Move Your Mobile Home

What Does It Cost to Move a Mobile Home?

Manufactured homes offer convenience and affordability, and most people assume that because of this, they’re easy to move. Unfortunately, with legal considerations varying from state to state, high costs of transport, insurance, and repairs, this often isn’t true. Finding the right mobile home movers makes it all the more frustrating with outdated list and phone numbers. If you’re planning to move, it is important that you approach your decision to move your mobile home cautiously and with all of the facts to help you get the best deal and the most for your money. The first and most crucial element of deciding whether or not to move a mobile home should be cost-effectiveness. While the term mobile home might make moving your home sound easy, most aren’t that mobile and a considerable amount of effort and preparation goes into their transportation. If the move costs more than half of the value of your mobile home, you are most likely better off choosing to sell and purchasing a new or secondhand manufactured home at your destination.

Preparing for the Move

You can begin preparing your mobile home for the move or allow your movers to do so for you at an additional cost. Preparation includes:

• Canceling utilities in advance and paying a licensed plumber and electrician to disconnect the home
• Removing skirting and storing it safely for transport
• Removing additions, decks, sheds, and air conditioning
• Securing windows and glass panes so that they do not shatter during the move
• Packing belongings and securing furniture inside of the mobile home Lifting the home off the ground to install axles and a hitch.

Transportation

Transporting mobile homes is often difficult because most of them weigh in excess of 18,000 lbs. Movers must first lift the home off of the base to install the wheels so that they can tow it. Then, they will drive to the destination, often with one or more guide cars, which are required by law in most states to protect other travelers on the roads. Because of the size and length of the mobile home, movers must travel slowly, use major highways, and may frequently stop to replace tires and axles as needed. Most movers charge between $5 and $15 per mile for actual transportation. Here, it is crucial that you choose a moving company with insurance to cover the costs of any damage that might be caused by the move. Moving permits, insurance, and any fees required by your local state or county will affect costs.
Installing Your Mobile Home
Once your mobile home reaches its destination, it is ready to install but this can be costly as well. If you aren’t moving into a mobile home park, the base will have to be prepared. You will have to handle activating utilities, having utilities connected by licensed plumbers and electricians, setting up sewage, reinstalling the skirting, removing axles and hitches, leveling the home, and much more. In most cases, you will also have to pay for building permits in your new township.

Average Costs

Moving a mobile home can cost between $1,000 and $20,000 depending on these and other cost factors. Therefore, it is crucial that you get an individual quote from mobile home movers based on your circumstances and your manufactured home. Moving a mobile home isn’t the right decision for everyone, but an accurate quote can help you to make the best decision for you. We are finishing up a free downloadable ebook to help you think through this process with as much information as possible. We will also be introducing a free quote form for moving your mobile home. Check back for more details. You can get a quote to sell your mobile home with no obligations today! Also, check out our FAQ page for more resources.