The Manufactured Housing Forums

Is there any way to get a rough idea of dealer cost for a manufactured home? For example, when purchasing a vehicle, a person could purchase dealer invoice information from Consumer Reports.

How is a consumer to know when a price quoted for a manufactured home is reasonable or not? How does the dealer determine retail price?

NO...
The only way to be sure you are getting a good price is to shop competing dealers on the same (you must be very careful that you know what the options built into the price are) home...

The manufactured housing business is just like any other business...The price is determined by the consumer and their willingness to pay the price that is offered..An easy example is the gasoline business...This is a product that we litterally burn...yet prices vary in all markets..some even on the same block..some dealers sell service..others claim thier product is better but .all gasoline will achieve the same thing...yet as long as consumers pay the higher price...someone will sell it....

Hello Terri,

My book deals with dealer invoice and set-up fees. You can order it online on the main site. Click on book store and order, "How To Buy A Manufactured Home And Save Thousands Of Dollars."

Randy Eaton

rmurray, thanks again for answering a question of mine. I agree that comparison shopping in general is a good indicator of a fair price. However, (I don't mean to insult you) the manufactured housing industry makes it extremely difficult to do that. Your comment "...yet as long as consumers pay the higher price...someone will sell it" is just what I want to avoid! If consumers have difficulty in determining a fair price, dealers can all agree to set inflated retail prices and no one is the wiser - certainly not the consumer! I'm not one a person who expects to get something for nothing; of COURSE I expect to pay above the dealer's price. After all, the business wouldn't exist without turning a profit. But I DO expect to get what I pay for.

Mr. Eaton, I thought I might be too close to purchasing a home to be able to wait for your book to be delivered but I'm seriously reconsidering! I'm going to try to order it by phone. Thanks for your response, too.

Sorry Terri...

The competition in the market place is fierce...There is no such thing as dealers fixing prices....They will undercut each other every time they get a chance...Just be sure you are comparing apples and apples...

Good Luck

Yes, that's called Capitalism!

Thanks for the good luck wishes. I'm doing everything I can (including ordering Mr. Eaton's book) to minimize the amount of "luck" I'll require! :>)

Dealers undercutting each other is just what I want. I'm looking for the bottom line for negotiation but I don't want to be ridiculous, either. That's why I asked.

I live in an area with lots and lots of dealers. A number of them who sell the same manufacturer have told me, when asked why they don't have the same model home I've seen at another dealer, that the manufacturer won't allow them to have the same floor plan model as another deal within a certain radius of miles. That makes it harder to compare - there may be lots of dealers, but there are plenty who certainly don't make an effort to sell anything other than what they have on hand.

Thanks for the answers, everyone. I'll continue to peruse your forums; they are excellent and I commend everyone involved in providing information to consumers.

you can get these great manufactured home buyers resourcres on line by clicking on your choice below:



How To Buy A Manufactured Home And Save Thousands Of Dollars
This book, by Randy Eaton, will show you how to negotiate the best price
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