The youtube tour of the other modular home recently erected in Carlsbad:
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Jim Klinge
Klinge Realty Group
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Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We sold a home with Jim and Donna and from beginning to end they were consummate professionals. Their initial walk through the property resulted in a list of items to be repaired or updated. They supplied a list of vendors and job quotes to do the repairs and updates. We originally wanted to sell ‘as is’ and just get it over with. They gave us a selling price for ‘as is’ and options for doing a few updates/repairs to doing it all with the selling price for each option. We agreed to do all they suggested and we sold for the exact price they predicted. For every dollar spent we got back more than $2 back in the selling price. And they got that price in a rising interest rate environment! Donna and Jim are extremely detailed and guide you through ever aspect of the sale. There were no surprises thanks to their guidance. We couldn’t be more pleased with their representation. Thank you Donna and Jim, Jerry and MaryTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We have known Jim & Donna Klinge for over a dozen years, having met them in Carlsbad where our children went to the same school. As long time North County residents, it was a no- brainer for us to have the Klinges be our eyes and ears for San Diego real estate in general and North County in particular. As my military career caused our family to move all over the country and overseas to Asia, Europe and the Pacific, we trusted Jim and Donna to help keep our house in Carlsbad rented with reliable and respectful tenants for over 10 years. Naturally, when the time came to sell our beloved Carlsbad home to pursue a rural lifestyle in retirement out of California, we could think of no better team to represent us than Jim and Donna. They immediately went to work to update our house built in 2004 to current-day standards and trends — in 2 short months they transformed it into a literal modern-day masterpiece. We trusted their judgement implicitly and followed 100% of their recommended changes. When our house finally came on the market, there was a blizzard of serious interest, we had multiple offers by the third day and it sold in just 5 days after a frenzied bidding war for 20% above our asking price! The investment we made in upgrades recommended by Jim and Donna yielded a 4-fold return, in the process setting a new high water mark for a house sold in our community. In our view, there are no better real estate professionals in all of San Diego than Jim and Donna Klinge. Buying or selling, you must run and beg Jim and Donna Klinge to represent you! Our family will never forget Jim, Donna, and their whole team at Compass — we are forever grateful to them.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. WeI had the pleasure of working with Klinge Realty Group to sell our home in Carmel Valley, and I cannot recommend them highly enough! Jim and Donna demonstrated exceptional professionalism, offering expert guidance on market conditions and pricing strategy, which resulted in a quick and successful sale. Communication was prompt and we were well-informed throughout the entire process. For anyone looking for a dedicated and knowledgeable real estate team, look no further! ---Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Donna and Jim Klinge of Klinge Realty Group have our highest possible recommendation. From Donna and Jim’s first visit to our house through closing their advice and counsel was candid and honest in all dealings. They kept us fully informed throughout the process. The house sold less than three days after listing with a two-week closing. My wife and I have sold several houses during our lives. This was by far the best experience. Klinge Reality is a premium service realtor. You can’t make a better choice for someone to sell your home fast and for top dollar.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Donna and Jim provided exceptional support and professionalism throughout the entire process. We couldn't have been happier with their efforts. They made our house shine, and thanks to their expertise, it sold above the listing price in the very first weekend! Truly a fantastic experience from start to finish.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This year has been difficult on our family, mainly due to having to sell our home. Thankfully we knew God had a plan for us and working with the Klinge team was a key part of it. It was an obvious decision to work with them again after such an amazing experience when purchasing the same home we needed to sell. The challenge was, how will we do this in so little time with so much going on? Jim and Donna held our hand every step of the way. Whenever an unexpected issue arose they found and provided a solution. Never once did we feel pressured to make a decision and the Klinges were always reassuring after providing the information that the decision was ours to make. Despite the curve balls, they never panicked and exemplified the “can do” attitude, making us feel optimistic and taken care of. Their expertise and professionalism was superb. But of all the reasons to work with the Klinges, the most impactful and valuable is their compassion and genuine care for their clients. We pray that we can one day purchase our forever home and you better believe that Jim and Donna will be representing us - as long as they will have us of course. Thank you again Klinge team! Your execution, experience, and care are unmatched.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Jim and Donna were fantastic! Jim understanding my needs, recommending potential places, pointing out the pros and cons of each property was invaluable. Then when the offer was accepted Donna’s organized guidance through the inspections, paperwork etc made the whole process seem effortless. So grateful that I had them on my side!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We first found Jim through his blog at bubbleinfo.com, which really showcased his knowledge of SoCal real estate. Since then we've done three transactions with Jim and Donna, and they are an incredible full service agency, with Jim's deep market insight and Donna's deft contract and project management. We trust them implicitly in their analysis and strategy, which is based on years of experience. They're always available and on top of things, and we strongly recommend them to anyone.