buying a home

[Pete]

The problem I seem to run into is working with salespeople at these dealerships. Why is it so hard to get a straight answer out of these people. How much is this home? Well, that depends, today it's this much, next week it's something else. How do we know what is a fair price to pay for a home? Don't tell me I need to order a book, this isn't rocket science here. These manufactures should have prices posted on their web sites so people can see what a home should cost. I'm tired of being treated like I'm at a used car lot somewhere. If this is how these people do business, I'll just go with a site built home. When you buy a site built home you know that in 5 years it's going to be worth at least what you paid for it or more. Sorry for venting, just blowing off steam.
Pete

[rmurray]

Pete your manufactured home and land will appreciate at the same rate as any site built in the same location..

Do you really believe that a stick builder is any better at fixed price quotes...how about the habit of negotiations with used home sellers...how do you ever know if the seller would have sold for less?????You offer a real estate agent a figure...how do you really know the seller would not have sold for thousands less..

You do not...you offer what the home is worth to you...in the market it is in..

I do not know how far along you have gotten with the sales persons...The answer you are getting sounds like the intial answer I would give until I had a lot more info from you...Example..in my area...we deal in 20 counties...each county has different requirements for driveways, steps, skirting and permits..Prices can vary by thousands...just because of the county requirements...Then almost every home you have seen have many purchaser options built in them...This means that the home can be built with different set of options at prices that can very by thousands...Sometimes..a dealer might have an older home in stock that he would discount a lot...but could not order a home this low..He might be a little reluctant to quote his best price for the stock home until he knows the stock home is something you would consider...

You need to sit down with the sales person and give him/her the info they need to quote prices...If they refuse after they have all the info..leave and find another dealer...

Good luck...try to make this a "happy house hunting"...

[Pete]

Murray, I hear what your saying about options and extras and it should be a happy experience to buy a home. We were looking at Jacobson Homes or Palm Harbor Homes models. I want to deal direct with the manufacture but found out that I have to use a dealer to purchase a home. I just want to know that we're not being ripped off and are getting our moneys worth on this home.
Pete

[rmurray]

You must be in Florida...Both Palm Harbor and Jacobson have nemerous dealers in the state..Competition between them is very strong...Both of these homes have extensive lists of choice features (options)...Example..I just ordered a Jacobson with $9,000 of optional counter tops...of course this was at the customers request...

I think both of these plants have model centers..(I know Jacobson does)..PH is in Plant City..and Jac is in ....catch this...Palm Harbor, FL..

About 50 miles apart..Take a day and visit both...Then decide the basic specs that you want..then options you would like to have..check their web sites for dealer locations and shop two or three for quotes..

You will get the very best home...and the best price available in the market...

Good Luck

[Pete]

Pete,
We went throught the same thing. We sat down with 5 different dealers gave them all the same upgrades and options we wanted. Each dealer provided us with thier home price and upgrade option costs. When we decided on a dealer based on reputation and the fact that they were the "contractor" meaning if something went wrong I could deal directly with them and they would have to take care of the problem without telling me that "someone else did THAT work", we provided them with a price comparison from the other dealers (without names of the dealers) and asked them to lower thier price. Which they did happily knowing this would mean making the sale.
This has been a long process. We starting looking in May and are now waiting for our loan approval. Don't be afraid to ask for what you want, you just might get it.