12-27-2005, 01:37 PM
In a "package home" all you're really getting is the materials and blueprints. You still have to build the house from scratch. One advantage I could see is that you would get a clear picture of the material cost without having to do your own takeoff and call every lumber yard and ask them "how much for a 2x4x10, 2x4x16, simpson ties" blah blah blah. Be careful about what is included and what is not included in the package. Some include everything you will need to finish, others do not and it may end up cosing quite a bit of money when you realize that they don't include sheetrock for example. I work for a contractor and we have built several HPM homes while I've worked here. HPM just gives us a material list and they arrange delivery at different stages in the project. You can also take one of their plans and drastically change it for a drafting fee. So basically, you can get a custom home from them and they handle all the material ordering. But yes, they are probably more expensive. They have to make some sort of money on this or else they wouldn't be doing it.