Set-up cost questions

[Cheryl in Cali.]

I read this a long time ago and was wondering how far off this chart is, I think it was written in 2000.

Estimated Installation Costs* ITEM HIGH AVERAGE LOW
Installation/Close-up $5,000 $3,500 $2,000
Utility Hook-up 3,000 2,000 1,000
Site Preparation 2,500 1,500 1,000
Foundation 10,000 6,000 3,500
Concrete Flatwork 2,500 1,500 1,000
Engineering 2,200 1500 750
Two Car Garage 6,000 4,000 2,000
Finish Grade Landscaping 1,500 1,000 500
TOTALS 27,300 21,000 11,750

One person told me his set-up costs were around $45,000

Id like to try to add up the set-up costs plus land Ive seen for sale, so when I go to look at MH's I'll know how much I can spend. There is property listed in Corona for $157,000 for .29 acres with a 1,066 1997 3bed 2bth MH on it with permanent foundation. I wanted to see which would cost more, Im thinking they would probably be about the same except Id be able to pick the exact MH I wanted, but its hard to find land for sale.

[Dan F.]

In CA the costs are going to be in your high column. the only one that is way off is garage you can tripple the high one for a 24x24 and if you want 20x20 figure 13,000 to 15,000. I am spending roughly 35,000 for all constuction. But my home included setup in the cost of the home. Most Dealers outside of CA do this. I went outside of CA for my home and it saved me 16,000. just a thought. I have a 53x 40 tripple section to give you an idea.

[Cheryl in Cali.]

Thank you Dan, I also wondered, do they tell you all those costs before you make the purchase? Or do they estimate, and then add in more costs after youve already agreed to purchase it?

[Art Rigsby]

Cheryl,

Like Dan, I am in Northern CA and may have been the one that quoted the $45,000 figure as that is what it cost me.

I had a complete breakdown of the cost before I signed the contract. My estimate ended up $2000 too high and I got it back at close of escrow. My estimate did turn into a construction contract and nothing was added after I signed.

Most of the dealers I visited will give you a ballpark figure on cost but you have to be real serious before they will give you the details. Also, the type of lot will determine a lot of cost. A flat, treeless lot is a lot cheaper to get ready than a lot on the side of a hill with filled trees.

I'll vote with Dan on the garage cost. Around here you can't touch a two car garage for under $10,000 and that doesn't include electrical.

Also appears that Dan and I paid just about the same as my figure ($45,000) did include setup cost of the home.

Art

[Cheryl in Cali.]

Thank you Art!
Was your lot flat w/o many trees or hilly w/trees? This question is for Dan also.

Also do you think if the MH was smaller it would change the set-up costs by a little or a lot? Im going for around a 1700-1800sq ft MH.

Thank you!!

[Art Rigsby]

Cheryl,

My wife and I looked for land that was fairly flat with few trees and that is what we purchased. If you have a lot of good trees you can sometimes get them taken down for free if they can be used by a lumber mill or perhaps sold as firewood. . In our area we have just scrub oaks and other assorted junk trees and it would have cost additional to have them removed.

I would assume that the size of the MH would impact the cost, by how much might be anyones guess. We have a 1400 sq ft MH and the concrete foundation cost $6,640. More for bigger and less for smaller?? Would also assume a sloping lot would also cost more because the down side of the slope would need a higher foundation to level it up with the up side. Higher foundation = more material and more labor.

I also have seperate line items on my contract for sheetrock and carpet. I have to assume this cost is associatd with the size of the home.


My 20X22 garage with electrical cost 11,060.00. That doesn't include the driveway.

Art
Art

[Dan F]

My cost was similar to ART if you incluse setup and delivery in the construction cost as opposed to home price. I am paying 13,500 for a 20x24 garage. My foundation is 13,400, My home is a 2024 sqare foot tripple though. I have a long driveway and my lot has a flat building pad but is on a hillside. I had to remove trees about 6 in all. I did some of the work myself to save. I also rented a skip loader and did my own clearing and pre grade. Unlike Art I am spending more money than in my contract but that is because I extended my home after signing my original contract. The site prep is costing me more than estimated. My lot was 55,000, my home including setup and delivery from out of state is 99,000, and the construction is 36,000. My permits were estimated at 10,000 but cost only 7800 so I will either get that back or roll it to cover construction.

[CA]

Wow thank you guys for all the info, it will help me in my quest of buying a MH!

I found the cost per sq ft each of you paid for foundation, one was about $4.75 and the other $6.60, so just a rough estimate of my 1800 sq ft foundation would be $8550-$11880 (plus any other factors like slope will add to it, but just a rough estimate.)

And the garages were $25 per sq ft for one and $28 per sq ft for the other. Im not sure about a garage yet.

I also will be able to do some work myself to save costs, well actually my dad can, not me!

Thanks again guys!

[Cheryl in Cali.]

That was me up above, I clicked the wrong name!