Contracting out services?

[Wes Crawford]

Hello; I am so glad I found a forum on MH!
I am approved for a loan to buy land and place a MH on the property. A seller of Palm Harbor homes says he is a liscensed contractor and can do all of the site development for me. I worry he will get all he can out of the loan for himself if I go through him. Do I have the option of contracting out the site development work myself? I will need a permanent foundation, decks, garage and driveway.
Please respond if you can help with answers.
Thank you,
Wes

[jgn]

You can get the work done by the contractor of your choice. You would need a construction loan to get the work completed but what you are asking for is standard in any house. With the foundation, whoever you go with would have to meet PH specs but everything else is owner preference. Figure out what you need and get at least two other bids including the dealers. I would have him quote the home and a seperate quote for all else.

[rmurray]

Everything is up for negotiations...Many dealers will not accept consumer supplied foundations..since the dealership is fully responsible for warranty and set up..

Site developement is another that at least has to meet the code and set up manuals requirements..or the dealer is responsible..Some dealers would be very careful with this as well..

Garage, driveway, decks..skirting..the list goes on and on..Is not involved with dealer responsibility..Most dealers would rather you contract these items and forgo all the possible problems..

[Wes Crawford]

Thanks for both of your responses. So, I can tell my mortgage guy that I am going to submit? three seperate bids on the site development and he will have to work with them?...(paper work and such.)?
A Palm Harbor seller said he was also a contractor and could do "everything" I wanted, but he qouted me at some high rates when compared to another contractor. I think that he'll want to get all he can out of my approved loan.
Thanks,
Wes

[rmurray]

I think you need to be talking with both..PH and your mortgage originator...but if you are doing a construction loan..there should be no problem..

[Carol Brewer]

I just finishized my new triple wide Palm Harbor home, improvments were contracted out and bid by Interstate Construction , i signed off of everthing he did
and when the time came to see the list of itemized expense , he billed the same as he bid, no difference in dollars, I called him on the water meter , and the difference in pricing , he is refunding the difference of 1050 to me , he billed to0 much, and the MH contact paid it. Stay on top of your money, that is drawn on your loan.

[chase]

i set for palm harbor , i take it the palm harbor seller you are dealing with is not a company owned location? all company owned locations are not allowed to do this as it is a conflict of interest. at the company owned locations i install for all work is contracted out , we have to be insured by far more than anyone else requires, but we know exactly what is required to correctly set a palm harbor home. i have set homes for all of the major maufacturers in the southeast. there are some things palm harbor requires that others do not. take footers for example , after 2 disaster results last year of the customer hiring there own footing contractor i will not set a home anymore on customer supplied footings, these two examples were no thick enough ,not in line , not 8 inches below ground level, etc. i have to stand good for the installation for as long as the home is there . long after manufacturers warranties run out i can still be called to the table on the installation. you may contract out the lanscape etc, even well and septic, but it would really be wise to have the foundation footers, perimeter wall and installation done by someone tied to the dealer. in my experience the more cooks in the kitchen, the more likely to much salt gets added. and as a side item did the contractor not do the water meter? and as another item , myself , my footer contractor, and my landclearer and higher priced than any other contractors in our areas, but it has been commented to customers and our lots by fha inspectors and state and county inspectors that they can tell a home we do as soon as they drive onto property. we have even had one inspector call in sc and angrily ask why we called for inspection when the septic tank wasnt in yet, i told it was and location , he found it with probe and said he had never seen an entire lot box bladed and leveled to that extent. remeber in this deal cheaper most times aint better. if could be better in long run to use people the dealer is familiar with unless it is someone you have personal; experience with.