on adding a residential elevator, please contact RBA Homes today.

Modular Homes Prove Stronger During Storms

We’ve always known that modular homes are stronger and can withstand Mother Nature’s fury better than an on-site stick built home.  There are studies that have been done by authoritative resources to prove this, and recently, we came across a post from the Answer Man of the Asheville Citizen-Times that provides the answers to the question “Is my modular home safe in a storm?” The article supports the fact that modular homes are stronger, which we’ve known all along!

In the article, the Answer Man describes a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) study that suggests modular homes are actually stronger than site built homes because of the factory standards and the need to withstand travel and crane lift.  He also sent the question to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety and their spokeswoman explained, “Modular homes are built to the same building codes and subject to the same inspections as ‘site built’ homes built in the area where the home is to be sited. Modular homes are installed on permanent foundations just like site built homes and because they are built in a factory setting they may be subject to higher quality control measures.”

Here are some facts on the strength of the modular homes we build.  Our custom modular homes are engineered to be stronger than the equivalent site-built home.   Our standard specifications include foundations (crawl & basement) with 12X24 steel reinforced concrete footings, 2X6 framing, 2X10 window and door headers, and a double 2X10 perimeter band for the floor. Construction of the modular home takes place in a climate-controlled factory by skilled craftsmen using precise machinery and methods with higher quality control measures.  The modules are engineered and built to withstand the rigors of being trucked to the job site and hoisted into place by crane. 

For all of these reasons, we know that our custom modular homes are built stronger, and more efficiently, which translates to a better chance of less damage or destruction from the storms that can affect the areas where we build.

RBA Homes has specialized in building custom modular homes throughout the central New Jersey area in Monmouth and Ocean Counties since 1986.  We work with several top quality modular home manufacturers in the industry and are members of the Modular Home Builders Association, recently winning their Home of the Month Awardfor July 2015. For more information on custom modular homes, or to review design plans, please contact RBA Homes today.

Reference article by Answer Man of the Asheville Citizen-Times http://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2015/05/19/answer-man-modular-home-safe-storm/27601313/

Don’t Miss Another Memorial Day: Outdoor “Must-Haves” for Custom Modular Homes

Memorial Day, the unofficial start to the summer season at beach towns around New Jersey, has come and gone.  Being outdoors, soaking up the sun and having fun is what summer at the Jersey Shore is all about.  Parties and barbeque food for the rest of the summer are “must-dos” on everyone’s list.  For those of you who want to be in your new custom home for next Memorial Day, the time to get started is now. Here’s a list some of our favorite outdoor “must-haves” to include in your new custom modular home to make your summer more spectacular than ever!

Outdoor showers – There’s a lot of room on the ground level of a raised home at the Jersey shore.  Finding the right way to finish it can be challenging for some homeowners, but something many are finding a great use of the space is to build an outdoor shower.  Imagine returning from a day at the beach or on the boat and having a private place to shower off before heading inside.  It’s great for getting all the sand off, or even rinsing off the family dog.  We love the convenience of an outdoor shower and so will you!

Outdoor kitchens- Outdoor kitchens continue to be one of the biggest outdoor trends this year.  It can be as simple as a grill or as elaborate as a fully functional kitchen with a sink, beer station, countertops, pizza oven and refrigerator.  Entertaining in your outdoor kitchen is a breeze and allows the hosts to engage their guests while preparing meals, drinks or snacks.  Be sure that whatever kind of outdoor kitchen you decide on you have plenty of seating away from the heat source (grill, etc.) so that guest are comfortable.  An outdoor kitchen is the perfect way to throw a barbeque from Memorial Day through Labor Day!

Outdoor living rooms and screened porches– going hand in hand with the outdoor kitchen, outdoor living rooms and screened porches are also a big trend for this year.  These extensions of your indoor space think beyond terraces and decks and offer opportunity for better furnishings and can be combined with your fire pit or fireplace to create a warm, cozy relaxing oasis.  Some of our homeowners have even built screened porches with luxuries such as outdoor televisions and entertainment centers!

Garden/Sun Rooms – In areas where there may be limited space on the lot some of our   By reworking the kitchen and/or eating area a bit you can create an oasis to relax and enjoy the warmth of the sun all year long.  Just be sure to check with us on the space requirements, as not all plans and/or lots can accommodate this room. 

homeowners have allocated some space from the back of the house and designed a garden or sun room, which is actually part of the living space in their new home.

These are some of our homeowner favorites for outdoor spaces to enjoy in your new custom home.  With some or all of these features you can have the best summer ever!  But you have to get started now in order to be in your new home for next year’s Memorial Day celebration.  For more information on how to get started on your new custom modular home on, contact RBA Homes today!

Five Tips For Building Your New Custom Home Now

It is clear that homebuyers today still love their homes at our beautiful New Jersey shore area.  For those of us that live here year-round, we wouldn’t be anywhere else in the world!  So what exactly is it that draws people to the shore areas like Monmouth and Ocean Counties?  Here are five tips for building your new custom home now.

1)            Our beaches are among the most beautiful in the country.  With amenities to please just about everyone, there are a variety of beach, waterfront, or inland properties available to suit your needs.  Many homebuyers choose to purchase a property with a home in need of demolition.  This allows a blank slate with which to build their new custom home.  There’s a “Renaissance” happening at the New Jersey shore, so don’t wait too long to find your new property and start building. 

