Lot Prep/Installation

[LindaOz]

I'm considering a move to Arizona, outer Tucson area. Can I get any ballpark figures on prep & installation on a level lot, after purchase of a new double or triple wide from a dealer? I understand there may be a LOT of variables.

Is is safer to just go with a home already installed?

Thanks,

Linda

[Ann]

I'm in outer Tucson area, although NW may be different from south area. I can only tell you what I paid....

$5600 for perk test, septic, pad, all electric ...lines, electric "post" (my mind escapes me on what this is called), water lines for a 3-bedroom DW 32 x 78 home and driveway.

4 bedrooms according to code needs a larger septic and that would have added another $2500. YEOW!...so we made one bedroom into a den and cut the closet in the room to make it a den.

Variables are the length of your electric to the house locale, the size of the home, the number of bedrooms (septic size).

Make sure they use a water truck when leveling your pad.

Something already installed isn't necessarily "safer". In fact, you haven't a clue where any lines are or how they did the work. If you have it done on a new home, you can see it being done and ispect it as it goes along...like we did...Thank God.

Make sure the estimate is detailed...some don't use a water truck and makes for a softer pad. Do they clear the brush, bury the brush (be better to dig a hole, burn the excess brush, then cover it, because it WILL collapse gradually) or charge to remove the brush? The cheapest quote isn't always the best. Usually means they cut corners or are relatively new at this.(Bad)

[LindaOz]

Ann,

Thanks so much for taking the time to write. Your info was very helpful!

Linda

[Mark]

Ana,

I been reading over several message posted on this board, I like to say GREAT JOB, your was most informative them most posted on here.

[annaz]

I appreciate it!

Annaz

[Tish]

Linda, I too am looking at the Tucson area. If you'd like to exchange some info, I'd be happy to talk to you directly. My e-mail is: [email protected]. I am trying to decide between 2 very different areas where I would purchase acreage and set a manuf. home. It's a big decison, that's for sure!

[Charles McClellan]

Presently, I am in Iraq. We have severe winds in the entire region and regularily see constant winds exceeding 40 mph for an entire day and night.

We have smaller mobile homes in use for quarters for both Military and civilian personnel. Typically, they are a bedroom on each side and a bathroom in the middle. Presently, there is no measures to secure the trailers in place. They are simply set down on cemet blocks and then plumbing and electric is attached.

Please send me the minimun requirements for set up of a mobile home or the location I may aquire some information on seting them up with safety in mind for this windy region. Specifically, what type of minimum tie downs etc.

Thank you very much for your anticipated assistance.

[Roy T. Bonney]

A couple of thing come to mind. First, the anchoring requirements, are in fact code requirements for the United States, and have no bearing on exports units. That being said, if the homes were built in the U.S. there are probably installation manuals available from the manufacturer, that will give you the anchoring specs for which the home was designed. A forty mile and hour wind would most probably put the homes in a zone I wind zone, if they were located in the U. S. We have no information as to size or construction. You may also want to view ANSI A225.1 which would be an alternative standard, if the home was sited in the U.S. and installation instructions were not available. American National Standards Institute.

[Catherine]

I live on the northwest side in Tucson in a manufactured home subdivision. This is NOT a park. I bought the home already set up as a resale for $96000. The appraisal value went up to $116000 in a year. The homes out here are very nice, a quiet neighborhood and beautiful scenery. The lots are all sold, so any homes being sold are as a home, everything included, no setup, etc. You can buy the homes from the dealers right off the freeway, and most of them will include land, however, since most of the area on the northwest is all stucco now, you'll probably wind up living on the west side or southeast/southwest. The only other area that is deeded for manufactured homes is in Marana which is really northwest. I've been very happy with my home though and am glad I bought out here. This is my second one. Would recommend you at least check out the area as there are a couple of homes for sale. We're right off of Cortaro and Twin Peaks if you're interested in checking out the area.