Posted by jeremyscheller in Prefab | 2 Comments
This Week in Prefab: iHouse
Prefab, Affordable?
The promise of eco-friendly modern prefab housing is also it’s current downfall: low prices. In order to lower the price, you need to ramp up production. Classic issue of supply and demand capitalism.
A new player in the market.
In walks Warren Buffet and his conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway…One of their companies is called Clayton House and they launched a much anticipated Eco-friendly Prefab model called the iHouse, intended to be affordable and accessible as a modern dwelling place.
Personalize it.
I went to the website and configured my own model which included a 2 Bedroom, 1 bath main living quarters with a sun porch that connects to the flexspace that adds a large multi-purpose room, a smaller flex room and another bathroom. I included two solar powered options, a few kitchen and bath upgrades, and priced out a fully modern, small footprint home for $185,000 delivered right to my very own empty lot.
A step in the right direction.
This is a great new option in the prefab world. Hopefully, with the backing of one of the best business minds around, they can start selling these things and lend a boost to the entire prefab market. I think they need to get the price down another 25-30% in order to truly make these things accessible for the average family.
Images from the recent Popular Mechanics article.
Jeremy what do you think about these homes being made handicapped accessible? Possible at their size?
I definitely think that the homes are modifiable to meet accessibility needs. The shell is made in the factory, but you can definitely make adjustments to the interior as necessary with most of these prefab models. So, I’m guessing it’s possible and probable that they can be adjusted for accessibility.