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The Good The Klinge Realty Group operates like a finely tuned machine, with a very personal touch. We contacted them on a Sunday and they were talking to us about our family and our needs on our living room couch the following day. They carefully listened to us and worked with us to identify the best and quickest path to listing within 2 weeks to take advantage of the low inventory conditions in our South Carlsbad neighborhood. They knew our tract specifically and had many previous sales there over the years - they came prepared with a thorough analysis of comparative sales and recommended a pricing strategy that they felt confident would yield offers the first weekend on the market. The Great Over the next two weeks Donna coordinated a range of vendors who she knew from experience could get the preparation to list work we needed done on time and with high quality. Our light tune-up involved excellent experiences with their stagers, landscapers, contractors, electricians, and plumbers. Throughout this period Donna's daily communication was clear, concise, and responsive. Any time we had questions Donna picked up the phone or texted immediately - but almost always, she answered our questions before we even knew we had them. The Outstanding We had a tricky situation with a shared fence that could have delayed our escrow. Donna used superb mediation skills to negotiate the terms of replacement and was personally on site with the fence contractor to make sure everything went smoothly. The fence looks great and escrow closed on time. The Truly Exceptional Our house came on the market on a Wednesday and between then and Monday morning Jim was personally at all three open houses. He was in constant communication explaining potential buyer reaction and strength. As he predicted offers began to come in on Saturday and each one was incrementally higher than the last. At the end we had 5 offers, 4 of which were over list, and the final accepted offer was $100,000 over list. In addition to being over list it included rent back terms that met our needs. The Recommendation For all of these reasons we would strongly recommend The Klinge Team to anyone wanting to sell in North County Coastal San Diego. I had been reading Jim's bubbleinfo.com blog for 15 years and knew when the time came to sell that he would be our first call. Jim Klinge is not your standard realtor. He is keenly aware of market conditions and sales strategies. And, works his tail off - though not as hard as Donna . At this point he's gone from realtor to friend and I plan to have him over to grill and chill at our new place to talk real estate, but also just about life and raising kids in San Diego. He's more interested in relationships than his sales numbers - and that's why his sales numbers are so high. We have already recommended the Klinge's to some close friends and another successful sale is on deck right around the corner...Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We recently had the pleasure of working with Jim and Donna from Klinge Realty Group to sell our house, and we couldn't be more satisfied with the experience. From the initial meeting, they listened attentively to our needs and provided invaluable guidance on specific improvements to get our home market ready. Their responsiveness throughout the entire process was truly impressive. Anytime we had questions or concerns, they were quick to address them, ensuring we felt comfortable and informed every step of the way. What stood out the most was their team and extensive network of tradespeople, which made addressing any necessary repairs or updates seamless and stress-free. Thanks to their expertise and dedication, our house sold quickly and at a great price. We highly recommend Jim and Donna to anyone looking to buy or sell a home. They are a fantastic team who truly care about their clients and deliver exceptional results.Load more
Admirable attention to detail.
What does it cost to grade the land and pour the cement slab? Can you do a basement?
This kind of house is very interesting. I really like all little features built throughout.
Thank you Jim for putting this video together and thank you homeowner for allowing us to check out your new pad.
You mentioned that the company was based out of Tempe Arizona — could you post the web address of the company.
BTW – I have been following your site for quite some time now and have been consistently impressed by your professionalism and approach — I only wished other realtors approached their business with the same level of commitment.
Thanks Aidan!
U.S. Modular Inc. is based in Hemet, CA
(he said that this home was built in a Tempe, AZ factory)
Here is their San Diego website:
http://sandiegomodularhomebuilders.com/
Their tour of other house in Carlsbad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_L8HAVXffc
That is a nice house. I have been following modular/pre-fab stuff for a few years. There are some cool offerings but I think some people think it means a “trailer”.
I have often wondered why new houses do not do a better job on the AC and heating systems. I live in a newer house in Bressi Ranch and it amazes me that a 4 year old home still has huge temperature differences all of the house. There are no zones and one thermostat. The system in this house is label as “green” but I would say it is more just good design.
Thanks for the tour jim.
shadash,
I don’t know about costs, but I do know that many of the modular companies have plans with optional basements. Obviously, the basement has to be done on site as part of your foundation plan, subject to local permits/inspections.
I really wish Haven Homes (or a legit competitor) would bring their modular mansions out west – I think they could kill it out here on the high end with custom modular builds and premium finishes done on site.
Hey Waiting_for_ever_to_buy,
Until recently, I was also having problems with huge temperature differentials in my home. Upstairs would be cooking while downstairs (where the only thermostat is) would be freezing. The simple and free fix was to close or nearly-close the hvac vents upstairs and angle the ones downstairs so that they were pointing more downwards. Now there is very little temp diff. We’ll just reverse it when things warm up and we switch to AC.
I too am very curious about costs from beginning to end…Can anyone provide an estimated breakdown of securing the plot, prepping the foundation, getting permits, “designing” the house, transportation from factory, “installation” and final hook up? And any other costs that would be included? If the owner of the house that was toured is a reader of this blog, any thoughts on “ballpark” figures without revealing too much of your personal info?
