How to Read Manufactured Home Floor Plans
The launch of ManufacturedHomes.com is imminent within the next few weeks. For the last one year plus, dedicated veteran manufactured home industry professionals and technology experts have been dedicated to the mission of developing this interactive website that will provide the prospective manufactured homeowner an easy and comfortable way to discover the home of their dreams.
Even before the introduction of ManufacteredHomes.com we have compiled a virtual library of blog articles that explain most every aspect of the manufactured home and the manufactured housing industry. There are many articles that address topics such as, how manufactured homes are built, materials used, comparison to site built homes, energy efficiency, financing, insurance, warranties, site preparation, home installation, customer service, customization, decors, regulations, pricing, value retention, and much more. You are invited to explore any of the 150 blog postings to find answers to all of your important questions. Many of these articles are written by yours truly, Ben Nelms, with nearly a half century of involvement in every aspect of manufactured homes including manufacturing, retailing, financing, installing, and financing manufactured homes.
ManufacturedHomes.com is a free service that allows you to view floorplans from all the manufacturers and retailers in every area of the country. After you have determined the perfect plan for your families’ needs and wants, you will be able to secure price quotes from various retailer/dealers who offer your preferred floor plan. Your path to the perfect home begins with the floor plan search.
Home floor plans, however, can be confusing for many people. The overhead view of a manufactured home is not consistent with how we usually interact with a building. People often lose their bearings and are unable to understand which rooms are which, and the size of the rooms and the overall size of the home itself. Below you will find a few tips to help show you how to read floor plans. (Our thanks to Champion Home Builders for much of the information detailed).
Getting Started
I suggest you answer the questions posed in my recent blog posting titled, “Which Manufactured Home to Purchase? Answer these 21 Questions,” to determine your “must haves” and preferences in a new manufactured home floor plan.
Understand the Scale of the Home Floor Plans
It is important that you understand the measurements on home floor plans in order to know how large the home and rooms will be. Most plans will use a set scale such as every inch on paper equals ten feet in life. Most, but not all, manufacturers provide the measurements of the home’s exterior dimensions on their plans and the sizes of individual rooms. Some plans are shown with common furniture to help you understand the scale of the rooms.
Walk through the Front Door
It can be hard to take in a full home floor plan all at once, its much easier to use the home floor plan to take an imagined tour through the proposed home. The first step is to find the front door. Doors are usually marked with a break in the wall and a protruding line to demonstrate the direction the door will open. Once you locate the main entrance, imagine yourself walking through it. Pay attention to what room you enter into. Is it a foyer? Is it a main living area?
Continue Your Tour of the Home Floor Plan
After you imagine walking through the front door, consider the space you will find yourself in. Check to see if it appears to be easy to move from one room to another. You can even print out the plan and use your finger or even a pen or pencil to trace paths through the home. Make sure access to each room meets your needs. Observe window locations and wall space when considering furniture placement. Is access to bedroom areas convenient to your family requirements? Is rear exit door and laundry room accessible for your needs?
When you understand how to read manufactured home floor plans shopping for the ideal home will be much easier. Also keep in mind that most manufacturers will allow you to customize and/or make changes to existing floor plans to match your needs or preferences.
