Tag: used mobile home inspection checklist

Do I Need a Manufactured Home Inspection Before Buying?
While the excitement of finding your dream manufactured home can be intoxicating, it’s crucial to prioritize a thorough inspection before finalizing the purchase. Unlike site-built houses, manufactured homes aren’t legally mandated to undergo inspections. However, a manufactured home inspection offers many benefits that safeguard your investment and future peace of mind.

Why Manufactured Home Inspections Matter

Manufactured homes are constructed differently from traditional houses. They’re built in a factory setting under specific guidelines from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A manufactured home inspection ensures the home adheres to these regulations and identifies potential problems that could pose safety hazards or lead to costly repairs.

Benefits of a Manufactured Home Inspection
- Informed Decision-Making: A manufactured home inspection provides a detailed report outlining the condition of the home’s major systems, including the foundation, roof, plumbing, electrical wiring, and appliances. This knowledge empowers you to make an informed decision about the purchase. You can use the report to negotiate repairs with the seller or potentially leave the deal if major issues are discovered.
- Peace of Mind: Knowing a qualified professional has examined the home’s core components offers significant peace of mind. Unexpected repairs can be a significant financial burden. The inspection report allows you to budget for potential repairs or replacements and avoid unpleasant surprises later.
- Identification of Safety Hazards: Manufactured homes, especially older models, may have hidden safety hazards. A qualified inspector can uncover faulty wiring, leaks, or structural problems that could threaten your and your family’s safety.
- Negotiation Leverage: The inspection report becomes a valuable tool during negotiations. If significant problems are identified, you can use the report to request repairs from the seller or negotiate a lower purchase price to offset the cost of repairs.
- Future Maintenance Planning: The inspection report provides valuable insights into the home’s overall condition, allowing you to plan for future maintenance needs. By proactively addressing potential issues, you can extend the lifespan of your manufactured home and save money in the long run.
What a Manufactured Home Inspection Covers

A comprehensive manufactured home inspection typically covers the following areas:
- Foundation: The inspector will assess the foundation for stability, signs of settling, or damage caused by water leaks or pests.
- Exterior: The inspection includes thoroughly examining the roof, siding, and windows for leaks, cracks, or signs of wear and tear.
- Interior: The inspector will check for water damage, mold growth, proper ventilation, and functionality of doors and windows.
- Plumbing: The inspection ensures proper water pressure, identifies leaks, and verifies the functionality of faucets, toilets, and drainage systems.
- Electrical: The inspector will assess the electrical system for safety hazards, overloading, and outdated wiring.
- Appliances: A basic inspection of major appliances like the furnace, water heater, and kitchen appliances is often included. Some inspectors may require separate inspections for complex appliances like fireplaces or septic systems.
Finding a Qualified Manufactured Home Inspector

When choosing a manufactured home inspector, prioritize experience and certifications specific to manufactured homes. Look for inspectors certified by organizations like the National Manufactured Housing Inspectors Association (NMHIA) or the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) specializing in manufactured homes.

The Inspection Process

A typical manufactured home inspection can take 2-4 hours, depending on the size and complexity of the home. Being present during the inspection is crucial for asking questions and understanding the inspector’s findings.

Cost of a Manufactured Home Inspection

The cost of a manufactured home inspection varies depending on your location, the size of the home, and the inspector’s experience. Generally, expect to pay between $300 and $500 for a basic inspection.

Conclusion

While not mandatory, a manufactured home inspection is a wise investment that can save you from financial headaches and potential safety hazards in the long run. The valuable insights gained from a manufactured home inspection empower you to make informed decisions, negotiate effectively, and plan for your new home’s future. Considering the significant financial commitment involved in purchasing a manufactured home, a home inspection is a small price for peace of mind and a secure investment in your future.

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May 29, 2024
Is An Inspection On A Sarasota Florida Mobile Home Worth The Money?
Ready to purchase your new Sarasota Florida mobile home but aren’t sure what condition the home is in?

Are you buying your Sarasota Florida mobile home from out of state and are relying on photos to guide you through exactly what condition the mobile home is in that you are buying?

