What does prefab mean with respect to homes?

[Umaeril]

I see this all the time, "Modern Prefab Homes" or "Prefab houses" advertised by different stores and am just wondering what the "prefab" part means with respect to the structure itself?

Are stores required to say "prefab" if they have that type of a home for sale? 

 

Thank you!  :)

[Freya Mokusei]

Prefabricated - as in, pre-built and fitted together.

It's a keyword brought over from the real world. Prefab buildings are carted in in a single piece, and deposited nearby somewhere that's suffered property damage from disaster or war.

In Second Life it's probably just used for search, a colloquial term that fits within peoples' existing frame of reference.

[valerie Inshan]

"Prefab" means "prefabricated" home, i.e. without personal customization. While creating a custom work is likely to pay more on the short term, selling popular prefabs in larger quantities is certainly the best way to make long term profits for the builder.

As a side note, most of the prefabs houses are sold with modify rightsn which allows the buyer to customize the house to fit his taste and needs (e.g., changing the wall / floor textures, deleting a wall or a door... )

You can read more about prefabs in SL here:

https://books.google.fr/books?id=7neRdq6VjvQC&pg=PA152&lpg=PA152&dq=second+life+what+means+prefab&source=bl&ots=aVkaBQWD3b&sig=wiXjUoFlGilxjAfUNtly5aYoDI4&hl=fr&sa=X&ei=3oyqVPLQC4PyUKqFgaAL&ved=0CFMQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=second%20life%20what%20means%20prefab&f=false

And, prefabs exist in RL too, as this wikipedia page will explain. It's about prefabs in the UK but can apply all over the world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prefabs_in_the_UK