The Way it Should Be

[Arthur H. Rigsby]

I recently sold my MH and purchased a new stick built home. I purchased my MH new in 2001 and had a number of minor problems that took over a year to fix. It was almost impossible to get any results from the MH builder or dealer. I ended up filing a compliant with the state and got some results.

I have now been in my new home for 7 weeks and the difference in service is amazing. I have had three problems (stick built like MHs have problems). In each case they have called the same day to setup an appointment to fix the problem. One problem, water pressure at an outside facuet, had the plumber here in 3 hours!

Service, service, service is extremely important no matter what type of construction of home you have. If you are considering the purchase of a MH it is extremely important that you investigate the dealer and determine their level of customer service. My own opinion of the industry is that good cutomer service is very difficult to find based on my experience with a number of friends that own MHs.

The service I am now receiving has nothing to do with it being a stick built house, it is the builder wanting happy customers that will equal more sells. Some MH manufactures should take the hint.

[ScottRu]

With the price you paid for your stick-built home, you should get top notch customer service! The mh industry is a low profit business based on selling price alone (how much profit can you make on a $40k 3 bd home?) If you factor in most of the issues are nit picking if we sent repairmen out for everything we'd all be broke not just a few of us. If you paid me $250k for your 3bd home I'd live in your house and fix your issues and even serve you dinner. We do all we can to keep everyone happy but you get what you pay for.

[trmimo]

Price is irrelevant.
I consider the service I give my customers to be much better than the shabby service I got from my site builder.
Arthur is right, service is a cheap way to sell houses.
I spend more on service than I can bill the factory for on every house I sell. I've done it for 6 years now. And I also quit advertising, I spend half the money that I spent on advertising, and have a whole lot less stress in my life, and more money in my pocket.
90% of my customers are referred by previous customers.
It works, try it.

[Arthur H. Rigsby]

What 40K 3 br home? I lived in California, I paid 42k just for the setup cost.

[rmurray]

All consumers deserve customer service and quality product...It is your kind of attitude that has killed this industry...I hope folks in your area take Aurther's advice and investigate dealers records before they buy...Would probably put you at a disadvantage....When talking to your customer do you present your product this way.....Hope your kids are not too hungry

[Nina Graff]

I don't agree that all manufacturers treat customers as you were treated. My husband and I bought a home in 2002. The home was two years old and had been rented out for the first two years, so we got a "deal" on it and the remainder of the new home warranty. We had some minor electrical problems and ceiling problems. The folks we called were pleasant and responded within a day or two as their schedule allowed. The workmen were efficient and knew what they were doing and talking about. This is a Homes of Merit home. I had never heard of the manufacturer before we moved here (Florida) in 2002, but would highly recommend them. The genleman who indicated that new homes are "40 something" must be living on another planet. The average home in our community is 110,000 - 120,000. I think the absolute lowest is 78,000. Even up in PA 3 years ago the lowest was about 55,000. It's too bad you were treated so poorly as it gave you a bad taste for all manufactured homes.

[Arthur H. Rigsby]

Nina,

I did not say, nor do I believe, that all MH manufactures provide poor cutomer service. I do know from experience as well as complaints of my MH owner friends that it is a problem in the industry.

I have a friend that had a problem with his water heater going off every few days. It took 3 months to get the problem solved. As it turned out, the salesman that sold him the MH lived just a block from me. He considered his complaint as a "pain" and voiced his dislike of the constant complaining from my friend. I never did figure out why he just didn't fix the problem which would make everything go away.

I also have friends who have nothing but praise for the way they were treated. They were the exception, not the rule.

Art

[rmurray]

You are lucky indeed since warranty are not transferable at resale..In all cases including HOM the warranty ends with the first buyer.....Running any service at all speaks loud words for HOM..Be sure you recommend them to your friends

[David Oxhandler]

Buyers must take responsibility for their future when ever they make a big purchase... and the is none bigger than the home where you will live. Before shopping and making any commitments home shoppers must educate themselves not just about the quality and features that they desire but also about what to avoid when they do start to shopToday with the research power of the internet on your home desktop there is no reason to let anyone take advantage of you. The price of tuition is so low and the cost of being uneducated so high that it really pays to do some reading before you hit the streets shopping. You can get entire e-books on line for as little as $19.95 that will guide you in the right direction. Here are links to a few where you can get greater details.A Complete Buyers Guide to Manufactured Homes and Land - E-Book Edition Purchasing any new home is a complex process that presents a big challenge even to the smartest of home shoppers. Veteran author and journalist John Grissim learned this when he and his wife purchased their first manufactured home. His discoveries inspired him to research and write this comprehensive buyer's guide. John has become a well-respected new voice for the consumer. In an unusual move, the MHI invited John to present a workshop at its 2003 Expo in Las Vegas, called "Our industry through an outsider's eyes" in which he delivered a hard hitting, no-nonsense view. Written by a consumer for consumers, this no-nonsense, highly readable guide explains just how the manufactured home industry operates, exposes its secrets, and teaches you how to find a dealer worthy of your trust, how to make the right home selection, how to accurately determine the fair price of a home. Exhaustively researched, with extensive input from both industry insiders and consumer advocates, this guide contains much information that retailers, even the good guys, don't want you to know. MORE DETAILS
How To Buy A Manufactured Home And Save Thousands Of Dollars, E-Book Version This book, by Randy Eaton, will show you how to negotiate the best price possible by taking you through a step-by-step process that works every time. What about site preparation costs? This is another area where people spend thousands of dollars without even knowing it. By understanding this process with helpful illustrations and simple formulas you can avoid unnecessary site preparation costs. Get the facts before you buy and save time and money. Are you interested in quality construction? This book goes into detail about construction methods and how to avoid paying for a poorly built manufactured home. Randy Eaton now offers his best selling guide for the manufactured home buyer PLUS the Manufactured Home Comparison Guide, the only e-published comparison study of various brands of manufactured homes...together at a seriously discounted price.. MORE DETAILS
Modular Home Buyers Guide E Book Considering A Modular Home? Learn How to Save Thousands Before you Buy. Plus Receive the Author's Top Picks of Modular Home Builders in North America What are the advantages of choosing a modular home over a site-built home? Which modular home builders in the U.S. offer quality homes at reasonable prices? Do modular homes appreciate at the same rate as site-built homes? Can I negotiate a price? What is a fair profit? Questions like these and many others are being asked by thousands of homebuyers across North America each year. Get the facts about modular and panelized homes before you buy. Save time and money with confidence and peace of mind. MORE DETAILS

[grant w from belmont]

I just purchased a Skyline 14 x70 from Hartzler's in Dover Ohio. I am very pleased. The home is wonderful and for just over 30,000, you cannot beat the price. The factory made the house with the wrong color of carpet, but this problem was corrected ASAP (the same day). So, I can say that just b/c you buy a manu. home, you can still get the service that is wonderful. Go with Skyline and you should have no problems.

Not all manu. homes have problems. That is a stereotype that is unfounded!