Don’t worry, you’re not alone. There are other people out there who want quality manufactured homes. That’s why we’re here to share some thoughts on what to look for in a quality mobile home.
A word about quality and manufactured homes
First off, we want you to know that the HUD code is good news for the intersection of quality and mobile homes. We’ve talked more about it and its requirements in the past. If you want to know a little more, head over here and check it out. Also, if you’ve always thought that the words quality and manufactured home should not be used in the same sentence, you need to hear the perspective of the Manufactured Housing Institute: “These days, manufactured homes are being built with quality construction to meet rigorous federal standards for safety, installation and construction.”
Asking good questions about quality manufactured homes
We’re going to offer three questions you may want to ask before you go ahead and purchase your house. Note that this isn’t an exhaustive list. Be proactive about your research and check out our sources to discover even more elements you should be aware of.
Ask before you buy
If you’re about to select a new home, you have good reason to want to know everything about it. Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to ask questions. Don’t shy away from figuring stuff out because you feel like you’re putting people on the spot. Or making more work for yourself.
You may not need to actually ask these questions of other people. Especially if you’re pretty astute at looking and drawing conclusions. Start out by seeing if the answer is immediately apparent when you look at the house. And if not, ask others. Choosing a new home is an important decision, and people should respect the fact that you’re treating it as such. Now let’s jump into the three questions.
1. What kind of roof does it have?
You know you need a roof because, of course, all houses have roofs. And you know you need to keep the rain off and the warm or cool air (depending on the season) in. You may have already decided you want a house with a roof in good shape, to avoid the cost of replacing it anytime soon. But, chances are, you haven’t given much thought to what kind of roof you want on your mobile home.
We’ve written some extensive articles on mobile home roofs and roof maintenance. State Farm also has some advice to share about manufactured homes and their roofs: “Avoid the old-style flat metal roofs, which can leak and make cooling the home difficult, and look for a shingled roof with an overhang to aid in rain runoff.”
2. What are the pipes made of?
Next up, let’s talk about your home’s waterworks. Running water is a tremendous thing and having a high-quality system that isn’t constantly springing leaks and requiring that you call a plumber is also great. Go with Pex line rather than PVC as per this excellent article over at Tough Nickel. The author’s stats about leaking are impressive here: “Approximately 1:10 homes with PVC or CPVC will have a water leak upon setup after transport, while the number is closer to 1:100 with Pex.”
3. What kind of a floor structure is supporting the home?
You probably already assumed that the floor was important and knew that you needed to look into it, but if you’re looking for a question to start with, figure out how the floor joists are oriented. Returning to the guidance from Tough Nickel’s “Before You Buy a Manufactured (Mobile) Home” article, they recommend you select a home that has, “Floor joists that run the opposite direction of the structural I-beams.” The author adds, “Oddly enough, some of the very cheaply made homes use longitudinal floor joists (running the length instead of the width of the home).”
Just some food for thought
Use these questions to get you started. Be sure to check out some of our sources to discover even more questions you could be asking about quality manufactured homes. And if you want more direction for purchasing your mobile home, head over to The Complete Guide on How to Buy a Manufactured Home.
