Good companies

[Scott]

David,
I get my information from the Karsten "standard features". You can do the same online at their website. Also, I used to be a GM for a PH factory store and am now a Karsten dealer. First, PH does NOT have their own set up crews. They have their own TRIM OUT technicians, as do a number of manufacturers. The fact that PH has a factory trim out does not set them apart. There is a huge difference between "set up" and "trim out". Second, I am only speaking about the Texas region, so any homes you have seen in other regions, I can't comment on. As many others have said on this site, the quality of what a certain manufacturer builds will differ from region to region.

[Tony Brandt]

What about Jacobsen??
TB

[David]

RMURRAY,
Is this true Palm harbor does not have their own set up crews.
The web site leaves the impression that Plam Harbor factory trained people do the set up and trim out.
David

[David]

SCOTT-
I will do a better check of the Karsten website and see if missed something
David

[jgn]

PH uses the term "factory trained people" but at least in my area they use contractors to do the setup but they go by the factory specs and have been factory trained. IMHO this is not a bad thing as long as they are selective about the crews they use because that is all they do is set homes so a good crew that specializes in set up will have more experience dealing with different problems than a jack of all trades. I have done some checking in our area and have already selected the crew I want to set my home because that is a very important part of the buying process.
The one thing I have resisted is getting in a hurry and of course the salesperson at PH wants me to order the home now. Before I order the home I will have the existing one removed, the runners and perimiter poured and all excavation work done than order the home to be built. What I don't want is to have the home built and sit waiting for any prep work to be done behind a curtain of plastic.
There are a number of good homes on the market and likewise a number of bad ones. Buying a MH is a process that is unlike buying anything else because there are so many variables to take into consideration. The most important thing is to do all of your homework and don't be sucked in by eye candy. PH, Karsten, Patriot all build a well made product. Any manufacturer has plusses and minuses, determine your price point and find the best made house for the money, do all of your homework before you order and stay away from particleboard floors.
I have a 1976 DW now and it is still in good shape so if you take care of them they will last a long time.

[Scott]

The term "factory trained" is somewhat misleading. The crews that PH (or any other dealer for that matter), contracts out their sets to is generally going to set the homes to the specific set up manual that is provided by the factory. This does not mean that they are trained by the factory, just that they were given a set up manual by the dealer. While with PH, I had a grand total of 0 set up crews that were "factory trained". The company I am with now has it's own construction company. We do all of our own set ups, foundations, septics, etc and also do a majority of the deliveries and sets, etc. for PH, Solitaire, Karsten, Champion, Nationwide, etc. and none of my set crews have been to the factories for "training". In Texas, the state has a "generic" code that is used to determine how the homes have to be set. This is the guidelines that are generally used in setting a home. Unfortunately, PH is good at using "key phrases" that can mean several different things depending on who you talk to. "Factory Trained", "Customer Choice Features", "Energymiser", etc. are all supposedly PH exclusive things, but are actually just "hot buttons" that stand for things that are usually available with most builders.

[Richard]

After one year of looking to buy a manufactured home (MH) together with the land in Southern California, I have found only one community near Palm Springs that will sell a lot for $99,000. Does anyone know of other developments in Southern CA that sell the MH with the land?

Thank you,
Carol

[rmurray]

In the Southeast..PH uses specially picked contract set up crews..they set the home to the individual specs of each home...then the factory employed finish crews come to finish the home...THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR A FACTORY TECH IS TO INSPECT THE SET UP THAT HAS BEEN DONE TO BE SURE IT IS TO FACTORY SPECS...If a tech person does not he is subject to being fired...If the set up is not correct..he is instructed to leave the home and make sure the set up crew corrects the problems before he proceeds...It is a great system..It keeps the set up crews on their toes...and means that a professional...not sales person is inspecting your set up...

By the way..his last order of business is a 170 point walk thru with you..Some of which involves the set up as well..


I think the PH system is the same in most areas...

[rmurray]

You said..."In Texas, the state has a "generic" code that is used to determine how the homes have to be set. This is the guidelines that are generally used in setting a home"....

OUCH...Everystate has a "generic" set up code..this is mandated by HUD...BUT..this code is only to be used when the set up manual is not avaiable such as for most used homes...HUD does NOT allow any deviation for the set up manual if it is available..new or used homes alike..All new homes have a set up manual..If you allow your crews to set to a "generic" code you are putting your company at great peril..and short shifting your customers...Most generic codes do not account for the much heavier wieght of a high quality home...Does it make sense that a high quality Karsten..would be set to the same blocking and footer standards of a light weight el-cheapo light weight home...NAW..

[Scott]

rmurray,
you are correct on that last statement. I should have specified that. We do set our homes according to the specific manufacturers set up manual "if available". I can tell you from experience that while with PH, most of the GM's would hire the cheapest and fastest set up crews available in order to make more money for the sales center.