Have you ever heard of this....

[steggie]

I purchased a single wide off of a dealers lot last November. I did not do my homework so I did not ask the year, I just knew that it was brand new-never lived in. I found out later that it was a 2004. Anyway this is not my problem. What bothers me is that after one month on my lot, it started to leak in rainwater. I called this to the attention of the dealer many times and she did nothing about it even though I warned her that heavy rains were expected (& did come) She simply stated that she needed to hear from the manufacturer (Clayton). Four weeks passed and rainwater literally started gushing down the walls, ceilings are buckling, the floor is wet. I went to an attorney who will negotiate a new unit or ???.
I would like your comments on this. If I do get a new unit who will pay for the hotel stays while the unit is being put in place and hooked up. Who will pay for the hook ups and the skirting, etc, etc. Should I not be compensated for all this aggrevation and mess, even if we decide on repairs??
This seems like a no win situation, even if I do win, I lose. What do you good people out there think??
Thank you for your comments.

[rmurray]

My guess the year was not listed in your purchase order...Clayton will not cover warranty on a home this age...Most plants will only cover new home up to 24 months from the day they are built.It would be very rare to convince a dealer to exchange a home...All the questions you ask should be addressed by your attorney in any agreement you and the dealer reach..Good luck...

[Camp194]

Get all necessary paperwork, photos, bills, etc.. Keep them with you. If you can get a video camera, borrow it and video everything. When I bought my home 3 yrs. ago, I bought it used with no warranty. I videoed everything, took pics, repair lists, etc..
The more prepared you are the better. You will have to pay for your own hotel. Any friends you can stay with???
How about the park where your home is at. Do they have any homes that you could stay in while yours is being fixed or traded? What about your personal property? Did you lose anything to the water?? Did you have insurance on your home? Even though my home is only worth $1000. I put $500,000.00 worth of insurance on my home.
Currently I'm living without heat. In Wisconsin.

[Sylvia]

Camp, insurance is meant to imdenify you. That means put you back in the same place you were before whatever peril you're insuring against happens. If you have 1k worth of things to insure you will only get 1k back.

[grets]

Sylvia, I have a home that is insured for $50,000, plus $25,000. for personal property. If something happens to my home, this would mean, I would get the $50,000. for the home and then $25,000. for the personl items, correct? Are you in the insurance business?
greta

[rmurray]

Sorry..Sytlvia is right..The insurance company will only pay the actual cash value of the home and the personal effects...A used TV a few years old will be worth hardly nothing for instance....If you have the optional "replacement" cost coverage...your insurance company will replace the item with a like item...not give you the money...I have sold many used manufactured homes to insurance companies who were replacing the item.....Talk to your agent or insurance company for detailed explanation of your individual policy.....

[Sylvia]

Yes, I'm in the insurance business. I'm an insurance agent. It's like having a regular full coverage auto policy on a 81 chevette that's worth 200.00. Having full coverage does not mean if it's totalled you're going to have a new car. You'd be out the cost of the coverage, and the deductible which would be more than the value of the car. You can't profit an insurance settlement. It is only meant to indemnify you and replace what you have actually lost. You probably need to seek better insurance advise. A competent and trustworthy agent should have advised you before taking your money. If you have a home worth 1k and 25K worth of personal property you should speak to an agent about scheduling your property.

[grets]

I guess I really misunderstood this whole insurance thing then. I thought that if I was paying the "preminum price" for say $75,000. home, and not a $10,000. home, I would get the money back! Also, thought that if I was paying a preminum to cover all my belongings, then God forbid, something happens, I would get that money to replace those items.
I understand the car worth a $100.00 and the tv thats older than me, but what do you do, when you have brand new computers, and photography equipment, etc.? I need to find a new insurance company now, for my home here in Florida, and am having a hard time finding someone, so if you know where I should go, please let me know.
Thanks.

[rmurray]

As was said before...talk to your agent for advice....Cover your home for its fair market value and ask about full replacement cost on the contents...That way if you loose the contents they will be replaced with like items.....Be sure you do a good inventory of your items and document it with photos or video...Store the proof pics away from the home...It is very hard to sit down and list every item in your home if you were to have a total loss..Try it..think of the most busy kitchen drawer you have and list every item in it...Insurance companies bank on claimants forgetting many items...For unusual higher ticket items..most policies require a separate rider and premium to cover them...Collectables, cash, computers, art usually have very low coverage limits in the standard policy..Again..your best advice will come from your local agent..When you buy a policy..you should take the time to read it carefully..

[Sylvia]

Actually a great way to find a a great agent and get great insurance advice is to shop. Call different agents tell them what you have and see what they say. Now that you have the information you need to make an informed decision, see what the different agents say. Good insurance advise is priceless and bad or neglectful advise is very costly. Make sure you have enough liability however to cover anything that could happen in or around your home. Like a neighbor falling or someone getting bitten by a dog or the like. People are less likely to sue you if they get enough money to make them "happy" from your insurer.