The Manufactured Housing Forums

While renovating the exterior of my 1984 Marshfield the old siding, windows, skirting and gutters were removed to be replaced with all new. The work was being done by myself, family, and friends The project was going well, and after day two, all of the new siding was on and the windows were back in. On day three the project was to be finished by putting up the gutters and skirting, but disaster struck on that second night. A thunderstorm came through and the wind peeled the roof back lengthwise. My insurance agent came out the following day accompanied by a "mobile home specialist" and between the two of them, the decision was made that the home was totaled. I was shocked when my insurance agent pointed to a clause in my contract which stated that faulty workmanship was not covered, therefore I could not make a claim. I didn't understand until the "mobile home specialist" explained to me that the staples which held my gutters on were also additional support for my roof. He reasoned that the wind would not have blown my roof off if the gutters were still attatched. How could I have replaced them without first taking them off, keeping in mind that in order to replace the siding they had to come off because the old siding was under them?! I owned my home, which was not worth much, but it was still my home, completely paid for. My daughter and I are now staying with family, and to make things worse I have had to pay to have the totalled home removed. Is there anything I can do?

Gutters generally are not standard equipment! I am sure the house was not delivered with gutters - therefore they have NOTHING to do with the home's workmanship. Not an expert, but that's my take. Contact an attorney - it may take several - to see if one will take it on contingency. If not, try Legal Aid - if those fail, at least take them to small claims court for the maximum allowed in your state.

I'm not an expert nor an attorney, but have a bit of experience.
Good luck!!!

I am a mortgage broke trying to locate home owners insurance for a client who has a manufactured home in Florida (once a trailor but has been converted to a single family residence and appraised as a single family residence with a total appraised value of $170,000, not including the land which is worth about $85,000). My problem is that I can't find anyone to insure the residence for over $100,000. Any advice or help in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Robert Jeter
Empire Equity
cell 404-388-0089

If you have any luck getting insurance please let me know as I having the same problem as a homeowner with a mobile home converted to single family residence.