Buying a home is one of the most exciting, memorable, and stressful endeavors people experience. In some cases, a perfect home may be out of reach due to high costs. That’s when home-buyers turn to manufactured homes. These homes come in a variety of styles and range any where from $15,000 to over $100,000 with out the land it sits on.
What is a manufactured home? Manufactured homes are factory-built, move-able homes that can be designed any way you like.That being said, you have the ability to create your dream home and spend less. Homes range anywhere from 900sqft to 2,500sqft to meet the needs of your family. Some families are worried that their manufactured homes cannot accommodate your desires of a home, like walk-in closets, custom cabinets, and fireplaces; however, that is untrue. Manufactured homes allow all of these features and more!
Once you have your manufactured home, the next step is to decide where you want your home located. You are able to place your home on personal, private property, a land-leased community designed to for manufactured homes, or buy the land with the home together. Now that you have designed your home and have a designated location, your home will be delivered and installed.
Follow these six steps of installation of your home before you sign the contract:
Step 1- Transporting Your Home- The manufacture is typically responsible for transporting your home. To ensure safe and speedy delivery, allow the transporter to check out the route beforehand.
Step 2- Building a Foundation- Your home must have a foundation, whether that is concrete blocks, metal or treated wood piers, a concrete slab, or a full basement. Be sure to ask your installer to obtain building permits and inspections.
Step 3- Leveling Your Home- One of the most important parts of installing your home is ensuring that the leveling meets the manufacture’s requirements. Otherwise, your home’s weight will be unevenly distributed. This is critical because it can cause floors and walls to buckle and crack, and prevent doors and windows from opening and closing properly. Because some foundation settles unevenly, check your home periodically. The first check should be 60 to 90 days after installation, and then once a year after.
Step 4- Securing Your Home- Minimize damage from natural causes, like high winds and earthquakes, by securing your home to concrete footers. Keep in mind that this is not a DIY project, so ask your retailer for more information.
Step 5- Finishing Your Home- In some cases, not all, you may need to do some finishing work, like enclosing a crawlspace. If you have a multi-section home, finishing work may include molding and joining carpet, or siding and roofing work on the exterior.
Step 6- Connecting Utilities- Installations should include connecting all utilities, like water, gas, and sewer.
Buying a home can be stressful and costly, keep your options open with the idea of a manufactured home. For more information, give us a call!
