realtor.com
Turn onto a street in the Cottage Home neighborhood of Indianapolis, and you might think you’ve wandered into a hipster colony on the West Coast. A group of prefab, ultramodern builds has made a colorful splash in a landscape filled with ranch-style homes.
The latest addition to the cluster of modernity—complete with pink door and turquoise siding—is on the market for $379,000. The home is the brainchild of Ursula David, president and founder of Indy Mod Homes.
David, who started her homebuilding company in 1993, had the foresight to purchase a group of lots in the up-and-coming downtown neighborhood during the recession of 2008.
David, who had been building traditional, large suburban homes for over a decade, wanted to change it up once the building market bounced back and was inspired by Dwell magazine.
“I was like, oh my god, I love prefab homes. I’m going to figure out how to do it,” the 66-year-old recalled.
She approached a mobile home factory in Indiana that offered to give prefab home construction a try, and had the first home built for herself in 2012.
“The house is built in a factory. Then it’s delivered to me in pieces on flat-bed trailers,” David says.
David says unlike dealing with a construction project outside in the elements, building on a factory floor has benefits: The materials are never rained on, the workers are safer, and less trash is generated.
Kitchen with Corian counters and laminate cabinets
realtor.com
Mudroom and storage lockers
realtor.com
One of the 2.5 baths
realtor.com
Open living space
realtor.com
But due to factory space constraints, the homes are smaller by design, no more than 2,600 square feet.
“I have them do as much as possible inside,” she says. The prefab is delivered with interior finishes and drywall. It also comes complete with sinks, cabinets, faucets, tile, and light fixtures, all previously selected by David.
Once the home is placed on the slab, the indoor build can be completed in about three to four weeks. The factory David uses is located about three hours from Indianapolis, and the home is delivered in pieces by trailer truck.
“I have a crane on site. We lift the boxes off the trailers, and set them on the foundation—and voila, we have an almost completed home,” David says.
It takes her crew about 45 days to wind up with a fully finished product—factoring in the addition of a foundation, siding, utilities, and landscaping.
For a Midwestern home buyer with a discerning eye, these prefabs are a welcome change. Plus, they aren’t cookie-cutter designs. Each prefab in the neighborhood was custom-designed for the client, with the help of an architect.
As for the home currently on the market, David built it on spec and she’s the one who picked the distinctive front door.
“I’ve built seven prefabs, and I’m getting ready to start another one. It’s worked out really great,” David adds. “It’s pretty fun, I have to say.”
The sense of fun is evident in the home for sale, apparent right at the front door. The 1,576-square-foot home has two bedrooms and 2.5 baths. The open plan includes a living and dining space, and a kitchen with sleek laminate cabinets, bar seating, and Corian counters. The kitchen and baths have tile flooring.
The rest of the house has wide-plank hardwood flooring. The exterior is cement board siding. Thoughtful details include mudroom lockers, an upstairs laundry, a master suite, and an open loft that could work as an office. Outside there’s a garage with extra storage.
“She’s really is a pioneer in our area, with respect to helping people understand the value of prefab,” says listing agent Zoe Moore, who is also David’s daughter. The two, who have teamed up in the past, already have plans to build and sell another Indy Mod home.
It’s David’s focus on every detail, from faucets to fixtures, that sets her homes apart, Moore notes.
“She is one single solitary woman who puts her heart and soul into the houses she builds, oriented toward the people who are living there. No two [homes] are alike, even though the main parts are prefab,” Moore adds.
We have to agree, it’s completely prefabulous.
The post Homebuilder With Vibrant Vision Brings Prefab Modern to Indianapolis appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
from DIYS http://ift.tt/2GwOXJt
No comments:
Post a Comment