The Manufactured Housing Forums

We're close to buy a Jacobsen Home ca.32*62. Beside OSB and accurate tie downs, what else should we be aware of? They put in r11 floor insulation is that enough for the Florida weather? The walls are R19, the water tank 30 gal, good for two bath and the kitchen? I would like them to wire the home with cat 5e cable in living, office and bedroom ending central in the utility room what would be an acceptable price for that? Any other points we should consider?

thx, doublewide

You will likely want a larger water heater than that. A 30 gallon electric water heater is a little small for a 2 bathroom home. R-11 is good enough for Florida. However, with insulation more is better.

You have made an excellent choice. Jacobson has a long history of building high quality homes. Jacobsen Homes are widely recognized for flexibility that provides each and every Jacobsen customer the opportunity to put their own personal touches into their home.


R11 is not bad ...BUT.... In Florida our greatest expense is air conditioning. Hot air rises and cold air drops. The more insulation you pack into the floor the less of your cool air will be able to escape.

The cost of electric is going up at a nauseating pace. Add as much insulation you can, not just to the floor but the roof and walls. Additionally select exterior colors that are reflective (like white). While these may be a bit tougher to keep clean looking, you would be surprised how significant the difference in heat penetration can be to your budget.

Ask about energy efficiency and INSIST on a home that is Energy Star approved.




To earn the ENERGY STAR, a home must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20–30% more efficient than standard homes. To settle for anything less, today, is like buying a piggy bank with a hole in the bottom.

Energy efficiency has little curb appeal. It is not nearly as strong a sales feature as a fireplace, skylight or big bay window. The money you put into efficiency when you purchase your home is the only custom investment that will come back to you over and over and over again, in the form of lower electric bills, for as long as you own that home.

thanks for both of your coments, reasures me how about the wirering Q. any ideas?thats a must have for me "little techi". btw the sales person mentioned that hurricane impact windows would be arround $400 each, is he in the limit?
thx, doublewide

The pricing of options is tough to comment on as each manufacturer has their own pricing. Call or visit several dealerships and compare the pricing for the same options. Everything has to be negotiable for sellers in the current buyers housing market. Dont be afraid to try to bring your price down. For the best advice on negotiating with your retailer download The Grissim Guide to Manufactured Homes and Land. The chapter "Getting to a fair price and a square deal" alone is worth the $19.95 price of this e-book.

thanks very much this forum gives alot of information, good job keep it up.