If either of these situations rings true then perhaps you have thought about obtaining a home inspection completed on your mobile home prior to closing on your mobile home purchase.

Although this is a common thought pattern that many Buyers follow, does it make the cost of the mobile home inspection worth it?

The easy answer is yes, and, well no it isn’t.

Let us explain.

Mobile home in a 55+ community

If you as the new Buyer are looking to get a report completed on your mobile home prior to purchase to know exactly what is going on with the home so that you know from a trained professional what you are purchasing then yes, it is certainly worth the cost.

Most Buyers who purchase a mobile home in the Sarasota Florida area understand that they are, at times, buying a mobile home that can be older than forty years old. With a home being of that age, these Buyers will understand that it would be reasonable to expect there to be some type of general wear and tear items that need to be fixed or replaced on the property at some time. For these Buyers, it will serve as a general once-over on the home so that they have a better idea of what exactly they are buying when they sign on the dotted line.

If, however, the intent of getting a mobile home inspection is for the Buyer of the home to attempt to get a price discount or to try and force the Seller of the mobile home to fix certain problems with the home prior to the sale then, no this home inspection is not worth the cost.

The reason for this is that all mobile homes that we, at The Mobile Home Dealer, sell are sold in “As Is” condition and do not include any implied warranties of any kind. For each home listing we take on at our firm we let the Seller know that they are having us sell their home in the exact condition it is in when they take the meeting with us.

Essentially, what the Buyer sees is what the Buyer gets.

In all of our time selling mobile homes throughout the Sarasota Florida area, we have never seen a Seller go and fix any issue with their mobile home prior to selling their home.

Most every Seller that we have ever worked with will accept a written offer from a Buyer assuming that they are buying what they are seeing and not anything other than this.

If you are really interested in a specific mobile home but are doubting the condition of the house, instead of paying for a costly inspector, ask the seller if they can give you details of the following basic but important concerns.

Random fresh paint

Before putting their home on the market, many mobile homeowners apply fresh coats of paint to the walls and ceiling. It’s easy to win by organizing the property and potentially increasing home value, and any buyer can appreciate a brighter, fresher space.

That said, beware of random patches of new paint or a single wall or ceiling sporting a fresh coat. These uneven paint jobs could hide anything from mold to cracks to water damage. It is important to address these concerns with the seller and your mobile home broker before signing any paperwork. If you see random fresh paint, make sure to ask for details from the seller.

Unexpected odors

Do the house smell like a big ashtray? Does it smell like a field of daisies? Both scents could be a red flag. While it’s obvious that a bad odor is a sign of an underlying problem, a pleasant smell can also point to a potential problem.

If you find candles and wall fixtures in every room, the homeowner may be trying to hide an underlying stench. Follow your intuition, and if you feel that something smells a little fishy, or unnatural, consult the owner or your mobile home broker.

Improperly installed ceilings

Roofing is a long-term investment with a significant impact on your mobile home. If a previous homeowner skimped or relied on an unreliable contractor, it could spell bad news for you. Extreme weather or just old age could make problems worse, leading to water damage and poor climate control.

It is important to pay attention to the exterior of a house. Problems like exposed nails are a common red flags to watch out for.

Inadequate drainage

This red flag is not always easily detected. If it hasn’t rained recently, it can be difficult to tell if the water is collecting on your roof or on your lawn. Fortunately, even without rain, there are ways to tell if your home has a poor drainage system.

Sarasota mobile home

Look for low spots in the lawn where areas of the ground have remained wet for long periods of time and have subsided to create a pool of sorts. You can also inspect the foundation of the mobile home for mold and areas where paint can easily peel off. These problems are indicators that water is collecting around the house and may compromise the integrity of the foundation.

Get the home you deserve, without the red flags

Buying a mobile home is a pivotal event in anyone’s life, requiring research, thorough inspection, and well-informed decisions.

It is imperative that both new and experienced buyers beware of these red flags that can cost time and money to fix. Pay attention to these warning signs and your home purchase will turn out to be a successful and rewarding experience.