2)            Communities in Monmouth and Ocean Counties are close to everything!  There are plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment venues close by, so there is never a dull moment.  With this in mind, we recommend you enlist the help of a local realtor to help you find the perfect place to build your new custom home.  They are knowledgeable about properties on the market, housing values, school systems, or anything you may need to know about where to build your new custom home.

3)            Timing is everything, and if you are looking to move in and enjoy your new home for Summer 2016, now is the time to start looking for land.  Once you secure the property you are going to build on, the next step is to find your custom homebuilder.  Designing the home, applying for permits, and securing your financing all take time, so starting the process now will ensure your home will be completed with plenty of time to spare.

4)            Many families choose to build their second home at the Jersey Shore and come down every weekend to soak up the sun and spend quality time with their families away from the office.   Others make a permanent move and live here year-round.  Whichever you decide, Monmouth or Ocean counties will make the perfect location for your new home. 

5)            There are plenty of properties to build a new home located along the waterfront areas.  Building a home on the river or oceanfront will provide a whole different experience than a home built inland.  Be sure when you select your waterfront property that you can secure the proper grants and permits for things you may want to build like docks, bulkheads and retaining walls.  Your realtor, engineer or builder can help coordinate the necessary paperwork involved with waterfront amenities, but make sure you research this before you purchase your property.

If you love the Jersey Shore and are thinking of building a custom home in one of our fabulous shore towns, there’s no better time than now to get started!  RBA Homes specializes in custom modular homes in like Spring Lake, Sea Girt, Rumson, Fair Haven and Colts Neck, and most recently in many neighborhoods in Toms River and the Barrier Island that were hard hit by superstorm Sandy, contact us today to find out how we can make your new custom home dreams come true!

Four Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Raise Your Home at the Jersey Shore

Homeowners all along the New Jersey shore are now raising their homes in an effort to comply with the current FEMA guidelines and recommendations. With so many variables involved in lifting an existing home, the real total cost of lifting could be much greater than the cost in the original proposal. 

While it is critical to know what the recommended height is for your home location zone, many homeowners do not realize that the cost of raising your home may not be cost effective, as compared to the custom home you could build instead of raising your existing home.  The truth is, many times the costs quoted by a reputable house raising company many not include critical and necessary repairs once the process has begun.  In addition, your contract with the house raising company may specify that additional costs can be incurred.  What will happen if you begin the process and end up with cost overruns? 

And once the house lift is complete, you still have the same floorplan you had before, now it’s just higher and may be in need of significant repairs inside.  As a custom homebuilder, we believe that rebuilding a new, elevated home with modular construction is more cost effective because not only will your home comply with the newest elevation requirements as set forth by FEMA, you will be able to build the home of your dreams!  Here are four reasons why you shouldn’t raise your home at the Jersey Shore.

Reason #1 - It Won’t Be New!

If you decide to rebuild your home from scratch instead of raising your existing home, everything in your home will be new, from the roof down to the foundation.  All of the electrical, plumbing, windows, doors, sheetrock, finishes and everything in between will be brand new.  Even the layout of your new home can be completely different from your existing home.  Unfortunately, you have been put in a position to make a decision on whether to raise your existing home or build new, so why not make the decision that will give you everything you’ve ever wanted in your home?

Reason #2 - Budgetary Concerns

As we stated above, lifting a home can present some budgetary problems in that you don’t know what the home-lifter will encounter during the process and what the additional costs will be.  Having that in mind, building a new custom modular home will provide for an up-front budget, based on the home and features you will be building and cost over-runs can be alleviated at the time your contract is formulated.

Reason #4 – It Won’t Necessarily Increase The Value of Your Property

Raising your home provides for compliance with the new FEMA elevations standards, but it doesn’t necessarily add value to your existing home.  Building a new home on your existing property can provide for an overall increase in the value of your property.  With all of the brand new systems, appliances and finishes your new home will feature, it will more than likely compare at a higher value than existing homes of similar size and features in your neighborhood. 

Reason #4 – It Won’t Have A Home Warranty

When you build a new home with a custom home builder, you will be the proud owner of a brand new home, but you will also have a new 10 year home owners warranty to go along with all that newness!  This home warranty is a valuable asset that your existing, raised home will not have.  A homeowner’s warranty can provide peace of mind that your home will be covered under a warranty for 10 years.  We recommend you discuss with your builder the specific coverage for your new home, and make sure you receive a copy of your policy at closing.

We think that these four reasons should raise enough questions about whether it is worth raising your existing house as compared to the alternative of rebuilding a new home.  But, if you have any questions or need information on building a custom modular home RBA Homes is here to help.  As one of New Jersey’s premier custom builders, RBA Homes has been helping homeowners in Monmouth and Ocean Counties rebuild their homes after Superstorm Sandy. There is a lot of information available about zones and heights, which can be obtained online for your particular home and location.  http://www.region2coastal.com/bestdata. 

If you have questions about raising versus rebuilding or have a lot to build on, feel free to contactus today at 732-747-3800 or http://RBAhomes.com for more information on how we can help you get back to living your Jersey Shore lifestyle.