My point is that one should not allow a problem to fester and grow worse...Warranty is very short lived on the life of a home..There will be maintenence every month a person lives in a home...sometimes it is very minor..others can be large...Sure if this problem was warranty it should have been fixed...but...the homeowner..and investor...cannot allow problems to grow...
If a person cannot afford to maintain a home..they should not have it..They should think about maintenence before they buy...Those on a tight budget with limited credit (all of us I think) should reserve a rainy day fund...Put aside a few dollars every month for future maintenence....This is expecially true for those with disabilities...both physical and educational...since they cannot handle the maintenence as a do it yourself..they will spend 2 to 3 times as much on future maintenence....Fair..NOT..but it is...Home ownership is not for everyone without careful long term planning and budgeting...Those on very yight budgets should understand many items in the home will wear out...carpet, appliances, fixtures..the list goes on and on..although these will last for years...it might take years of careful savings to be ready to replace them when needed..
Major Repairs on 1yr. old Fleetwood
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Just Me
Re: what about wear and tear on the homeowner?
They have the money to maintain their home. The problem is the home was in terrible shape when delivered and things are still outstanding, major items. I guess at some point the manufac has to be responsible for their product.
Kind of like stick built homes. You pay 200,000 for a home and three months after moving in the walls start showing cracks, floors so do you spend major $$$ to fix it or make the contractor/builders accountable?
Kind of like stick built homes. You pay 200,000 for a home and three months after moving in the walls start showing cracks, floors so do you spend major $$$ to fix it or make the contractor/builders accountable?
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sabrina
well, of course.
mr. murray,
that's all a no brainer. it's all part of the homeownership class persons have to take to be part of the programs underwritten by fha/hud. plus, by the time most persons reach the age where they can afford a home, they usually have had plenty of experience with dilapidated rental properties. the new landlord came at my invitation to view my apt. he thought the owner had put in new cabinets and carpet. i pointed out they are the original and 5yrs old but that i not only maintain but have improved the apt by cleaning regularly over the past year the damage/scum left by the previous tenant.
your point is not the point, sorry.
i've developed good solid relationships with all my "handy" neighbors by volunteering with the children in the neighborhood. we've already done barter on my apt which the owner refuses to maintain which is 5yrs, looking like 45yrs.
preparedness, planning, thinking of years 30-50 is not the problem.
being taken advantage of by persons who are legally bound not to do it is. like the author of this long string has said for the fourth time, it is about holding the manufacturer accountable. i support them in their efforts.
as for your statement, "home ownership is not for everyone...." i would suggest you research the validated studies done by numerous agencies that show overwhelmingly that even those you imply should not own homes dramatically benefit in many aspects of their life (thereby contributing to the community) by owning their own home. it is well documented that less than 5% of those with disabilities are "irresponsible home owners."
sabrina
that's all a no brainer. it's all part of the homeownership class persons have to take to be part of the programs underwritten by fha/hud. plus, by the time most persons reach the age where they can afford a home, they usually have had plenty of experience with dilapidated rental properties. the new landlord came at my invitation to view my apt. he thought the owner had put in new cabinets and carpet. i pointed out they are the original and 5yrs old but that i not only maintain but have improved the apt by cleaning regularly over the past year the damage/scum left by the previous tenant.
your point is not the point, sorry.
i've developed good solid relationships with all my "handy" neighbors by volunteering with the children in the neighborhood. we've already done barter on my apt which the owner refuses to maintain which is 5yrs, looking like 45yrs.
preparedness, planning, thinking of years 30-50 is not the problem.
being taken advantage of by persons who are legally bound not to do it is. like the author of this long string has said for the fourth time, it is about holding the manufacturer accountable. i support them in their efforts.
as for your statement, "home ownership is not for everyone...." i would suggest you research the validated studies done by numerous agencies that show overwhelmingly that even those you imply should not own homes dramatically benefit in many aspects of their life (thereby contributing to the community) by owning their own home. it is well documented that less than 5% of those with disabilities are "irresponsible home owners."
sabrina
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rmurray
Re: well, of course.
I never said disabled folks are irresponsible...I did not post this as a personal attack..you are actually one of the best prepared buyers I have seen...I have no doubt that you have thought out the process well and will be a successful homeowner...Sorry if you took my post personal..
I post here for the general reader...hopefully to help them get up to the level of understanding you have...
My experience tells me many manufactured home buyers have never owned a major item and have no idea ablut the cost of future maintenence....I cannot tell you how many used homes I have seen with no maintenence for many years...I just traded a home that you have to walk on the bare floor joists to get from the bedroom to the bath...These folks had money..had kids..had good credit...but were upset that the home only lasted 15 years...
It is not uncommon for us to see trades with a/c's that have been run for years without filters...The list goes on and on...
By the way...the course you mention is available online for free...how do they know who actually filled in the blanks????
