By modular, do you mean a trailer or a manufactured home similar to a double-wide? I ask the question because I worked within this industry for many years and there is a difference construction when comparing a manufactured (trailer or double-wide) to a modular home.

A manufactured home is built and transported to the site on a wheeled chaise. Trailers and double-wides fall into this category and yes, these homes typically contain more plastic and unnatural building materials. In general, the quality of construction is not as good as a traditionally built or modular home.

If you are talking about a true modular home, the building materials are very similar to conventional stick built construction and shouldn't have any more (or less) toxic or undesirable products than your average stick-built home.

 

Given the circumstances you describe, I would move. Location, location, location ... can't fix a neighborhood, can always fix a house.

As for the carpet - If it's old it has already off-gassed. Concerning your allergies (which, btw, I have too), buy a good carpet cleaning machine and use it before you move in and every time else you think the carpet is retaining dirt. I inherited carpet when we moved in and was grossed-out by the thought of what might be in it. But, once I cleaned it, I felt much better about living with it. I scuff across the carpet with white socks, and they're still white when I'm done. There are eco-friendly carpet detergents and a little boost from OxiClean for the first cleaning will kick-up the cleaning capacity. You'll be horrified the first time you clean it. Be prepared to do it slowly and more than once.

I still hate carpet, but I can now live with this until we can afford to change it.

Whatever you decide, best of luck.

 

The owner said...it is a manufactured home, as big as a double wide. So, yeah, it is much more like a trailer and inside, it looks like a trailer. YKWIM? It just has the same feel and look to it as a trailer does. I grew up around trailers, not actually in one, but many family members had them, and it is just like it.

BTW, the carpet is actually semi-new. He said 3 years old and looks pretty clean. So, I don't know how long it takes for the carpet to off-gas, but I thought I read something about it somewhere and 3 years doesn't seem long enough. Maybe I am wrong?

 

Well if you are planning on moving anyways especially within a year I wouldn't move. Not into a trailer. Any money or work you put in it would be wasted b/c trailers don't build equity like houses do. Plus the resell value of a trailer is going to be low. The house could always be resold, a trailer not so much. You'd have a harder time selling it than the house.

 

In your shoes I would focus more on how I would feel living in the new house vs. the current house. For me, I really care about feeling settled and comfortable in a house, and feeling safe -- and the house itself contributes more to that feeling than the neighbourhood, though both are important. So I wouldn't move. There may be health issues with the building materials, etc. - but it's very difficult to weigh these against the possible health and emotional benefits. If I otherwise clearly wanted to move, I probably wouldn't be stopped by the hypothetical/uncertain nature of the building materials, especially for a limited period. But I also am pretty sure that in your shoes, I would want to stay put...

 

I think I would stay put. The market isn't so great right now, and in a year it could pick up a lot, or at least stabilize, which means more $ for you and selling your house quicker. You could list it now and it may sit on the market for a year with the way the market is now.

 

i'd stay put for another year

 

Thanks for all the replies

I believe we are gonna stay put. I kept thinking about how my kids would react to moving twice in a year vs. one time in a year. Regardless of building materials and such. On top of that, I believe I may have convinced my in-laws to do something about this yard of ours. Probably because their grandkids would be farther away from them...anyways, thanks again.