Upgrading Your Manufactured Home: Customization Options Before You Buy
When many people think of manufactured or modular homes, they picture standard layouts with basic finishes. But today's factory-built homes offer incredible flexibility. At Liechty Homes, we help buyers across North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota customize their floor plans to match their exact style and needs.
The secret to maximizing your budget? Choosing your upgrades before the home is built.
Customizing your home during the factory build process is significantly cheaper and easier than trying to remodel or upgrade a home after it has been delivered and set on your lot.
Here is a look at the most popular customization options available when designing your new home, featuring premium finishes from our top manufacturing partners, Schult and BonnaVilla.
1. Upgraded Wall Finishes (Tape & Texture vs. VOG)
One of the most requested upgrades that instantly modernizes a manufactured home is the wall finish.
Standard VOG (Vinyl-Over-Gypsum): Many standard manufactured homes use VOG panels. These are durable and easy to clean, but the seams between the panels are covered by batten strips (often called "wall strips").
The Upgrade — Tape and Texture Drywall: Upgrading to a tape-and-texture finish means the factory installs raw drywall, tapes the seams, applies drywall mud, and sands it smooth before adding a textured finish and paint. This creates a seamless appearance identical to a traditional site-built home, eliminating the batten strips entirely.
Why do it at the factory? Retrofitting VOG walls with tape-and-texture drywall after the home is built is a labor-intensive, messy, and expensive DIY project. Ordering it from the factory ensures a flawless, professional finish that adds immediate resale value.
2. Exterior Aesthetics: Architectural Shingles and Dormers
The "curb appeal" of a factory-built home can rival any traditional build with the right exterior choices.
Roofing: Instead of standard 3-tab shingles, upgrade to architectural shingles. They offer a dimensional, high-end look and are often rated for higher wind resistance—a must-have for the Dakotas.
Dormers and Roof Pitches: Upgrading to a steeper roof pitch (like a Cape Cod style) or adding dormers breaks up the roofline, making the home look much larger and more custom. BonnaVilla, for instance, specializes in customizing exterior choices to accentuate any lifestyle.
3. High-End Kitchen Finishes
The kitchen is the heart of the home, and factory-built kitchens can be fully outfitted with premium features.
Farmhouse Sinks & Industrial Accents: Upgrade from standard stainless steel drop-in sinks to deep apron-front farmhouse sinks. Pair this with an industrial range hood (available in models like the Schult Ramsey 211) and ceramic tile backsplashes.
Cabinetry: Opt for Duracraft cabinets (featured heavily in Schult models) or solid wood cabinetry with soft-close hinges. You can also customize the layout to include a larger island for entertaining.
4. Maximizing Energy Efficiency (The Midwest Essential)
In the Upper Midwest, insulation isn't just an upgrade; it's an investment that pays you back every winter.
Upgraded Insulation Packages: Most manufacturers offer an "Energy Star" or heavy-weather insulation package. This includes higher R-value insulation in the floors, walls, and ceiling.
2x6 Exterior Walls: Instead of standard 2x4 framing, upgrading to 2x6 exterior walls allows for thicker insulation and creates a stronger, more rigid structure.
Smart Thermostats: Models like the Schult Legend series feature Ecobee smart thermostats pre-installed, helping you optimize your heating and cooling schedules for maximum savings.
5. Technology and Security Upgrades
Modern manufactured homes are wired for the future. You can often roll smart home technology straight into the build sheet.
Smart Doorbells: Pre-wiring and installing a Ring doorbell at the factory (an option on the Schult Legend 632) saves you the hassle of drilling and hardwiring it yourself later.
Entertainment Built-Ins: BonnaVilla models, like the Bismarck and Auburn, offer options for integrated entertainment fireplaces and custom flooring directly from the factory.
The Liechty Homes Customization Advantage
When you build with Liechty Homes, you aren't just picking a box off a lot. Our design teams at our Bismarck, Minot, Rapid City, and Blackhawk sales centers will walk you through the options for brands likeBonnaVilla and Schult.
By rolling these upgrades into the initial factory build, the costs are included in your overall home loan (such as a Land-Home Package), meaning you pay for them over the life of your mortgage rather than draining your savings for an expensive post-move remodel.
Ready to start designing? Contact your nearest Liechty Homes location today to explore the floor plans and customization options that will make your next house a true home.
