I NEED HELP!!!

[Jacob]

Hi I am looking for my first house. I have looked at houses that are built on site and then I went to the Aspen home center and I found a home that I fell in love with. It is a double wide made by guerdon and is model #b2868a-02. It is a 3 bed 2 bath with 1813 sq ft and it is completely customizable. I mean this is a home that I can only dream of and to think I can actually afford it! The base price for this home is like 85,000. I need to know if this is a good deal or not and also all of the ins and outs of owning a mobile home. I have seen people talking about how there homes were in the 50,s so an i getting shafted? and also if anyone has any good suggestions for a first time home buyer please by all means share them with me. Thanks!!!!

[Dan F.]

Where are you located and folks may be able to help you better.

[Marty Peltier]

For $85,000 you can get a HUGE and beautiful home here in Michigan. I am talking over 2300 sq ft with 4 or 5 bedrooms and 3 baths. Quality construction as well. I would suggest you shop around a little. Look for things like 2 x 6 sidewalls and drywall throughout. Also, most homes are pretty customizable and most dealers will tell you that customizations are cheap. This is true until you have several changes made. Then you will see how fast this will add up.

I started with a $60,000 home that quickly went to $78k after I was done.

BUT, chances are with the hundreds of floorplans available; you can find the home you will love without too many changes.

Look into the Patriot "Crystal Valley" line. Newly standard features for the 3003 models make this line a winner.

***Talk to a couple of dealers about discounting their commision a little.***
If you convince them that you are a legitimate quick sale, they may be willing to deal.

I walked into a sales center knowing as much or more than the dealer (research) along with approved financing in hand and was quickly offered any home for 5% over cost which the dealer was happy to publish to me. I went to several sales centers for diferent manufacturers with the same information and was offered the same or similiar deals from each. On both manufactured and modular homes.

It also helped me to make it known right away that I don't like sales persons and I will talk only to a serious person ready to make his best deal and not "Fart" around. Talk to me straight and we can make a deal work!

If you are not comfortable with a sales person, request another. Don't worry about hurting someone's feelings. There are a lot of unprofessional sales people out there and the manufactured homes business is a bit fragile right now. You should be able to pick and choose who you deal with and what you purchase. Don't deal uncomfortably and you won't get taken advantage of (hopefully).

Sorry I get a little emotional about this. I HATE SALES PEOPLE. Or at least the ones who act like sales people.

Good Luck!!!!

[roni]

I bought a Guerdon home from Aspen Home Center in COlorado SPrings, CO. I would most definitely NOT recommend going with this dealer - they do not keep their agrements. They neglected to order the tile material for my utility room, and would not reimburse me for the cost of the materials and installation, I had to provide, even though the sales manager, Kenny Kemble, verbally told me it would be covered. They still owe me some money, and since it has been over 8 months with no resolution, I will be taking them to court over it.
Overall, however, I am very pleased with the Guerdon home, and the company, based in Boise, is very responsive and helpful.

JUST DON"T GO TO ASPEN HOME CENTER IN COLORADO SPRINGS COLORADO!!!!!