Missing Water Hose Hookups?

[Debbie]

I am two weeks away from closing on a 2002 Patriot manufactured home. The home is set on the lot in the park, however it is not yet skirted (I live in the Chicago area); it is my guess that this is because of weather conditions or possibly because the sod has not been laid yet. There is another home that was set up a couple of months before ours, is occupied, and not skirted either.

What is bothering me is that there are no exterior water hookups anywhere on the home. My husband and I have walked around the home several times and they are not there. To my knowledge and prior ownership experience, these hookups and bibs are attached to the home near the bottom (just above where the skirting would go). We have the exterior electrical outlets. I asked the sales office about this when we noticed this a couple of weeks ago. They said that the hookups would be there, but would be extending from the skirting. At the time I accepted that answer.

I owned a 1991 Prestige home ten years ago and clearly remember the hookups attached to the home; not the skirting. Now I am beginning to worry. Is it possible that Patriot left this off the house by mistake? How can this possibly be remedied?

[augustaga]

Exterier water outlets are NOT standard on all homes nor are they required on any home...They are available as an option from most...A few homes offer 1 and option others...some offer 2 standard and option others and many homes offer none standard and only offer them as options..The home you are looking at must not offer them standard and the dealer did not order them as an option....If this is a deal breaker...only you can determine..Adding them under the home is always possible...of course in your area they must be well insulated and heat taped I would expect..Good Luck

[David Oxhandler]

Hose connections are NOT standard on MOST homes... these should be included in the site plumbing, when the home is installed on your site.

[Debbie]

This was not a custom ordered home. This was part of the dealer inventory. There was a home exactly like ours only a 2001 model that was purchased and set up just before we put a contract on ours. That home has two hookups on it. We will be paying more for this home due to a price increase I am assuming from the manufacturer. What is the cost of this option on average if it is selected at the time the order is placed?

[Sandy]

Maybe I'm missing something but this seems to be an awfully big deal for something that isn't. When our home was set up we also noticed that there were no outside faucets. We called our dealer and said "hey, how are we supposed to water the grass in the back or the planters in the front?" They sent out a couple of guys who went under the home, ran some some pipes and had them come out from the skirting. Ta dah...

[Art Rigsby]

Debbie,

I recently purchased a MH. 2 outside hose bibbs=$100.

Art

[Debbie]

The main concern is that I have heard that these need to be heat taped since they were not installed by the manufacturer, therefore not a part of the original home. I owned a manufactured home previously and the home had the hookups installed at the factory in the home. I live outside of Chicago and in the winter it often goes below zero and the last thing I need is for the waterline to burst. If I lived in Florida or California I would not be as concerned. To me it is a big deal. There may be others out there that assume these hookups are supposed to be included with the home. Also I found it odd that I had exterior electrical outlets, but no water hookups. If I am not mistaken, these outlets are not always standard and really I will rarely ever use them.

My previous experience with repair and warranty issues with the dealer I bought my last house from had a lot to be desired. As others have told me, this issue needs to be dealt with before the closing. As from reading from other's experiences, sadly sometimes we as customers are not always treated properly. Once the dealer receives their money, you are on your own.

As it turns out the manufacturer and my dealer have an agreement that all homes ordered from the manufacturer are supposed to have hose hookups factory installed. Both the dealer and manufacturer confirmed this with me today. For whatever reason, my home shipped without these being installed.

[Debbie]

Art,

Thanks for the info. I just needed a figure so I would know what to expect if I had to get someone to install these.

Debbie

[Jon]

Debbie:
I read several of the posts from others who responded to you. They seem to be accurate.
As the buyer you have a right to be concerned. But the hose bib connection really isn't a critical item. While it is true a factory installation is nicer (usually about $40 to $60 apiece), a functional hose bib can be easily provided later---most often as a tap off your water supply line.
Your worry about the heat tape and the potential for freezing is logical. However, the heat tape will likely be needed on your water supply line anyway. A hose bib tap-off would simply require similar protection.
As for the electrical outlet: Many manufacturers include an exterior outlet as a standard feature though a hose bib most often is ordered as an option. The outlet is frequently located near the home's entry for the water supply line, either underneath the home or on the home's exterior sidewall. The intention is to provide power for the water supply line heat tape which operates electrically.
With regard to you concern about your retailer: Most retailers are honest, believe it or not. The posts you read in a forum such as this one are virtually all written by folks who have had the misfortune of running into one of the less reputable retailers out there. Like any business, this business has a few "bad apples" too. So it stands to reason that the majority, if not all, of the posts relate to less than pleasant experiences. After all, folks only rush to post a complaint but rarely do so to post a compliment.
If you purchased your new home from a reputable dealer, and if you've been clear about wanting the hose bib installed, chances are it will be without a great deal of hassle.
Good luck in your new home. Jon.

[Debbie]

Jon,

After talking with the manufacturer and the dealer (the second time with the dealer), I feel better about the situation. The dealer didn't realize the hookup was not there. They sent out the setup crew to look at the house and was told I was right, it wasn't there. The main water pipe going into the house is heat taped. The dealer will be running it off the line for the washer and that is an excellent location. I was happy with the quick response I received from the manufacturer. I am sure it will all work out.

I have never ordered a home. Both times I have purchased a manufactured home I bought a brand new home from the dealer inventory. My first home had the hookups factory installed and there so this took me a little by surprise. Yes, my first experience was with a less than reputable dealer and the park owner even worse. The bad first time experience caused me to panic when I discovered the missing hose bibs. After owning stick built homes in between this purchase I tend to make sure everything is in order as much as possible. I know not all dealers and park owners are bad; this along with an uncertain economy made us take another look and give manufactured housing another chance.

Debbie