How to Create an Attention-Grabbing Virtual Tour

MHVillage strongly encourages readers to follow guidelines provided by local, state, and national authorities (including the CDC) regarding COVID-19 safety procedures.

For many years, virtual tours existed near the periphery of the home buying process – nice to offer on a listing but not yet ready for prime time.

But the fight against the spread of COVID-19, including restrictions on group gatherings and other social and economic norms, puts virtual tours in the real estate spotlight like never before.

One big reason: they help prospective mobile home buyers practice shelter-in-place and social distancing measures enacted by federal, state and local authorities. The National Association of Realtors reports that the average home buyer visits 10 homes over 10 weeks before a purchase, but those numbers seem untenable in today’s climate. However, accessing a listing directly from a desktop or laptop computer practically eliminates risk from the mobile home shopping equation.

To help home buyers and sellers during these unprecedented times we are temporarily making virtual home tours available at no additional charge for all homes listed on MHVillage, the top marketplace for mobile and manufactured homes, and have added virtual open houses to our home selling toolkit.

If you’re considering a virtual tour — a digital simulation of a property that leverages video, photos, and imagery — here are five best practices to use to increase buyer interest in your home.

1. Review Your Software Options

When it comes to real estate virtual tour software, there are many from which to choose. Your particular use case will help determine which one you select. Ask yourself:

Do you need a comprehensive, all-in-one solution?
Are you comfortable collecting the various assets to create a virtual tour?
At what resolution will prospective buyers view your virtual tour?

If you are not sure where to start, there are some good options out there for virtual tour software packages. And if COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines in your area allow for it, you can always hire a professional to create the virtual tour using the Matterport Virtual Tour system or similar service.

2. Set the Stage

Just as with an in-person tour, you’ll want to make sure your home looks its best. That means:

Cleaning, decluttering and removing personal items from all rooms
Lighting the space well, with natural and artificial light as necessary
Staging spaces to accentuate their best features and future possibilities

mobile home virtual tours — Photo courtesy of Tharakan Consulting

To extend our theater metaphor just a bit further: rehearse your virtual tour walk-through before the cameras begin capturing the space, either for video, still images, or 3D virtual tour/360-degree virtual tour display.

Pro tip: Creating a list of each room and its most attractive angle and qualities will help you get exactly the footage you need to sell your mobile home.

3. Look at Live Tours

Several popular online destinations now incorporate live video into their platforms, including:

Facebook
YouTube
Instagram

Add device-focused Skype from Microsoft and FaceTime from Apple and mobile home sellers today can host their own broadcasts making the home listing the star of the show.

In the right circumstances — perhaps a currently unoccupied listing cleaned beforehand to the CDC’s recommendations — arranging a live video walkthrough for a prospective mobile home buyer is a relatively straightforward process.

One caveat: Reliable network connectivity is a must. Fortunately, there are several tools online to help you gauge your connection speed, including this one from Google.

4. Offer a Different Perspective

There are few real estate offerings as attractive as a mobile home nestled within a great park. Highlighting such offerings, however, can be a challenge in a crowded market.

To play up any especially distinctive features of a listing, consider drone footage of the property and surrounding area. Proximity to a community center, pool, play area, or beautiful natural splendor may add distinction to your virtual tour that makes it stand out.

5. Get Up Close and Personal

Even the best virtual tours cannot completely replicate the experience of being on-site … but they can come closer if you offer buyers a thorough sense of a listing’s condition.

That’s because mobile home buyers aren’t just interested in the general characteristics of a home. They want to know whether the carpet is especially worn, whether there’s any water damage visible near the windows, what sort of shape the roof is in, and other similar details.

It’s easy to share this information with them, of course. All you have to do is commit to getting into the “nitty-gritty” of a listing during your live video or more traditional virtual tour offerings.

Buying a Mobile Home vs. Renting an Apartment

Buying a Mobile Home vs Renting Apartment

Facing high housing costs in many markets, many people are searching for alternatives to high-priced rental apartments. Buying a manufactured home is one option that’s increasingly popular, and buyers are snapping up state-of-the-art manufactured homes all over America.

Buying a manufactured home is now recognized as an excellent affordable housing option due to the opportunity to own your own home and the high quality of today’s manufactured homes. But in the mobile home vs. apartment debate, which comes out on top? The answer will always come down to whichever best matches your needs and your family’s—but let’s examine the value for each side.