Also it is available for a fee from some nonprofits over the phone...for a fee they send you a book and then you call to answer the test questions...Again..how do they know who is on the phone??
That course requirement is nothing more than something to satisfy the Congress....
I post here for the general reader...hopefully to help them get up to the level of understanding you have...
My experience tells me many manufactured home buyers have never owned a major item and have no idea ablut the cost of future maintenence....I cannot tell you how many used homes I have seen with no maintenence for many years...I just traded a home that you have to walk on the bare floor joists to get from the bedroom to the bath...These folks had money..had kids..had good credit...but were upset that the home only lasted 15 years...
It is not uncommon for us to see trades with a/c's that have been run for years without filters...The list goes on and on...
By the way...the course you mention is available online for free...how do they know who actually filled in the blanks????
Also it is available for a fee from some nonprofits over the phone...for a fee they send you a book and then you call to answer the test questions...Again..how do they know who is on the phone??
That course requirement is nothing more than something to satisfy the Congress....
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Sylvia
Re: well, of course.
Speaking as a former apartment house manager, I can agree! People need to take care of the place they live in. Minimal *regular* naintenance can forstall a *lot* of major stuff.
we currently live in a 1990 FarWest which has been lovingly cared for and babied. Roof, walls, floor etc are all in top shape. There was dry rot and warping in the original porch on the home due to some *twit* installing "indoor-outdoor" carpeting on the front porch and not accounting for the fact that "rain happens".
we could have sat and kvetched that the porch was damaged. We didn't. We hired a contractor and took the old porch and front paneling off the home and *replaced* the whole shebang. When we did, we had the guy crawl underneath the house to see if the bellywrap was still in place and undamaged. We found some rotted supports under the dining room floor, which we replaced. While the house was "opened up" we had (yet another) inspection for dry rot and termites. Squeaky clean bill of health. The new porch and siding went on and the home is still in excellent condition. Not shabby for a 13 year old MH!
we are selling our home and will more than recoup our investment. Currently ourt "handyperson" is due out to repaint the cabinetry and do some work on the back window. Our realtor (who sold us this home initially) came out to do a walk through and gasped at well maintained the place was and the improvements we have made. Our home has appreciated in value rather than declined.
It can be done. It takes *effort* but it is more than well worth it if you have a good home to start out with. If you don't, all the maintenance in the world won't turn the lemon into champagne. When we buy another MH (and we will! We're sold on 'em!) we will have the place inspected from end to end, top to bottom *before* we move in. Minor deficits *will* be repaired or we walk. Major deficits, we simply won't accept. No sale.
Swan
we currently live in a 1990 FarWest which has been lovingly cared for and babied. Roof, walls, floor etc are all in top shape. There was dry rot and warping in the original porch on the home due to some *twit* installing "indoor-outdoor" carpeting on the front porch and not accounting for the fact that "rain happens".
we could have sat and kvetched that the porch was damaged. We didn't. We hired a contractor and took the old porch and front paneling off the home and *replaced* the whole shebang. When we did, we had the guy crawl underneath the house to see if the bellywrap was still in place and undamaged. We found some rotted supports under the dining room floor, which we replaced. While the house was "opened up" we had (yet another) inspection for dry rot and termites. Squeaky clean bill of health. The new porch and siding went on and the home is still in excellent condition. Not shabby for a 13 year old MH!
we are selling our home and will more than recoup our investment. Currently ourt "handyperson" is due out to repaint the cabinetry and do some work on the back window. Our realtor (who sold us this home initially) came out to do a walk through and gasped at well maintained the place was and the improvements we have made. Our home has appreciated in value rather than declined.
It can be done. It takes *effort* but it is more than well worth it if you have a good home to start out with. If you don't, all the maintenance in the world won't turn the lemon into champagne. When we buy another MH (and we will! We're sold on 'em!) we will have the place inspected from end to end, top to bottom *before* we move in. Minor deficits *will* be repaired or we walk. Major deficits, we simply won't accept. No sale.
Swan
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Cynthia Treadwell
Re: well, of course.
Fleetwood, in my opinion, will not stand behind their warranty... I say this from experience. I had a one year/five year warranty with lifetime warranty on some home items like windows.
All needed repairs had been documented during the warranty period, slovenly attempts at repair by the retailer and Fleetwood had been made and the problems remain unresolved after six years. At one point, I hired an attorney, and Fleetwood came in and spent five days on repairs (this was three years after I bought my home). They cosmetically repaired the home. But, the actual underlying problems remain unresolved, whatever they may be.
All needed repairs had been documented during the warranty period, slovenly attempts at repair by the retailer and Fleetwood had been made and the problems remain unresolved after six years. At one point, I hired an attorney, and Fleetwood came in and spent five days on repairs (this was three years after I bought my home). They cosmetically repaired the home. But, the actual underlying problems remain unresolved, whatever they may be.
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