Five disasters to avoid when buying a manufactured home.
Your new home purchase should be an exciting time. The last thing you want is problems that cost you time and money! While no builder is perfect, there are ways to avoid these types of problems: purchase your new home through a reputable experienced builder. Be upfront with your housing consultant on the information related to the home, including property information and additional construction required for your project. Ask lots of questions!!! We have done this many times for people all over Central PA, and our goal is to make your home purchase as enjoyable and stress-free experience as possible. Here are some common pitfalls to avoid:
- The home won’t work on your property. Manufactured homes, built to the HUD code, are sometimes restricted in property covenants. Make sure that the property you are considering or have purchased does not contain any restrictions against HUD-code homes. Modular homes typically are not restricted because they are built to the same codes as site-built homes. With either type of home, a reputable builder will perform a site check. They will make sure the home can be delivered safely to the property, they can also discuss any site prep that will need to be done for the proper installation of the home. A little thought and planning here and save a lot of money and headaches later!
- Make sure your bank knows what is going on. If your bank is not aware that you are considering purchasing a manufactured home in the preapproval process, this can cause delays and added expense. Make sure your bank knows that you are purchasing a manufactured home. The loan programs available for manufactured homes are typically different than ones for modular or site built homes.
- Your manufactured home won’t fit on the foundation. Make sure the builder you purchased your home from will provide you with the correct foundation drawing, specific for your home size and manufacturer.
The foundation size should be for the box size and not the hitch size of the house. The builder should verify that the width of the home is correct as well since each manufacturer has a slightly different box width that they build to. The 28’ width specification includes the eaves of the house. For example, one manufacturer’s box size may be 27’-4” while another maybe 26’-8”. You will also want to make sure the house you order has a basement stairway option included if you are using a full foundation. This option does not include the stairs since these will need to be built on site. We can provide you with a price to build the stairs per code. - Surprise costs or nobody told me about that! Make sure your builder gives you a complete price for your project including any costs not included in the home price. These costs can include: deck/steps, excavation, foundation, tying together plumbing and electric, etc.If you want to do some of these items on your own, discuss this with your housing consultant. They can review the bids and make sure nothing is missed.
- Your building permit is not for a factory built home. Make sure your building permit application is for a HUD-code or modular home, as appropriate. The permit fees are less for both manufactured and modular homes. There are fewer inspections required.
The foundation size should be for the box size and not the hitch size of the house. The builder should verify that the width of the home is correct as well since each manufacturer has a slightly different box width that they build to. The 28’ width specification includes the eaves of the house. For example, one manufacturer’s box size may be 27’-4” while another maybe 26’-8”. You will also want to make sure the house you order has a basement stairway option included if you are using a full foundation. This option does not include the stairs since these will need to be built on site. We can provide you with a price to build the stairs per code.
As you can see, making sure the dealer you choose is reputable and qualified to take care of all your needs is well worth the time. As always, we’d be glad to answer any questions you may have.