Comparing the Costs

Initially, the costs of securing an apartment may be lower, even though an apartment typically requires an application fee and a security deposit (usually one month’s rent), plus other associated costs such as utility deposits. Buying a manufactured home will require a down payment plus closing costs, which can make the initial expenditure seem steep.

When it comes to monthly expenses, however, the median monthly housing payment for buying a three-bedroom, two-bathroom manufactured home is just under $750. National median monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,216, meaning that buying a manufactured home often provides more space for the money, plus a permanent place to live.

Additionally, in the long run, buying is almost always a better investment than renting. That’s because, as we’ll discuss next, buying property builds equity.

Equity (and Why It Matters)

Equity is one of the biggest reasons why buying a manufactured home often is a better option than renting an apartment. When a renter pays rent to their landlord every month, the renter builds no equity or wealth.

By contrast, a homebuyer’s mortgage is an investment in a permanent place to live. A well-maintained manufactured home will build equity for its owner. As you pay off your debt via a mobile home financing program, you’ll continue to build equity in your home.

Remember that in order to get the biggest financial advantages of buying a manufactured home, you’ll have to work on improving the property and paying down your debt, much as you would with a standard site-built home. Putting the home on a permanent foundation is an excellent step, as is keeping the home in good repair and investing in key manufactured home improvements such as upgraded insulation.

Living Space

Mobile Home vs Apartment — Photo courtesy of Champion Homes

Apartments frequently offer less space when compared to a double-wide or multi-section manufactured home. The average square footage of an apartment in America is just 882, and with apartment floor plans shrinking in almost every market, Americans are getting less for their money even as rents increase.

Manufactured homes come in a wide variety of sizes. Single-wide homes are excellent for those with less need for space, while double-wide and multi-section homes are great for bigger families and those who simply want some extra elbow room. Double-wide and multi-section homes regularly top 1,500 square feet, allowing you to dream bigger and live more spaciously.

Quality of Life

Apartment buildings often lack privacy and peace and quiet. Shared walls, floors and ceilings mean that renters often hear noise from neighbors, and one unit’s plumbing or electrical issue can become a problem for their whole floor or building.

By contrast, a manufactured home gives a homeowner a true space of their own. Buying a manufactured home means freedom to customize, accessorize and otherwise modify your home the way you want it. And it provides benefits that apartments often don’t have, such as access to a yard and a deck.

Many owners of manufactured homes find that living in a manufactured home community offers advantages such as social opportunities and shared amenities. In fact, today’s manufactured home communities offer similar amenities to the ones you’d find in a deluxe apartment building, such as fitness centers, pools, and clubhouses. You’ll also often find planned events like movie showings and holiday parties that bring neighbors together and encourage new friendships.

Manufactured homes are high-quality and affordable housing, and they provide an excellent option for many buyers who want a more comfortable and economical option than apartment living.

MHVillage is America’s largest manufactured home listings site, with thousands of manufactured homes for sale across the country. You can browse our home selection right now – just click your state, choose your city, and you’ll find great options.

5 Gorgeous Modern Mobile Homes You Need to See

Modern Mobile Homes - Kitchen — Photo by Skyline Homes.

It’s no wonder that 10 percent of new single-family home starts are manufactured homes when those homes look so good. All across America, head-turning, new modern mobile homes are showing what the manufactured home industry is capable of today and just how good the manufactured home life can be.

In modern mobile homes, you’ll find must-have amenities such as fireplaces, open floor plans, and contemporary kitchens. You’ll find attractive decor schemes with a wide variety of custom options. And you’ll find cost-effective performance that gives you far more home for your money than site-built homes. Check out these five modern mobile homes that personify the new trends of the manufactured home industry.

#1 – The Kinlock Falls by Winston Homebuilders

Modern Mobile Homes - The Kinlock Falls by Winston Homebuilders — Photo captured at the 2020 Louisville Manufactured Housing Show.

Winston Homebuilders’ Kinlock Falls model is a chic multi-section with plenty of space. You’ll notice the open kitchen layout that’s perfect for entertaining guests, the island countertop that creates a superior kitchen flow and the wood-laminate floor that gives you the look of hardwood without the maintenance and expense. From lighting to appliances, the Kinlock Falls comes equipped with the best.