Mobile home inspections can be a great way to have the Buyer get a better idea of what is going on with the mobile they are buying and can be well worth the money if they are used as only an educational tool and not as a negotiation tool!

This is Mark Kaiser with The Mobile Home Dealer and we help mobile home Buyers and Sellers get to a better place in life.

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September 25, 2023
Should You Get An Inspection On Your Sarasota Mobile Home?
Whether you are selling or buying a mobile home, a professional mobile home inspection can potentially save you a lot of money. The Mobile Home Dealer is not engaged in the business of mobile home inspection, but in this article, we will explain why you need one.

Do mobile home inspections exist for mobile homes located on leased land?

I have been asked several times already this year if a Buyer can get an inspection on a mobile home prior to purchasing the property.

This is a great question and I feel it would be a good idea to go over some of the most common issues I have seen on mobile home inspection reports so far this year.

Before we go any further, I would inform you that there are companies throughout the Sarasota area that do mobile home inspections for mobile homes on leased land. Most home inspection companies have a staff group of inspectors who will be able to help you with your mobile home inspection. These inspectors are usually booked out two to three business days in advance and can offer a basic mobile home inspection for around $300-$400. These inspections will usually take 2-3 hours to complete pending largely on the size of the home being inspected. Inspectors also include what is called a “four points inspection” which is usually required for insurance companies to determine if they will insure the home or not.

In my experience, I have only had Buyers obtain the traditional home inspection as this was enough for the Buyer to have the information handy to see what issues there are with the mobile home they are looking to purchase, if any.

When hiring a mobile home inspector to look at the mobile home you are purchasing, make sure you hire a team that specifically has inspectors who have inspected and are familiar with mobile homes and not just your traditional stick-and-brick family homes.

This is because much of the construction of a mobile home is different from that of a stick-and-brick property, and if an inspector only inspects traditional single-family homes, they may not be well-versed enough in the mobile home space to really help you.

The vast majority of mobile homes in and around Sarasota County are from the early 1970s to the mid to late 1980s.

One reason for this is that most of the parks in the area are long-time, well-established mobile home parks, and the homeowners prefer to update their homes inside and out rather than demolishing the property and bringing in a new one.

Some of the most common issues I have seen on inspection reports this year are mobile homes having some soft floor spots, and non-operational electrical outlets, and every so often, you will have leaks in the roof.

Some of these items are bigger issues than others.

The main concern we always want to pay attention to is any time the home has water damage.

The reason for this is that when a mobile home has water damage, it can be very difficult and very expensive to rid the entire home of mold.

Nearly all mobile homes are sold in “as-is” condition, which means that the Seller makes no representations or warranties about the home, its condition, or what will be found in the inspection report.

Although you may want to get an inspection on the mobile home you are looking to buy, know that the home is usually being sold exactly the way you see it without the Seller looking to make any improvements to the property.

Most Buyers will look for price discounts for the items found on the property inspection and not for the Seller to fix any of those issues because they know they are buying the home in as-is condition.

So, the last question is: Is an inspection report worth the price of having it done?

I would say yes if you are just looking to see what the property has behind the walls but do not expect to have a Seller fix the items that the inspector may find in the report.

Conclusion

Buying a mobile home is a tedious process, especially if you are doing it privately, meaning no dealers or banks are involved.

Anyone buying or selling a mobile home needs to invest in a mobile home inspection. Admittedly, home buyers will likely get the most benefit from an inspection, but they can be just as beneficial to a seller.

Simply put, having an inspection done on a mobile home you purchase is a wise decision but please keep in mind that nearly all mobile homes sold on leased land are sold in AS-IS condition

If you are selling a home, hiring an inspector to look over the home before you put it on the market can help you find and make repairs. Having these repairs done before a buyer enters the equation can help sell a home faster and possibly at a higher price.

A home inspection can save you thousands of dollars! Mobile home inspectors look for things such as roof leaks, pier damage, moisture, and condensation issues that are not easy to spot. The bottom line is a manufactured home inspection is well worth the time and money.

This is Mark Kaiser with The Mobile Home Dealer, and we help mobile home buyers and sellers get to a better place in life!

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September 22, 2023