Planning efficiency and Construction efficiency

One of the struggles with using a building system like panelized or modular homes is that the time efficiency that comes from the approach to building does not get you any additional time efficiencies with the planning and permitting process. We can save money and simplify the planning process, but it normally takes about the same amount of time to get a building permit.

A conventional construction project and panelized construction project will roughly follow this process to permit approval:

1. Choose an architect or designer, sign a contract and make a deposit so they start working. Pick a base plan to start with and redesign, or start a schematic design from scratch.
2. Concurrently, get your soils report completed if it has not been done already to determine the approximate foundation system required on your site.
3. Complete schematic design and submit for Planning Approval if required in your area as a separate submittal, make revisions as directed.
4. Make a larger deposit to start the production of the full set of construction documents. Include hiring a civil and structural engineer and getting them started in this step.
5. Construction documents are completed and submitted to the building department, receive red-line corrections and make modifications as required.
6. Pick up and pay for building permit.

A modular home construction project will roughly follow this process to permit approval:


1. Choose an architect or designer to start working on your schematic design, or hire modular home company to design your home. It can be done either way, but it is normally recommended to come to your modular home company with a strong idea of what you want and work with them to "modularize" or do a "modular translation" of your plan. Modular home companies usually employ an in-house designer that costs less than architects or other designers. At Cutting Edge Homes, our in-house design team headed by Chris Wells can help you design any home you want to build. Pick a base plan to start with and redesign, or start a schematic design from scratch.
2. Concurrently, get your soils report completed if it has not been done already to determine the approximate foundation system required on your site.
3. Complete schematic design and submit for Planning Approval if required in your area as a separate submittal, make revisions as directed.
4. Make a larger deposit to start the production of the full set of Factory Built Housing construction documents, which are completed by the modular home factory and submitted to the a state 3rd party approval agency for review. Include hiring a civil engineer for grading and erosion control plans and getting them started in this step.
5. Construction documents including the state 3rd party stamped Factory Built Housing plans are completed and submitted to the building department, receive red-line corrections on the on-site construction portion only (factory built is exempt from local review), and make modifications as required.
6. Pick up and pay for building permit.

There are several advantages to the modular home Planning process. The modular home Planning process is simplified because you don't have a drawn out design process like happens with many architects. We make a health consideration of what you want in your home, but since we are also building your home we can help steer you toward options that are high performing and of reasonable cost.

It is normally much less expensive because the payment for step #4, the "full set of Factory Built Housing construction documents", is actually a deposit that is credited toward the purchase of your modular home. That is not the case with step #4 on the conventional construction Planning process list, which is a sunk cost that is not credited toward the purchase of your home.

A few years ago we realized that the Planning process was going rather slowly for our clients, so we decided to take a more active role when our client's desired Planning and permit processing services. We have a great team that does everything from the initial site review, coordination with all of the project engineers, submission to planning department and public meetings, preparation of the building permit submittal package, and coordination of all red-line corrections to the plans. We want to make our projects happen, not just talk about imaginary things that never happen. Our active Planning and permit processing work helps that goal get accomplished with minimal headache. It is not possible to build a home without headaches, because that just seems to be part of what happens when you get a bunch of government agencies and their regulations overlapping on one project, but we have the experience to get you to a permit and get your home built as quickly as is possible.

modular panelized home updates to cuttingedgehomes.net

Here are a few new plans and content that were added to our modular and panelized home site.

Gallery of heavy steel panelized home

New Modular Home Plan: Hollywood Maxim - 3,041 square feeet

Modular Home video: Time Lapse set video