Home History

[Terri]

There is a web site where the basic history of a used car can be bought.

1. Is there someplace out there that will help me evaluate a used manufactured home?
2. Do I ask the seller for a number such as VIN? Would this be helpful or a waste of time? Is there reporting for floods or lemons? My state does not have State Administrative Agency.

The owner/seller says the home has a title much like a car, is selling because her parent who lived in the home went into a nursing home. Both are listed on the title. When showing the home, the owner did not have many of the details that seem so important when evaluating its durability. Any suggestions out there for me?

[rmurray]

NADA can give you a rough estimate of value... try www.nada.com and hunt around..Be careful though this value is often off by thousands..

A much better valuation can be gotten from a professional appraisor...Search the "Yellow Pages" elsewhere on this site for appaisors near you...Or do an internet search for the national company "DataComp" they have a national organization of appraisors..

There are no "Lemon laws" for manufactured homes...of course this means there is no list of such..

There is no title history available for manufactured homes from a commercial company...You can and should do a title search at your local title office...This will tell you the history of owners...and much more important any lien holder there might be..

As far as quality and hidden problems are concerned...Just like autos it is buyer beware....It is often recommended that used car buyers take a potential purchase to a mechanic....pay a little for an inspection...of course hardly anyone does...The same is suggested for used homes...manufactured or otherwise....have a professional home inspector check it out...You will find them in your phone book or maybe on the Yellow Pages here..

Good Luck