The Manufactured Housing Forums

Hello my name is Ryan,

I have recently been looking into purchasing a mobile home. I've found one that is an awsome price but it is an older home. I did take a look at it and the insides are agreeable-looking. Its very well cared for. My question is what are the things I should be conserned about with a home this age?

It has a new rubber roof as well as a new boiler. The prior owner must have been a smoker because you can smell a faint smoke odor. But I don't detect any mildew smells. The Paneling is real-wood and the place comes with appliances ect. My realitor says she thinks the home might be an estate sale and that the previous owner probably passed away. The price has come way down in the last year, like 1/3 to 1/2 of the orignal asking price. I think its because MHs arn't too popular around here and it being an possibly being part of an estatesale and what not...

Of the most visable issues I saw on our initial tour... one is the rusted looking Oil barrel outside. The 2nd is is the yucky carpeting but the floor is not soft at all anywhere I walked. Very solid feeling. There is some sort of perhaps vinyl tile under the rug though. The 3rd is the HIDEOUS pink bath tub / sink / toilet combo. My Parents where with me on the tour and they said it felt unleveled --- so that could be an issue. Perhaps the last issue I noticed was that the ceilings in the bedroom were a little saggy (no water spots to speak of, but the owner was a smoker so the ceiling is yellowed all over...)


Somethings we didn't examine where to see if it has copper wiring... But we can check that out if we take a final tour...

Is there anything else I should check?

Also what are the costs assosiated with replacing the oil tank? Replacing the tub/shower? And lastly but not leastly re-leveling the home?

Does anyone have any websites that will be enlighting on these issues?

I've been doing so much research online and then I thought well... it wouldn't hurt to post on a forum to see what people think etc...

Thanks sooo much for you help in advance!!!

Well a well maintained 45 year old home could well be a great starter home for a young person..Just like any home of this age you should invest in the services of a professional home inspector. They will inspect and report on defects and the estimated costs of repairs..Their service is cheap in relation to the risk. Even with a report with problems, the buyer is buying with informed confidence..A good home inspector should be able to answer your questions about costs associated with modernization.. He/she will be familiar with your local cost of home improvement..A good real estate person should be able to recommend a home inspector in your area or check your yellow pages.

Thanks rmurray, what a quick response!

I will definitally have an insepctor look at it. Are mobile home inspectors the same as regular home inspectors our would I have to have someone special look at it?

My realitor is not to familiar with Mobiles as she doesn't sell very many of them (and if you think about it for the going price she isn't going to make much money off of it) I wouldn't want her to recomend a regluar home inspector when really a mobile home specalist is needed.

I just googled it... looks like they may all be one in the same..

THanks again...

I think for the most part inspection issues would be similar for any type of home, but if you be sure to hire a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors and ask if he feels qualified you should be ok. You can find them here;
http://www.homeinspector.org/