comparison guide

[jaden]

My wife and I are experiencing similar dilemmas as all of the other readers.
We will be moving to the southern arizona area. Yes, we bought land in the beautiful sonoran desert. We would like to have a manufactured home placed there, but want the best for the money. We have been doing much research on the subject of MH and stick building. We even considered an adobe home. What a disappoint. Very expensive! Has anybody read the book "MH Comparison Guide" or "How to buy a MH and save money"? I am going to purchase these books, and hopefully they will be of some help. I have also heard that the Schult MH are probably the best when it comes to quality and service. Would this be a true statement?
Thank you all..and good luck!

[jgn]

Take a close look at Karsten homes. They are built in MN and cover Arizona. With regard to the books, get all of the knowledge you can because that is the cheap part. This is a great forum but you will not get much of an answer as to who is the best. Schult is part of Oakwood and they are in bankrupcy so might wait to see what shkes out with them.

[rmurray]

National comparison guides are hard to write in the industry...each manufacturer has many plants..each building more than 1 line of homes..all with different construction specs...The worse part is that they are always changing...by the time the ink drys on the book of this sort it is already outdated..

The other book is great...It explain the many possible ways to have a home built..You then decide what construction features are important to you..look around the area you are going in and find a brand or 2 that have or offer them...There are vast differences from home to home and this book can be a good primer to get you going..Good Luck

[sabrina]

hi,
this is a form i put together using the best specs i learned from reading here.
i am using it to compare the homes i am looking to buy. i have found it is a great tool to put realtors/salesman on the line...especially if they sign and date it.
sabrina
thanks and good luck to you too!!

[sabrina]

here it is:
MAKE (tele#/website):
MODEL#:
SERIAL#:
YEAR:
SQFT:
COLOR:
BE/BA:
EXT DIMENSIONS:
INSULATION (R-?):
Roof:
Floor:
Walls:

INTERIOR FLOORING:
Carpet type (Warranty Transfer? Length/Who Honors):
Vinyl type (Warranty Transfer? Length/Who Honors):
FOUNDATION (perimeter):
Who?:

ROOF COMPOSITION (plywood, tar paper, metal):
Warranty Transfer? Length/Who Honors?:
ROOF LOAD ( regs req):
Warranty Transfer? Length/Who Honors?:
SIDING COMPOSITION (vinyl, Georgia Pacific Cedar Lane):
WarrantyTransfer? Length/Who Honors?:

INTERIOR STUDS (2X4):
EXTERIOR STUDS (2X6):

FLOORING (3/4" T+G Plywood):
FLOOR JOISTS (2X8):
RAFTERS (2X8):

OSB WRAP (FULL):
SHEET ROCK (1/2" truot):





Homeowner's Insurance (contact/yr average):

Mortgage Insurance (contact/yr average):

Yearly Taxes (contact/yr average):

Telephone (contact/mo average/connect fee/internet access?):

Internet Access (contact/mo average/connect fee/bb):

Gas(type/contact/mo average/connect fee/tank rented or owned/bb):

Electricity(contact/mo average/connect fee/bb):

Well or Public(contact/mo average):
Warranty Transfer? Length/Who Honors
Depth/Type/GPM
Dept of Natural Resources Says:

Septic or Public(contact/mo average):
Warranty Transfer? Length/Who Honors
Depth/Type
Public Sanitarian Says: