Compare modular-home teams on the complete installed project rather than presentation quality or base price.
The company selling a floor plan may not be the party designing the site, holding the local construction contract, transporting modules, operating the crane, completing utilities, or resolving warranty issues. Ask who owns every result and request documents that support the answer.
Describe one project to every candidate
Provide the same parcel, jurisdiction, desired space, finish level, utility assumptions, access constraints, timing goal, and known studies. Ask candidates to identify missing information before quoting. Comparable input is necessary for comparable scope; otherwise each proposal solves a different project.
Ask for evidence across the whole lifecycle
- Which entities contract, design, manufacture, build, transport, set, inspect, and warrant?
- What local licenses, registrations, insurance, and relevant project experience apply?
- Which drawings, specifications, inclusions, allowances, and exclusions control?
- How are permits, review comments, changes, delays, damage, and disputes handled?
- What evidence supports the schedule and payment milestones?
- Who owns punch work, final inspections, occupancy, manuals, and warranty response?
Score evidence, not confidence
| Claim | Useful evidence | Weak substitute |
|---|---|---|
| Complete price | Responsibility matrix and line-item scope | One base-price number |
| Fast schedule | Dependency plan and current capacity | Best-case duration |
| Quality process | Inspection points and correction records | Showroom finish |
Run a fair builder comparison
- Issue one question set and project brief.
- Normalize scope, allowance, tax, and exclusion differences.
- Verify current credentials through appropriate sources.
- Speak with relevant recent customers when authorized.
- Review contract, plans, warranty, and change procedure together.
- Record unresolved items with owners and deadlines.
Notice answers that avoid responsibility
- “That is usually handled locally” without naming who
- References unrelated to the proposed jurisdiction or system
- Payment ahead of clearly evidenced progress
- Warranty language that splits one defect among several parties
Create a decision memorandum
Summarize the selected team, reasons, verified facts, remaining assumptions, excluded scope, price range, schedule basis, contract protections, and conditions that must be satisfied before notice to proceed. Keep rejected alternatives and material clarifications so later changes can be evaluated against the original decision.