This is a question we are often asked. The driving force behind microMansions is to simplify the building process. From design to completion, we facilitate the process and connect the dots for the customer to make a new construction build as seamless as possible. While microMansions is known for a quicker turnaround time, there is a lot of prep work that people often don’t consider when deciding to build a home. Let’s break the timeline down.
Step 1: Kit Pricing
You’ve seen one of our trending posts on Facebook about another client’s dreamy kit home and you’ve decided this is the way to go! You reach out to us to see what the options are and how you can get pricing. Luckily, our team of experts has crafted a price point for each kit that we offer to get you a quick cost reference for your project. Of course, there are always * next to each price. Why? Because we offer you different levels of finishes to choose from so that you can customize your kit.
For example, we offer countertop solutions from Keystone Solid Surfaces out of Wichita, KS. You can choose a granite in their bronze level of pricing or you can choose a quartz in silver, platinum, diamond or gold pricing. Don’t worry, our team of designers will walk you through the process and help you choose. Those selections will affect the final price of your kit.
Other customizations outside of finishes that can affect your kit price include but are not limited to, adding windows or doors, expanding the exterior covered porches, changing interior walls and changing the roof design.
So, how long does the pricing take? If you are selecting a stock floor plan with stock finishes, this process takes about 1 hour or less. If you are customizing your kit design, this can add 3-4 weeks. Why? Because some floor plan changes affect the foundation, the truss system and the cost of custom material. We reach out to our engineers to review the structural changes and contact suppliers for pricing for custom items that we don’t stock. This is why we now charge a $1,000 deposit for customizations of floor plans. This deposit goes towards the price of your kit once you purchase, but it is non-refundable if you decide not to purchase a kit from us.
Step 2: Kit Design
If you are choosing a stock kit and have no changes, you can skip this step.
If you have changes you want to make to the floor plan or exterior portions of the home, you’ll have a free consultation with our design team to discuss the changes. If the changes fall within the level of customization needed above, the $1,000 deposit will be required before proceeding. During this consultation, our designers will review and discuss the desired changes. The changes will be drafted within the next 5 business days and a second meeting will be scheduled to review and discuss. This process should be finalized within 2 weeks of the initial consultation. Once a floor plan is finalized, the plan needs to go out to our structural team. The structural process can take up to 2 additional weeks.
During the structural process, we will also reach out to suppliers for any custom materials. Common items include custom window or door size or style, roofing material, lumber species for exterior porches, composite decking, etc.
Within this 3-4 week window, we should have all of the information back to get you a finalized price for your custom kit.
Step 3: Construction Pricing
Now that you have your kit cost, you need to know how much it costs to take your project from start to finish. The first questions to answer:
Are you going to hire a contractor to turn-key your build?
Are you going to hire a contractor for a portion of the work and DIY the other portion?
Are you planning to DIY the entire build?
microMansions does not build your kit for you, but we do connect you with contractors in your area and help facilitate the bid process. We will reach out to several local contractors that we have previously worked with and will provide them with the information needed to get you an estimate for your construction. We will compile the bids for you and have a meeting to review them. Based on the bids, we’ll schedule a meeting with the contractor of your choosing. You and your contractor will work out payment and agreements.
Construction pricing can take an additional 2-3 weeks to finish with the finalized design documents. If you’re following along, the timeline now looks like this:
- 2-3 weeks of preparation work for a stock plan, and
- 6-8 weeks of preparation work before you are ready to put down a deposit on your microMansion kit.
I hope this explanation of the timeline and work clarifies why we request a deposit for custom kits.
Step 4: Kit Purchase
Now that all the design details and finish selections have been finalized and your contractor has been hired, you are ready to sign the agreement for your kit. A $5,000 deposit is required to secure your kit materials and start the build timeline in our warehouse. ($4,000 deposit if you’ve gone the custom route and already paid $1,000).
The timeline of our kit production also depends on the site work. It generally takes us 2 weeks to have a base kit packaged and ready for delivery. Of course, if there are custom windows or doors, this could take longer. The trusses typically take 4 weeks to produce. That means from deposit and signed agreement to delivery is a 4 week timeline.
The foundation of your home must be completed prior to delivery of your kit. We do not want to hold your kit in our warehouse longer than necessary. If longer than 30 days after our discussed delivery date, we charge a fee for storage. Ideally, we start producing your kit when they are forming up your foundation. Once a slab is poured, you’ll want it to cure for 7-10 days before building. It’s construction, we understand delays happen. The 30-day window should give enough time to get a foundation poured and cured prior to delivery.
Step 5: Kit Delivery
We will phase the deliveries so that you are not overwhelmed with materials on your job site. The delivery schedule looks as follows:
Week 1 – 1st Delivery: Base kit – minus insulation. The base kit includes wall panels, floor trusses, roof trusses, roof decking, windows and exterior doors. The framing of your kit should take your contractor anywhere from 2-5 days, depending on the model.
Week 2 – 2nd Delivery: Siding and Roofing. The following week, your siding and roofing will be scheduled. The siding and the roofing should take 1-2 weeks maximum. Upon completion, your house is dried in and ready for mechanical, electrical and plumbing rough in, which can take an additional 1-2 weeks. If you are purchasing insulation from us, it will be delivered at this time. It will be on a pallet, and you’ll need a place to store in out of the weather. Once installed, the contractor will sheetrock the home, taking another 1-2 weeks.
Week 6 or 7 – 3rd Delivery: Plumbing fixtures, lighting fixtures, flooring, cabinets & interior trim. These may arrive a little early, but the plan here is to not delay your contractor by waiting on materials. These items will drop ship to your jobsite.
Week 7 or 8: Countertop template. The last portion of your kit is the countertops. Once the cabinets are installed, the countertop company will send out a technician to template. Approximately 2 weeks later they will be back to install.
The two main factors that can affect the timeline of your project are weather and contractor scheduling. A close third is customer changes on site. The delivery timeline will be provided in writing and communicated up front to each contractor bidding your project. If they fall behind schedule, they are still responsible for receiving shipments as outlined. The longer we have to wait to place an order, the higher the risk of price increases from a supplier.
Billing
Since we’ve just outlined the schedule, let’s talk about how you’ll be billed for your microManion kit. The progress billing closely aligns with your delivery schedule.
Invoice 1: $5,000 deposit, due after design and kit pricing is approved.
Invoice 2: Base kit materials, less deposit, due prior to shipping.
Invoice 3: Siding, roofing, insulation, due upon delivery.
Invoice 4: Plumbing and lighting fixtures, flooring, cabinets, interior doors and trim, due upon delivery.
Invoice 5: Countertops, due upon installation. This will be the final invoice and if any adjustments haven’t been made to previous invoices, you will see them here.
We hope this helps in planning for you microMansion kit build! We’ll have future posts on financing, finding land, how to choose a contractor, and much more!
