Skip to content
Mighty Small Homes
Main Menu
  • Our Kits
      • white rendering of the Modern kit house sold by Mighty Small Homes Modern kit page.
      • Contemporary kit Contemporary kit page.
      • Ranch kit Ranch kit page.
      • Cottage kit Cottage kit page.
      • Carriage kit Carriage kit page.
      • Tiny kit Tiny kit page.
      Modern
      VIEW DETAILS Modern kit page.
      white rendering of the Modern kit house sold by Mighty Small Homes
      Sizes:
      • 256 sq. ft.
        (16' x 16')
      • 600 sq. ft.
        (20' X 30')
      • 1,200 sq. ft.
        (30' x 40')
      Contemporary
      VIEW DETAILS Contemporary kit page.
      Contemporary kit
      Sizes:
      • 1,200 sq. ft.
        (30' x 40')
      • 900 sq. ft.
        (30' x 30')
      • 1500 sq. ft.
        (30' x 50')
      Ranch
      VIEW DETAILS Ranch kit page.
      Ranch kit
      Sizes:
      • 384 sq. ft.
        (16' x 24')
      • 768 sq. ft.
        (24' x 32')
      • 936 sq. ft.
        (26' x 36')
      • 1,200 sq. ft.
        (30' x 40')
      Cottage
      VIEW DETAILS Cottage kit page.
      Cottage kit
      Sizes:
      • 480 sq. ft.
        (16' x 24')
      • 600 sq. ft.
        (20' x 30'
      • 864 sq. ft.
        (24' x 36')
      Carriage
      VIEW DETAILS Carriage kit page.
      Carriage kit
      Tiny
      VIEW DETAILS Tiny kit page.
      Tiny kit
      • View All Kits
      • Build Your Custom Kit
  • How It Works
    • Home Buyers
    • Builders
    • What’s Included
    • Assembly Guide
    • Mighty Ideas
  • Advantages
    • Hurricane-Resistant
    • Sustainable
    • Structural Insulated Panels
    • Prefabricated
    • Made in the USA
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
Back to Blog

How to Select a Small Home Kit Builder

May 4, 2022

Photo of a person stirring food in a skillet

Prefab small home kits offer an increasingly popular option for homebuilders looking to save money on a new home or to be more involved in the building process. Many home kit buyers want to assemble the kit themselves (it’s actually pretty easy – step-by-step guide), but many people choose to hire a home kit builder to do the work for them.

Either way, by using a prefab small house kit, you’ll save time, money, and stress. The key is to find a home kit contractor that will accomplish your task on budget, on time, and with as little stress as possible.

Selecting a Small Home Kit Builder

Choosing the right home kit builder for your needs and for the type of new home you seek is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in assembling your small home kit. Just as with buying or selling an existing home, building a new home can be a complicated process.

Choosing the best home builder for you and your project is essential to its success. Even though prefab small home kits take far less time to build than traditional custom homes, trust and clear communication are equally critical when selecting a contractor. Your contractor will be assembling your kit and finishing it out, managing any necessary subcontractors required.

EXPLORE | Live Green with our Eco–Friendly Small Home Kits

What to Do Before Selecting Your Home Kit Builder

photo of a builder securing a base plate on the foundation of a small home kit

Before you begin your building search, you need to evaluate your finances.

This way you can avoid going over your budget or paying for unnecessary expenses. If using a small home kit, you’ll already have the blueprint and building plan for your house.

This will save you and your contractor a lot of time.

Be clear on what you want your contractor to be responsible for, and what you want to be responsible for.

Many prefab small home kit purchasers don’t mind rolling up their sleeves and working, so you may not want to use a contractor for finishes or painting.

Consider these questions before choosing a builder

  • What are your needs for your builder?
  • What experience does this contractor have?
  • Are past buyers satisfied?
  • Is the builder licensed and insured?
  • Does this contractor have experience assembling kits?
  • What warranty or service arrangements does this contractor have?
  • What level of quality does this contractor provide?
red-flag-warning-when-evaluating-a-builder

What are the red flags when evaluating a home-kit builder?

  • Does the kit builder require large initial down payments or deposits before work starting?
  • There is no written contract or a poorly written contract.
  • Stated price is “too good to be true” and is significantly lower than other bids.
  • There is unclear work history, no references, or references can’t be verified.
  • Contractor will not provide a complete estimate.
  • Builder says your home will be used for marketing purposes so you will be given a special low rate.
  • Homebuilder offers a lump sum or very general estimate lacking detail.

What to Ask Your Home Kit Builder

builder plans and tools

Before selecting a builder, ask them these questions:

  • How will you ensure a project stays on time and budget?
  • What is your communication process for when the project looks to be going out of scope and/or budget?
  • What experience do you have in assembling prefab kit homes?
  • Will you or someone else be overseeing the assembly and finishing of my home kit?
  • How do you choose subcontractors and ensure their quality?
  • How long do you anticipate this project will take?
  • How do you charge for your work?
  • How do you handle payments and billing?
  • What sets you apart from other contractors?

Making the Final Decision

You’ll probably narrow down your choice for a home kit builder to assemble your small-house kit to a few options. Compare the preferences and knowledge of each builder. Write a list of pros and cons to determine who is a better option when it comes to building your small home.

How Much Does a Prefab Home Kit Builder Charge?

If you’re building your house from a home kit, you have a much simpler project in front of you. Not only will your home kit come with pre-assembled panels ready to piece together, but you’ll already have detailed plans. While you still will want a contractor if you don’t want to assemble your home yourself, you should expect a lower rate from a general contractor for home kit projects.

General home contractors usually end up costing around 10-15% of the total project cost. Many contractors will charge less for assembling a small house kit because there is less risk, more detailed plans, and clear scope for the project. For kit home contractors, you can expect a cost of around 7-10% of the final build price.

Contact Mighty Small Homes to discuss building your small house kit.

Previous Post Next Post

Subscribe

Stay up to date with small home trends and our newest builds

Get a Custom Quote

For a more detailed estimate, click below and we’ll have a representative get in touch.

Contact Us

View
Our Kits

See All of our kits
A render of a completed Modern kit

Related Articles

August 22, 2023

How MEP Plans Streamline Construction of Your Mighty Small Home

August 16, 2023

Escape to Paradise Sooner: House Kits Perfect for Vacation Homes

July 20, 2023

Building Hurricane-Resistant Homes

Why Mighty

  • Advantages
  • Why Mighty
  • Our Kits
  • How It Works
  • Mighty Ideas
  • FAQs
  • Blog

Contact

  • (502) 242-2977
  • contact@mightysmallhomes.com
  • Proudly based in Louisville, KY
Get a Custom Quote

Subscribe

Get updates on small home trends
and our newest builds

Follow

  • Mighty Small Homes Social Media Links

  • facebook(opens in new window)
  • instagram(opens in new window)
  • pinterest(opens in new window)
  • twitter(opens in new window)
  • youtube(opens in new window)
Mighty Small Homes © 2023 Mighty Small Homes
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
DBS Logo DBS's Logo - an orange chevron Web Design by DBS Interactive

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.

A "cookie" is a small digital file that is created by a website and then stored by a user's browser. We use these cookies to help improve our site, including improvements to both content and ease of use. We do not use cookies to store any personal identifying information about you, and you can remove cookies from your browser at any time.