The Manufactured Housing Forums

I have called two different dealers with my list of things I want in a particular Four Season home. I figured they had their own base price for the home but each would have the same price list of items for upgrades and such. I thought the dealers would have the same list form the manufacture fro upgrades and those prices where set by the manufacture. What I am finding out is much different. For example one dealer quoted me a $1200.00 for a fire place and the other dealer quoted me $995.00 for the fireplace. Same thing for the ceramic back splash one was $250.00 and the other was $195.00. These two dealers are about 1 hour and 20 minutes from each other. Is that normal?

Actually, Tabitha, I am finding this to be rather common place. I have been going to 3 different dealers of the same home for about a month and a half and find base pricing and option pricing to be all over the board. One quotes me a price of $ 500 for oak cabinet upgrade and another says $2700.One quotes me $78,000 for a well optioned but still not quite as I want it, another tells me $84,000 for a realtively un- optioned home ( having very few built in upgrades) and the last one says $ 80-$82,000 for the same base home.The higher priced dealers want $ 3000 for a roof option that I want, but the first and lowest priced dealer includes that roof as standard on his lot. Go figure. Best thing you can do is shop around as much as you feel you can. Go with your gut instincts, and choose the dealer you feel you have the most confidence in. AND ALWAYS get your quotes in WRITING. Also, believe it or not.... spend lots of time with the dealer you choose to buy from... Time is an investment on his part and the more time you spend with him the more he has invested in YOU, and will do more to make the deal happen for you. Ask lots of questions and listen and make notes of what he/she says. There are a lot of options and package deals that might just make you a happier and slightly richer owner at the end of your purchase.

Manufactured home dealers are retail businesses...They buy products from a manufactuer and resell them at a profit..Few retailer you currently do business with would buy a preoduct for $195 and sell it at $195..Can youreally expect someone to do so???...The best way for you to get the best price is to shop the exact same home..Often it is hard to tell what asn option actuslly is..Often this kind of shopping can lead to disappointment..The dealer will be obligated to only sell you the options that you exactly request...Comparing exact apples to apples isd hard to do..You would be best occupied comparing dealer reputation and professionalism..Check with previous cusomers for info...

Best of luck in trhis quest...

It is normal, many products you buy have an MSRP, manufactured homes do not.
Unlike a typical consumer product, much of the value you get out of your home comes from the retailer. One may spend several thousand dollars more on installation and service than another so their cost of doing business is much higher. Also some take their whole markup on the base price while others markup the base price and the options. You can really only compare the bottom line price of the house you want with the options you want. Murray is right, the lowest price may not be the best deal, you need to find out what each retailer has to offer in terms of service and installation.

Just a suggestion, but do NOT tell the dealer you already have a price. Just say you've been researching and this is the home you want with these options.

As soon as a dealer found out I already had a price on a home from another dealer, he refused to even talk to me. Since he was the only other dealer around (and over 100 miles away at that), I had no choice if I wanted that home but to buy from the only dealer available.

So, don't say you've gotten a price or even visited other dealers!

Tabitha-I understand you are frustrated-but as some of the other replies mentioned, dealers have many variables. You apparently didn't know that Four Seasons Housing builds manufactured(4 different models) and modular homes---and options available vary depending on the model and standard features. And yes, we have several different fireplaces--your prices are right on the mark too! One variable you must remember is the cost of delivery, set and trim....this varies depending on distance from the dealer and factory.(Ask your dealer what his price includes) Today we have higher delivery costs and surcharges...so you need to tell the dealer where your site is located and exactly what model and options you are looking for.Are you asking the dealer to take your home in trade? As someone else said--be sure to ask for satisfied references and check out the dealer too-does he offer service after the sale???How long has he been in business??? Does he own a manufactured housing community and sell to those residents as well as siting homes on real estate? This is very important--trust you will enjoy your new home.