With a wide range of options available for a Craftsman-style home, it might be difficult to decide which prefab or modular craftsman home might be best for your project. To help you assess your options we have selected some of our favorite craftsman-inspired homes to lay out the range of options that exist: including varying sizes, styles, and at different price points. Additionally, we have answered some of the most common questions around building a prefab or modular craftsman, particularly around cost & prices, timeline, and key definitions. If you would like assistance building your own prefab craftsmen, speak with a member of our prefab concierge team.

Understanding Prefab and Modular Craftsmens

What is a prefab craftsman house? What is a modular craftsman house? And what’s the difference between the two?

A craftsman-style house is characterized by exposed beams, bay windows, low-pitched ceilings, and one or two stories. A prefab craftsman refers to any craftsman-style house that is built using prefabricated construction techniques. This includes modular construction, kit home building, panelized home construction, and manufactured construction. 

Modular craftsmens are a subset of prefab construction where box-like module(s) are built off-site, shipped, then set, and finished at the final build site. So, there is very little difference between the two as both will have the design elements of a craftsman. The only outlier would be manufactured craftsmens which are built to a different building code than traditional, residential buildings. And while manufactured homes may be cheaper, they sometimes can not be financed like other site-built or prefab homes and their value appreciates differently over time.

How much does a prefab craftsman home cost?

The craftsmens included in our list have turn-key costs ranging from $373,000 to $1,500,000. These estimates are based on the all-in costs to build each home, not including land. It is worth noting that there are both more affordable and higher-end, fully-custom prefab craftsmens beyond those that are included on our list, depending on your budget and preferences.

To determine what it will cost for your own prefab craftsmen, there are a number of factors to consider:

• Land

• Permitting fees

• Site preparation - site assessment, excavation, utilities, foundation

• Home cost - modules, panels, kit components from the builder

• Delivery - many prefab companies serve large areas of the U.S., if not the whole country. It is worth inquiring if they have regional manufacturing facilities or if they ship materials from their headquarters, in which case, long-distance shipping costs can add-up

• Installation/set - setting modules on a foundation & tying them together, or the assembly of the materials kit or panels

• Finishes - depending on the company and your project’s needs, some modular homes can be delivered in a highly-finished state (around 90% complete). This means homes can arrive on-site complete with flooring, cabinetry, electrical, and plumbing; this requires little on-site work for the home to be move-in ready. Kit homes and panelized homes require significantly more on-site work to assemble and finish, increasing the local cost section of your budget

How long does it take to build a prefab or modular craftsman?

Like other styles of prefab and modular homes, a prefab craftsman can often be built quicker than a site-built home. While the exact timeline of your project will be determined by the length of the design/engineering process, permitting approvals, off-site build times, and on-site assembly & finishing, it is our experience that a prefab craftsman can be move-in ready anywhere between 9-16 months. If you are in a hurry, however, there are some companies (particularly for tiny homes and ADUs) that list build times as short as 3 - 4 months.

Prefab and Modular Craftsmen's For Sale

Lochlin by Linwood Homes

The Lochlin by Linwood Homes is a 2,332 square foot cottage that is built using a structural shell kit that includes: framing materials, windows & doors, and siding. With 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, the Lochlin is a kit home that offers buyers a high degree of flexibility in designing and finishing their home. Linwood Homes’s home has interesting features such as a large front porch, lofted ceilings & floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room, and a first-floor master suite. 

Linwood Homes is based in Delta, B.C., and can work with buyers throughout North America and in some cases, worldwide. Although regional cost differences will affect the cost of building a Lochlin, we estimate that buyers in mid to high-cost areas can expect to pay around $1,049,000.

HCH 2070 by Hybridcore Homes

The HCH 2070 by Hybridcore Homes is an 831 square foot cottage that is built using highly-finished home modules that are constructed off-site, shipped, and finished at the final site. With 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, the HCH 2070 is a smaller footprint home that is well-suited for use as an ADU or smaller home. Hybridcore Homes’ design has interesting features such as a large front porch, an open-plan living area, and two bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom. 

Hybridcore Homes is based in Santa Rosa, California, and can work with buyers throughout California, with the option for turn-key building services in the Northern San Francisco Bay Area. Although regional cost differences will affect the cost of building an HCH 2070, we estimate that buyers in mid to high-cost areas can expect to pay $373,000, not including land.

Mountain Craftsman by Purcell Timber Frame Homes

The Mountain Craftsman by Purcell Timber Frame Homes is a 2,700 square foot cottage that is built using a timber frame structural shell that is packaged, shipped, assembled, and finished on-site. With 3 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms, the Mountain Craftsman is a larger mid to high-end home that would work well as a primary residence or vacation home. Purcell Timber Frame Homes’ house has interesting features such as high, lofted ceilings, a master suite, and many large windows. 

Purcell Timber Frame Homes is based in Nelson, B.C., and can work with buyers throughout Canada and the United States. We estimate that buyers in mid to high-cost areas can expect to pay $1,160,330 to build the Mountain Craftsman craftsmen by Purcell Timber Frame Homes, not including land.

Caribou Lofted by Whisper Creek

The Caribou Lofted by Whisper Creek is a 4,321 square foot cottage that is built using a panelized home system kit. With 3+ bedrooms and 2+ bathrooms, the Caribou Lofted is a large footprint home with flexible interior layout options. Whisper Creek’s home has interesting features such as a mixture of craftsman and log cabin design elements with lofted ceilings and two stories. 

Whisper Creek is based in Hamilton, Montana, and can work with buyers throughout the entire United States. Although regional cost differences will affect the cost of building a Caribou Lofted, we estimate that buyers in mid to high-cost areas can expect to pay around $1,500,000.

North Park by Mid-Atlantic Timber Frames

The North Park by Mid-Atlantic Timber Frames is a 1,900 square foot cottage that is built using a combination of timber framing and energy efficient SIPs. With 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, the North Park is a good option for a rustic, craftsman-style residence. Mid-Atlantic Timber Frames’ home has interesting features such as vaulted ceilings, a first-floor master suite, and an open living/dining layout. 

Mid-Atlantic Timber Frames is based in Paradise, Pennsylvania and can work with buyers throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern U.S., though they can consider projects outside of that area on a case-by-case basis. Although regional cost differences will affect the cost of building a North Park, we estimate that buyers in mid to high-cost areas can expect to pay around $617,500.  

Key Takeaways of Building a Prefab or Modular craftsmen Home

• Just like site-built craftsman homes, prefab and modular craftsman homes are characterized by: exposed beams, bay windows, low-pitched ceilings, and one or two stories

• As with most types of residential construction, the turn-key cost of your craftsman will be heavily influenced by several factors: location & local labor cost, standard vs. custom, site work costs, and degree of finishes. That being said, buyers with mid to high-end costs can expect turn-key pricing from $400 - $600 per square foot, while low-end costs can range from $200 - $400 per square foot

• Similar to cost, the timeframe to build your craftsman will be largely determined by factors like permitting time, standard vs. custom, and whether or not your selected company has a backlog of orders. While some modular homes can be built in as little as a few weeks, the entire process: from the time you put your deposit down until your craftsman is move-in ready is often between 9 - 16 months

• There are a number of builders that sell prefab and modular craftsmen homes including Linwood Homes, Hybridcore Homes, Purcell Timber Frame Homes, Whisper Creek, and Mid-Atlantic Timber Frames

Additional Information for Building Prefab and Modular Homes in the United States

• Reviews of Prefab and Modular Home Builders in the United States

• Understand the Financing Process for Building a Prefab Home

• Find Prefab and Modular Companies That Build in Your City & State