Kit Houses - Value

[nystatebuilder]

Hi -

I've recently been researching kit houses online, and discovered this site. What seems fairly typical for kit house manufacturers is the following:

• Package includes framing, sheathing, siding, trim, and roofing. No windows, doors, interior finish, insulation etc.
• Kits seem to run about $25 - $30 / square foot for this stuff for a 1500 sq ft home.
• Kits manufacturers claim you can put it up in about 2 - 4 weeks yourself with 2 people.

I'm not getting the tremendous value here? My understanding of local stick built costs is that you could have a framing crew come in and do this same work for you for about this same price, or only slightly more. What am I missing here?

[Don_P]

Generally convenience, they have done a good takeoff by repetition and drop everything needed off at your doorstep. Unless it is something specialized like panellized, sips, log or timberframe I too fail to see the real motivation to go that route.