Modular homes have a fairly low-rent reputation among many consumers – an obstacle acknowledged by Paul Townsend, operator of a Marshfield-based modular homebuilder. But he wants to change that reputation, and he’s thinking big.
The modular home industry abides by building codes, of course, but doesn’t have a certification process to separate experienced, knowledgeable builders from their less-qualified counterparts. So, Townsend decided, somebody should create certification levels to help consumers pick quality builders. He called up a few colleagues in the Boston area, and with the collaboration of their industry’s trade association, they founded the nonprofit Modular Certification Corp., which will oversee the process for applicants. It’s only been six months in the planning, but Townsend is hoping his creation will take on a life of its own.
Paul Townsend
Title: President, The Sandcastle Group; Marshfield
Age: 64
Experience: 10 in modular homes 30 in home construction
Q: So how did this all get started?
A: It started with my organization, this company. Key people in this company coming to me and saying, “We hear this complaint,” or, “Why is this guy over here allowed to build when he doesn’t know what he’s doing?” “Let’s change factory [providers] because of the quality control problems that we see,” – a number of things. That concerned me. And there’s been some regional public relations issues from Fox [25 news channel] that you may have seen… some of that came up too, and [trade group the Modular Building Systems Association], frankly did not have a bent toward public relations, so it wasn’t being fought.
So the impetus was right here. I went to the regional organizations that at least would know me, that would understand what I’m doing and would participate. And then we got together as a group, and I explained what I wanted to do … we reached out to the [Modular Buildings Systems Association] and [The Pennsylvania College of Technology] where the Modular Housing Training Institute is, and we got immediate positive response … they flew in here, worked at our conference table, had dinner with our assisting board of advisors, and asked to become members, which was great.
It was with our help, writing the certifications, getting the standards, the recommended requirements in place. They fed back to us what they thought should be changed modified, added, subtracted, until the certification became final. And then the nonprofit was formed, [and] they’re on the board of directors.
Q: So what is your official role with the nonprofit now?
A: A supporter – we are going to manage the website and manage the requests for applications, etc. and we’ll stay involved until everybody’s comfortable with the application itself, and the methodology. It will be a little time working out the kinks.
…And where it goes from there, I’m not sure. Frankly, the national association and Penn College, separately and together, have said that they think that down the road this certification corporation ought to be managed by them. That, as a national nonprofit certifying providers and factories, they think they ought to be the ones managing it, not this ad hoc Boston group. And I agree with them by the way, because the ad hoc Boston group and myself have enough to do. Once we get it launched and it’s out there and it’s working sufficiently, those national associations are the right people.
Q: And it was in response to some bad actors in the industry?
A: Any industry that is really in its infancy is prone to that. And this industry, although it’s not truly in its infancy, has been factory-founded and factory-led from the beginning, and so the consumer, who knows nothing of the factories, is dealing with providers or builders like us, who provide the modular product and product solution to the consumer.
So that consumer doesn’t know who’s good at what they’re doing. They need a way to know, the consumer needs to have comfort. Because the solutions are wonderful – the modular homes and additions that we produce in this country are done quickly, they’re less expensive, green, environmentally sensitive, they’re very good product.
Q: And this is a way for the industry to police itself?
A: The industry is going to have an overseer, a cop, that is policing the industry from a nonprofit status. That nonprofit board of directors, they do not own factories, they do not own providers. They may in fact include people that are in association with the industry, like Penn College or MSBA. But they are not factories or providers, they’re independent. So it’s a step away from policing themselves, it’s a beginning of a way to monitor and police the industry from outside.
Q: And right now the certification deals with just providers?
A: Right now it’s just providers. Clearly, there will be a next step, and that’s the factories.
Q: Do you think you might encounter some pushback from builders who are doing well and don’t feel compelled to go to the trouble? Will there be resistance?
A: Yes, until the provider in the next town is certified – then there won’t be pushback.
Townsend’s Top Five Steps Towards Achieving The Highest Certifications:
- Categories for certification include training, experience, policies, warranties and corporate structure.
- Builders first apply for certification, and that alone makes them “registered” builders.
- After completed educational requirements and other features regarding corporate structure and finances, a builder becomes certified.
- Bondable builders that have finished the master list of courses and demonstrated a certain amount of experience qualify as “gold certified.”
- MCC has outlined advanced courses for further education, like building science, green technology or sustainable design.
