Getting the dealer to name a price

Cassie · Post by **Cassie** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 2:41 pm

Slowly but surely we're narrowing down the field of manufacturers. In first place we have Cavco, second place is Palm Harbor, and third place is a toss up between Schult, Karsten, Golden West. Haven't found a retailer we really like yet. It's pretty frustrating when no one can answer my construction questions. My favorite line is "the home adheres to HUD standards."

As I subtract for land, utility hook-ups, site improvements, our budget is getting tight and I need to decide on a house which costs no more than $80,000. The homes I'm looking at are supposedly in that ballpark. But I can't nail anyone down on a price, or even an estimate.

Am I going to have to string 10 sales guys along, having each of them write up a contract for our dream house with all the deletions and additions we want? It seems so unfair to do that, but I need to know where I'm headed financially and if I need to make cut-backs on the homes we've chosen or reconsider the Schult/Karsten/Golden West models.

Bill Fry · Post by **Bill Fry** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 5:56 pm

80 k in the SE buys a nice MH,on the west coast that probably buys a average MH.
Where are you located?

jgn · Post by **jgn** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 7:37 pm

That is not uncommon and to the salespersons defense there are a lot of tire kickers out there who just waste time. Pick a floorplan you like and get a salesperson to give you a quote. Just tell them that you are interested in XX floor plan and you want a cost estimate. They should be able to do that in around 30 minutes. If they hedge on it just leave. We had no problem getting a quote on a Karstan, Palm Harbor and Solitaire with exactly what we wanted in it. We wanted 2x6 exterior, Hardiplank, gas HWH and stove, T&T. The Karstan cam in at $48sf, PH $42 and Solitaire $32. We were looking in the 2000 square foot range. The PH was the Select series which is their upper end but the Masterpiece, middle range is $38. All of these included delivery, set up and basic skirting. To that you need to add poured footers. If they ask what your budget is tell them to just give you a quote for XX home because they will find a way to spend all of your budget.

rmurray · Post by **rmurray** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 7:46 am

In defense of the sales persons..

All homes have a large amount of possible options..often they are things consumers think are standard..such as washer and dryer hook ups...Option lists can be upwards of $20K...This makes it hard to give you an accurate figure until you narrow down the actual things you want...

If the saleperson gives you a base model quote..you are likely to be upset later...Or if they give you a fully equiped quote..you are likely to think they are too high and go else where...

the best way is to generate a list of must have features and options..pick a floorplan or two..and ask for detailed price quotes..Do not be afraid of asking them to work...That is their job..they have little else to do except talk to serious customers like you...

You seem to be up to speed on the homes...now make a list and go forward..Good Luck

Cassie · Post by **Cassie** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 4:24 pm

Thanks for all the advice. Looks like we're going with Cavco. Found a dealer today who seems to know her stuff. She was willing to give me a price of the model we toured as it stands, which gives me a good idea of the numbers. She also quoted me some prices on a couple of my big upgrade items. I'm trying to leave around $10,000 in play room for upgrades (or to switch to a higher end model)....which is way more than we'll need hopefully. The hubby and I are going to schedule a tour of the factory, then decide on a particular model and get a quote.

Palm Harbor, well, I got what I expected out of them -- pushy, pushy, pushy. I told the gal I had already secured my own financing. She pushed the financing again. I repeated that I had already secured my own financing. And she pushed again and again and again on why I should choose their financing. Didn't take me long to leave. Won't be back there. Too bad. They seem to have a good product; their tactics leave alot to be desired.

Charlotte · Post by **Charlotte** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 5:40 pm

I have come up with this "problem" as well, but as I go along I understand why it is so hard to get a price named. We have chosen the options and as soon as we get all those settled and the home like I want it, the salesman (who I like a whole lot) will be able to tell me a price. Right now he says that for a 1505 sq ft home, they aree running about $45.00psy.

I had to change home builders kind of midproject, (builder #1went out of business in my area) and in doing so it has turned out to be the best thing going for me. Be cause builder #2 is much more willing to do things the way I want them to be done than builder#1 was.

When all is said and done with I am going to have a much nicer home this way.

Charlotte · Post by **Charlotte** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 5:40 pm

I have come up with this "problem" as well, but as I go along I understand why it is so hard to get a price named. We have chosen the options and as soon as we get all those settled and the home like I want it, the salesman (who I like a whole lot) will be able to tell me a price. Right now he says that for a 1505 sq ft home, they aree running about $45.00psf.

I had to change home builders kind of midproject, (builder #1went out of business in my area) and in doing so it has turned out to be the best thing going for me. Be cause builder #2 is much more willing to do things the way I want them to be done than builder#1 was.

When all is said and done with I am going to have a much nicer home this way.

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