Buying a house can be a stressful process, and buying a mobile home is not any different. Apart from the financials, you also have to determine the type of structure, the ins and outs of the building, the location, and details about repairing or renovating your mobile home.
Many people often fail to purchase the right type of mobile home or cannot maintain the house properly because of a lack of proper information. If you’re looking forward to buying one soon, you can find five crucial aspects below that you must consider to ensure a smooth purchase and maintenance.
Financial Details
The finances are perhaps the first concern when it comes to buying a mobile home. While going overboard with the requirements sounds exciting, you must stick to a budget to avoid overspending on unnecessary features. Prepare a budget before you begin looking for homes, and pick ones that fit within your numbers.
If you want to take a loan, pay close attention to the interest rates. As these homes are considered personal property, you have to take a personal loan. The interest rate tends to be higher for them.
Please remember that the value of such homes depreciates over time. You might also not get a mortgage loan from any traditional lenders for this purchase.
Structure and Quality of the Mobile Home
The cost will depend much on the structure and quality you’re seeking. Mobile homes are usually of two types – manufactured and modular. Manufactured houses are premade in a factory and are transported to the location later on and installed. The structure of these houses makes it easy for transportation. However, you might want to reconsider if you want to relocate this type as it might cause damage. Manufactured homes are not attached to a permanent foundation.
The other type of home is modular. This type of house is also built in factories. However, they can be bought in parts. Unlike manufactured mobile homes, they are attached to permanent foundations.
The quality of the homes will depend on the quality of the materials used. The materials of the siding, flooring, plumbing and foundation can make or break the quality, so research well and get appropriate vendors to build and install the home to avoid unnecessary repair expenses down the line.
Details
The cost and maintenance of your home also depend on the details of the mobile home. Figure out how big you want your home to be when you prepare your budget. Mobile home of 1800-2000 sq ft can comfortably home four bedrooms. The shape of the house also matters. You can choose a rectangular or square home depending on your requirements and prefered location.
The size of each room also adds to the aesthetics of the home. You can choose to have large or small bedrooms. The living room and kitchen space can be the biggest rooms, or you can create a game room that takes up the largest space depending on how much time you spend there.
You can add a fireplace to the living room. The exterior of the house needs to be built in a way that can easily withstand adverse environments.
Location
You can place the mobile home on your land, or choose to lease one. If you own a piece of land already, it will make the process much easier. Depending on the condition of the land, you might need to grade or flatten it before placing your home on it.
If you don’t own a piece of land and want to buy it alongside your home, it might cost you a fortune. A much better option would be to place your home in a mobile home community. They will allocate you a lot and you have to pay a monthly rent. This also saves you a lot of money.
Installing the home in a mobile home community is much more convenient than on your land. The former comes with necessities such as sewer, water, and electrical connections installed. You install your home and have them attached to it.
Repairing
When preparing the budget, don’t forget to include the cost of repairing the mobile home. You might not need it anytime soon after shifting to your shiny new home, but keeping an emergency fund always helps.Various mobile home parts stores have all the parts and repair help you need with your mobile home. You can find exclusive RV parts for roof repair or parts for other sections of your mobile home. Whether you are building a mobile home from scratch or repairing your existing mobile home, these stores can be your one-stop for all parts and installation assistance.
Featured image: Photo by Fotoliberta Bob on Unsplash
