How happy are you with your mobile homes?

[Natalie]

Can you tell me what brand of MH you have. I am looking for one myself but am not sure what brand to get. My husband and I have land and were going to build a house on it but went looking the other day and saw some nice MH's. I just don't want to get stuck with a cheap one. Can you offer some advice.

[Linda Martin]

Hello - I see that most people who don't like their homes are because there in MH Parks - is it not possible to rent your house out to someone else if you wanted to move and it wasn't selling?

[sandy]

Boy! I wish I had known about this site before we purchased our home in a 'park'. The park is, for the most part, beautiful but there are management issues that we are constantly dealing with such as maintenance of the common areas. And the salesman assured me that the home would indeed appreciate in value because of its location in this park. Reading some of the comments on this site has made me wonder if he lied to me. My problem was I reacted emotionally to the home rather than logically. I just had to have this home. Linda, we gave up a fine home on the lake because we wanted one level living and more room for the grandchildren. I had it made at the lake and gave it up for this. What a fool I was. Anyway, our home was manufactured by Fuqua and we have had many problems with it. I am currently in discussion with the state manufactured home standards division and have had great success with them. But I am with you. It's time to get out. But my goal is to force the park out of business with ad campaigns and publications I plan on giving to prospective buyers at this park. I may lose my shirt but it may be worth it to see this place go under.

[sabrina]

natalie,
lots of people have asked this question on this site. i found it very helpful to read all entries (even if the title doesn't seem to fit) for may and april. there are two other forums on this site that are great too: first time home buyer and ask the expert.

randy eaton's books are wonderful too which you can buy here on the site.

sabrina

[mike]

We are looking for a doublewide have looked at several different makes.I had 1 dealer tell me that what ever make we buy just make sure it is not a fleetwood.Can somebod tell me why? Are there some makes that we should stay away from and are there some we should look for. thanks

[rmurray]

Fleetwood is a large company...In some parts of the country they are the best in the industry...In some areas..they are the bottom of the list....Many Fleetood products are standard with pressboard floors...most in the industry will tell you to stay far away from this stuff..

Much more important than the manufacturer is the building specs..Homes very a lot...You like all of us have to make decisions based on our pocketbook...prices very by size, quality and features...
If you want the cheapest home...somebody will sell it too you...
If you are serious about a quality home..you might want to invest in The Book sold on this site by Randy Eaton..

Read the posts on this site..return often..ask questions..then decide..

[sabrina]

hi mike,
i'm looking too. here's a form i put together to remind me what all the cool and wonderful people on this site have advised me over the past month to look for.
i hope it's helpful and not an eyesore or a headache!
s
MLS#:
SMOKED IN:
APPRAISED (when/by whom?):
ASSESSED (contact/year/amount):
ACRES:
FENCING (type/enclosing what?):
ZONING for horse:
COUNTY CLERK RECORDER (contact info/y or n):
HOA (contact info/y or n):
Address:
T+R:
Original Owner (tele#/email):
When Placed/Who Set Up:
Current Owner (tele#/email):

MAKE (tele#/website):
MODEL#:
SERIAL#:
YEAR:
SQFT:
COLOR:
BE/BA:
EXT DIMENSIONS:

COUNTY BUILD INSP (tele#/website):
When?/Copy of Report:

INSULATION:
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:

[Sylvia]

We are very lucky in this regard. we live in a wonderful, well maintained park in California. we will be moving to New Mexico and are hoping to find a similar park. So far, nothing is quite as nice. *sigh*, but if I had to do it all over again, I would!

We love our home and are hoping fervently that we will find a similar or better one! It would be so sad to get a lemon after living in champagne! I think the best way to get a "handle" on what type of park you are loking at is to talk to the management... then talk to the *homeowners' association* if the park has one1

Don't understimate Google, either Run the park's name through and you'll find more stuff than you knew was out there. I ran a check on the name of one park we are considering and found a newspaper article titled "Doublewide Dilemma" that told of how the park was sprucing up and tossing tenants out for being in violation of the park's covenants. The article mentioned a person who had started a homeowners Association and I found her number and called her. I found *loads* more info on that, and several *other* parks as well!

Google is your friend!

Swan

[JD]

I am currently considering a Modular. I am sooo glad that I found this forum. I have read all the standards as far as quality that have been mentioned. I live in rural Indiana and I am requesting a list of manufacturers that meet these standards.

I have found some qualities in one but not all in the same one.

[Athel Doty]

Gary, please share any information you have regarding the quality of Signature manufactured homes. We are looking at a double-wide built by them and want to be sure ir is a good company.
Will apprecaiate any advice.