Things to know before purchasing a mobile home

Things to know before purchasing a mobile home

Amanda Jarvis

The name mobile home could mislead you into thinking it is a house on wheels. However, it denotes homes made in a factory and transported to a site for installation. Mobile homes are less expensive and can be built faster than stick-built and on-site homes. They can serve both as temporary or permanent living spaces. Though you can move a mobile home to another site after a few years, it can be complex and expensive.

Types of mobile homes

Like modular furniture, mobile homes are prefabricated, manufactured in a factory, and positioned on a client’s owned, rented, or leased land. Mobile homes are highly customizable living spaces for individuals and families. Alternatively, one can use them as vacation houses and temporary accommodations. Mobile housing could work for you if you have a piece of land and are looking for less-expensive housing. Mobile homes are categorized based on their sizes. Though you can change the length or width of a mobile home, you cannot find houses above 13’6″ due to transporting difficulties, like bridge clearances along the route. The different types of mobile homes are-

Single Wide Mobile Home

Single Wide Mobile Homes are smaller homes with dimensions of up to 90×18 feet or less. They are typically single-floor units, and you can customize the type of rooms you want. It is made as one structure and transported to the site as one unit. You can find single-wide mobile homes from 500 to 1,440 sq. ft. They typically have one bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen and are best suited for singles or couples.

Double Wide Mobile Home

A Double Wide Mobile home is more spacious than a Single Wide mobile home. It comes as two prefabricated units and is placed and attached to the site. Typically, these homes will have three bedrooms and two bathrooms, but you can customize the design to your requirement.

Triple Wide Mobile Home

They are bigger homes coming in three sections and are ideal for large families. You can create a luxurious and spacious living space with a triple-wide mobile home. Such home spaces can include two to six bathrooms and four bathrooms.

Things to consider while designing your mobile home

When you design the floor plan of your mobile home, keep in mind your family’s needs, your lifestyle, and the type of furniture and storage you have. Ensure that there is good flow between rooms. You should make a design without obstructions and hurdles to facilitate hassle-free movement. Since most mobile home manufacturers offer customization, you can sit with professionals and change the floor plan to suit your requirement and taste. You can talk to them about the construction materials and how to make them leakproof in the long run. You can also provide your input on cabinet placements and the type of doors and windows you need, so they can prepare accordingly rather than make changes after installing the house.

Best sites for deals on mobile homes

Factors like the type of home, size, customizations, add-ons, cost of land, and cost of rent influence the total cost of a mobile home. Mobile homes are popular because they attract lower taxes than regular homes and are safe, as the HUD regulations for mobile homes are very strict. Since they are built in enclosed factories, there is less scope for delays. Mobile home manufacturers offer attractive incentives, deals, and discounts to attract customers. Some manufacturers may offer add-ons like cabinets, plumbing, a deck, or a sunroom free or at a discounted rate. The best time to shop for mobile homes is between January and March when manufacturers and dealers offer clearance sales, discounts, and free-add os. Some popular and money-saving deals on mobile homes include-

  • Cash discount on the cost of mobile homes
  • Price-lock-ins as prices tend to fluctuate
  • Deals and clearance sales on existing stocks
  • Used mobile homes in good condition
  • Flexible payment options
  • Free estimates before contracts

Best options to own your mobile home

When you look for a mobile home dealer or a company, look for one that helps you locate appropriate lands, prepares permits and licenses, mortgage and financing, helps you customize your mobile home’s design, and completes delivery on time. Most companies have hundreds of floor plans for you to choose and customize from. You can understand the choice of materials, benefits, and cost of different materials for walls, paneling, and flooring. Look for a company or a dealer who offers you multiple choices of materials to choose from. Look for companies that offer good warranties. Some of the best options for mobile homes include-

  • Clayton Homes
  • Factory Expo Home Centers
  • Home Nation
  • Homes Direct
  • Mobile Homes Direct 4 Less
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