Desicions, Desicions

[Lillie]

Hello Terry: I'm planning for the future a manufactured home. But don't know yet which company should I choose. I read one of your advises, and you told him that not to check on Liberty, Palm Harbor, Skyline because they were cheap. I'm planning to move to Ocala or Orlando, Fl. Those are the companies that are there. So, from where should I buy? Another one is Oakwood. PLEASE!!! inform me like you did to that gentlemen, I will be so grateful. This will be my first home and I don't want to make a terrible mistake. Do you recommend a book that can tell me everything about mfd homes? Thank you for all the info you can give me... Lillie

[Terry]

Lillie, I would recommend Jacobsen homes (jacobsenhomes.com) and they have retailers all over Florida and also Horton Homes of Eaton, Ga (Hortonhomes.com) and they have retailers over in Florida also. these two manufactures are very good company and I would recommend them in that region. Make sure you have your home tape and textured thru out and one piece shower stall or bathtub shower combination one piece also. Make sure you also have water shut off valves at each fixtures in case you have a leaking faucet. Also check the floors see what type of floor decking they use I would recommend a 3/4" plywood floors. Also check the cabinets make sure its real wood like oak, cherry or other real wood. Watch for the imitation type of wood. Ask how their homes are constructed too. The Jacobsen homes are really well manufactured and beefed up and this company goes the extra mile in the construction process. Good luck

[Lillie]

Hi Terry: I'm very grateful of your info, I checked both and I like Jacobsen better. If isn't too much asking: who are you? or what are you that you help us so much with your info? I know I WILL be asking you a lot !!!! Thanks... Lillie

[Terry]

Lilly, Hello, I am glad to hear from you again. I highly recommend Jacobsen homes because of the quality construction. The home is completely wrapped with plywood before the siding is applied to the studs this will give the home a solid support to the exterior wall. And your other question "Who am I" well let me tell you just a little. My family owned 6 retailers across the United States and sold only top quality manufactured homes. Never did I see a cheap home on the lot. My father always trained us and the other salesmen to stand behind the manufactured homes we sell. He always told us to explain the construction process of the manufactured home and how the chassis supports the floor, walls, and roof and told them to compare and shop around. Many people who are new to manufactured housing think that all homes are constructed the same but, this isn't true. Some companies go the extra mile and exceed the HUD code like the Jacobsen Home. We delt with customers one on one and what they wanted in the home. If they are in a certain income bracket and wanted a fine quality home we always found a quality home for them. I think anyone can sell fine quality homes if they would sit one on one with their customers and be honest. We always kept our reputation clean and was always recommended to other customers this is why we were very successful in the manufactured housing industry. My father always said this to all of us " Could you sleep if you sold a customer a cheap home? We always said No! He always made sure all his customers who bought homes from his dealers were happy with their homes and many thanked him for being honest with the home. If one of his dealers in Kansas sold a home he would make a surprise visit to the customer and make sure if they were treated first class and made sure the home is okay. I now see many retailers sell very low quality homes and I think how could they sell that kind of home and still go home and sleep. For me I just couldn't because I always thought their was a family in my hand to take care of and make them happy. He was a very successful businessman and just years ago he sold his businesses and we all got out. I remember hearing horror stories from some of the customers we received and I just couldn't believe my ears. This is why I am strait forward with the people who respond to this disscussion form. I may have said some bad things about other companies but that's the truth. So that's the story of me.

[Lillie]

Hi Terry: I told you I will be asking you a lot!!! Thanks once again,you've being very helpful!!! I was reading about "Thermowall", what do you know about that? My another concern is the setting of the house. Who is responsible for that? How would I know, whoever sets the house, it's doing his job right? I've read THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT!!! The lender, I HAVE to do it with them? I'm concern about the APR. See you later... Lillie

[Nan T]

Since you state your moving to the Ocala or Orlando area, One manufacturer I would suggest you avoid is Nobility sold under the dealer name of Prestige,
also located in Ocala....
The homes are beautiful, but repair and service is the pitts....at least in the my area of Florida.....
We own one called the Duke, a triple wide, the largest one they made in 1999... 17 months later still waiting for things to be taken care of......
As a previous post mentioned, look at things like cabinets and flooring...
We were green and just looked at the "pretties" they offered....
I love the style of my home... Just hate the problems we have had and still have to deal with....

Nan

[Lillie]

Lillie wrote:> > Hi Terry: I told you I will be asking you a lot!!! Thanks> once again,you've being very helpful!!! I was reading about> "Thermowall", what do you know about that? My another concern> is the setting of the house. Who is responsible for that? How> would I know, whoever sets the house, it's doing his job right?> I've read THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT!!! The lender, I HAVE to do it> with them? I'm concern about the APR. See you later... Lillie >

[Terry]

Lillie, Happy New Year! Let me tell I had a wonderful time in Switzerland it's nice to be home. Well Thermowall is a light weight walls or ceiling panels used in industrial or commercial buildings. It has a styrofoam type filling in the middle and it's good to use and could give an extra insulation power to your R-value. The setting of the house is usually the dealers responsibility the dealer usually contracts with a professional mover and who's experience in setting up manufactured homes. Make sure you check out your contract and see what the exclusions are in the setting of the home. Will they show back up if the home settles and needs releveling. This area is usually the dealers responsibility and they have service crews who set up and relevel the home for you and any cosmetic touch up the home needs. Ask the dealer who you will be dealing with if he or she has their own service men to service the home. This is usually done after 90 days and they usually do all the necessary adjustment to your new home. The lender has their own guidelines they cover who ever your lender is, ask them what they cover in their contract on the home. Will they help you if a problem arises with you and the dealer. The APR is usually based on your credit worthiness and if you own your own land or how much your putting as a down payment. Good luck

[Mike]

Can you reccommend a company in New York? or Pennsylvania?

Mike.

[Lillie]

Hello Mike: I would love to help you on that but I think you should ask Terry, he is THE EXPERT on this. He helped me A LOT!!! Lillie