My opinion of the home is that it’s a blend between Craftsman, Cape Cod and Contemporary with way too many details that seem to detract from the overall design direction. Almost like it was designed by a comittee rather than a single architect/designer.
There were many cool details, esp the thermostats, etc but, just my opinion, that the overall effect was way too much of a melting pot of design.
One other point I noticed has to do with the wine storage rack. If you are going to install that much wine storage, you’d be WAY better off with a fridge-size wine refrigeration appliance.
Both the homeowner and builders knew I was doing the video for the blog, so they’ll chime in at some point.
He paid $290,000 for the lot a year ago.
They figured $60/sf for the construction costs, with $100/sf for total costs.
2,800sf x $60/sf = $168,000 construction
2,800sf x $40/sf = $112,000 site prep, garage, etc.
Total = 2,800sf x $100sf = $280,000 + $290,000 for lot = $570,000 invested
Thanks JtR – I’m pulling out my checkbook right now! =) Seriously, though, the modulars are really opening my eyes to another possibility. With the strict quality control checks at the factor coupled with the cost savings, I guess the only issue people will have is finding their ideal lot. Not sure if this is a fair analogy, but automobiles are built at a factory with strict quality control inspections and we buy those all the time w/o thinking about it…why not a house?
I am living in my second modular home, this one for the last 10 years. There is much to be said for having something built on time and on budget!
This house is 2300 sq feet, built in 3 months, delivered with another month to finish interior details (laying of tile floors, hanging doors, wood trims, furnace and water heater install, carpet laying,etc.), application of a metal roof, and the construction of the garage on site. A foundation allowance was included in the price.
There is nothing ‘mobile’ about these homes. They are built to the Uniform Building Code, same as site built. They are just built somewhere else.
I’m not a fan of the uber-modern home experience, but its clearly well done, so, props for that. For those of you who are of a certain age, you may recall that Sears sold modular homes out of its catalog. I’m not of that age, but my grandfather lived next to one. You wouldn’t be able to tell it was modular unless someone told you.
OK, so how would a potential buyer move ahead with this idea? Does the buyer have to do all the heavy lifting (lot, permits, etc.) or does the modular builder put the package together and do it all?
This is such a great idea. $290,000 for a lot, wow. The tear downs in the nice zips are 2-3x that, right?
In our case we owned the property (7acres), although I understand that some companies own lots and built to sell.
Permitting was part of the package, thankfully. The only thing we had to arrange for with the county was the ground rod inspection and the final.
Susan
Great vid Jim.
I thought perhaps your visitors might be interested in this similar construction that was shown over here in the UK. It was by a German company for a senior couple.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2784715121086172729#
Jim – Nice job on the video and description of my home. Having built and survived several homes via traditional site built construction – with permitting delays, inspection delays, subcontractor delays , change orders and cost overruns – I WILL NEVER BUILD A TRADITIONAL SITE BUILT HOME AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!
Modular Home building is easy and actually fun. USModular Inc. (www.USModularInc.com) and their factory partner – had plans permitted at State of California – and I deliverd the APPROVED plans to City …. 3 days later we had a building permit – No Delay. When the site work and foundation were being completed the home was already built and ready for delivery. No Delay. Home was craned into place in 1 day and 60 days later after USModular finished the work to connect the modules, electrical and plumbing – we were moving into home. NO Delay.
I estimate that when I add the savings on carry cost of land and construction loans , rent (savings for 1 year) and taxes – I am about $100,000 ahead of someone that spent 18 months building a similar size home.
Wow, so cool. Thanks for getting this vid and thanks to the owners for letting us in.
Solid solid house, and much less stress and hassle than trying to build one.
My spider sense is tingling, feels like we are seeing into the future.
Wow, awesome video, Jim. Mahalo to William for his comments (#17) and letting us have a tour. I’ve built two homes with my late husband, and there are delays–no matter how hard you try to make sure there aren’t!
My friends had a modular put on their land, and have lived there for about 11 years. They love it, and no complaints on quality or durability.
This house was installed in one day? Amazing I say, and the finish details look exquisite–just like an upscale home. Love the hickory hardwood floors too. Yep, it sounds like the future is here…
I really like the idea of modular homes, but to my surprise I find myself agreeing with MB Mike. Stained glass windows, a copper tub, sloping attic ceilings, a wine storage area, thin horizontal backsplash tiles, a flat screen over the fireplace — to me this is like every house cliche of the past 5 years shoehorned into once space. It’s as if they had a suggestion box at the design studio and decided, what the heck, we’ll use ALL of them. But the concept is certainly nice.
Cliche or not, it’s a very beautiful home. I especially like the design of the back wall over the kitchen counters. And that copper bathtub looks incredible! But man must it cost a lot to fill that sucker up with hot water! 🙂
We’ll see a lot of these in our future. The Midwest market is really adopting these modular homes en-mass. Jim, visit one of the factories (maybe Tempe facility?) and you’ll see that overall build quality is much higher tolerance than site-built.