Considering buying a very custom mobile home, thoughts?

[gade202]

My wife and I have found a property in upstate New York. It's a mobile home that was built in 1989, had an addition put on in 1998 and a major renovation over the past 3 years.

No soft spots but please advise on crawl space photos. The owner does not believe in venting the crawl space and the result was a wet mess. Luckily, he has 2x 2" rigid insulation and then the original looked intact, so the wood looks to be OK.

Here are the property spec list:

- 15 Acres of land, bordering several thousand acres of state park
- 4 Bedroom, 2 Bath, approx. 1,800 sqft
- New 50 year steel roof
- Fully insulated, heated 2 car detached garage
- Wrap around deck
- 12x12 Cabin with electric and wood burning stove in woods

http://lh6.ggpht.com/gary.freelance.tec ... imgmax=720

http://lh3.ggpht.com/gary.freelance.tec ... imgmax=720

http://lh5.ggpht.com/gary.freelance.tec ... imgmax=512

http://lh5.ggpht.com/gary.freelance.tec ... imgmax=720

http://lh6.ggpht.com/gary.freelance.tec ... imgmax=720

Crawl space findings:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/gary.freelance.tec ... imgmax=720

http://lh3.ggpht.com/gary.freelance.tec ... imgmax=720

The crawl space has 2 screened, vented doors that have been covered by the insulation. The owner had the insulation installed a few years ago but does not believe in venting it out, which shocked me.

Anyways, what do you think? I would appreciate overall thoughts on the property and price, as well as thoughts and advice on the crawl space. Thank you for any help!

[rmurray]

You have not mentioned the price but few of us would be able to comment on the value of property in Upstate NY...The home looks well customized, well appointed and VERY well cared for...It is nice to see 20 year old home as nice as this one..
I assume you have compared selling price with others in the area..if not you should..

You should invest in a professional home inspection...Their report will answer most of your fears...Your real estate pro should be able to refer you to a good one in your area..

In our area a sealed craw space would be disaterous..Mold and rot would ruin the home..Your home inspector should be able to comment on this one..

[trmimo]

I would run in the other direction from this home. The moisture in the crawlspace is a big problem. The steel appears to be rusting and you can be sure that the wood and insulation have absorbed a great deal of moisture even if they don't appear to be soaked or rotten. I have seen this all too often. A home owner with the very best intentions sets out to improve the home and makes a serious mistake. If you really have your heart set on this house, do like RMurray suggests and have it inspected professionally. But beware even if it passes an inspection it is a gamble at best. Even if the home appears fine today, moisture causes dozens of problems down the road like reduced insulation vales, settling, frost heave, warped floor joists and wall studs, soft floors, nail pops, mold, swinging interior doors, foggy windows, loose mouldings and poor air quality.

[gade202]

Oops, that I did. The purchase price is roughly $170,000.

I have compared to many homes in the area. But, that's the problem. There are no mobile home "based" properties as nice as this one or in this price range. The homes in comparison are full basement 2 story farm homes with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and roughly half the acreage. Less land but at least the home isn't prone to decay as mobile's are.

My issue is, after seeing the crawlspace is so dripping wet and has been sealed for 3 years, is this going to drastically reduce the lifespan of the mobile home? I understand that it's very hard to determine from just photos. Just looking for advice and personal experience.

I plan on hiring a home inspection to re-inspect the home later in the week.

[David Oxhandler]

Go for a full inspection not just a "look-see". The damage may be more than what is visible. Get a detailed repair proposal and mold inspection licensed contractors before you make any offer. The price may look good now but the cost of repair and restoration may give you some second thoughts.

Standing water under any home can be distuctive and create health hazards...