Modern Mobile Homes - Kinlock Falls — Photo by Winston Homebuilders

The living room of the Kinlock Falls is designed with an airy, spacious feel that encourages creativity in decoration. Today’s manufactured homes are designed not just as living spaces but as places for getting together and having fun, which means that generously-sized common areas like these are now a must-have feature.

#2 – The Landmark Grand by Commodore Homes of Indiana

Modern Mobile Homes - LandMark Grand by Commodore Homes of Indiana — Photo captured at the 2020 Louisville Manufactured Housing Show.

The LandMark Grand by Commodore Homes of Indiana is another modern mobile home that features an open kitchen and island counter, plus an array of gorgeous stainless steel appliances. Whether you’re a pro-level chef or a beginner cook, today’s best manufactured homes will give you a bigger and better array of kitchen options.

Modern Mobile Homes - LandMark Grand Exterior — Photo by Commodore Homes of Indiana

The LandMark Grand is also notable for its wide array of exterior and floor plan choices, including options for a recessed entry, recessed porch and saddle roof. Increasingly, home manufacturers are offering choices like these that appeal to homebuyers who want to customize their homes.

#3 – The Arlington by Skyline Homes

Modern Mobile Homes - Arlington 3513 by Skyline Homes — Photo by Skyline Homes

Skyline Homes’ feature-packed Arlington is a double wide model that exemplifies another feature of contemporary manufactured homes: giving homeowners plenty of space to make their own. The Skyline also features a large family room that can be used as a dining room, TV room, fitness station or just about anything else. Skyline even offers the option to convert the family room into an additional fourth bedroom, making it an incredibly flexible and space-efficient home model.

The Skyline also features an open-plan kitchen/dining room with a large island counter and up-to-date appliances. Abundant counter and cabinet space gives homebuyers everything they need to create their dream kitchen in a home from one of America’s premier manufactured home builders.

#4 – The Cambridge by Adventure Homes

Modern Mobile Homes - The Cambridge by Adventure Homes — Photo captured at the 2020 Louisville Manufactured Housing Show.

The Cambridge is the newest entry in Adventure Homes’ popular Mojave series. The Mojave series is known for its high-end features and sleek, modern look, and the Cambridge takes the Mojave’s reputation for excellence to a new level. A wide entryway flanked by picture windows offers a dramatic introduction to the home, and its features only get more impressive from there.

Modern Mobile Homes bathroom — Photo captured at the 2020 Louisville Manufactured Housing Show.

As one can see from the model’s bathroom, the Cambridge is also a great example of the trend towards luxury-style bathrooms in manufactured homes. An appealing tile pattern, elegant countertops and a modern shower combine to create a bathroom that holds its own with any in a site-built home.

#5 – The Sardis by Winston Homebuilders

Modern Mobile Homes - The Sardis by Winston Homebuilders — Photo captured at the 2020 Louisville Manufactured Housing Show.

Winston Homebuilders’ Sardis model is sleek and spacious, with an open floor plan that joins an impressive great room with a state-of-the-art kitchen. Today’s manufactured homebuyers demand great kitchens that are competitive with those in site-built homes, and home manufacturers like Winston Homebuilders are responding with models like the Sardis.

Modern Mobile Homes Kitchen - The Sardis — Photo by Winston Homebuilders.

You’ll also notice the high ceilings, numerous windows, and spacious layout of the Sardis. These modern design features give homebuyers an environment that feels comfortable, lets in more light, and generally provides a higher quality of life. Add in tasteful accents of brick and wood and you’ve got a manufactured home that is truly 21st century.

These amazing modern mobile homes showcase the innovation on display in the manufactured home industry. To find your perfect manufactured home, search MHVillage’s manufactured homes for sale or browse mobile home floor plans.

Recommended: Also check out these 6 charming small manufactured homes, and these 5 log cabin mobile homes.

How to Sell a Mobile Home in Florida

With over 600 Florida manufactured home dealers and over 9,000 manufactured homes for sale in Florida right now, the Sunshine State is among America’s largest markets for manufactured homes. Sellers in Florida will find a solid market for quality homes, as the state’s balmy weather and low taxes continue to attract new residents.

However, in a market with so many choices, it can be challenging to find the right way to sell a mobile home in Florida. We’ll look at some of the key parts of how to sell a mobile home in Florida and what a new seller can expect from the process.

Agent or No Agent?

One of the first decisions Florida manufactured home sellers must make is whether or not to work with an agent. Selling a manufactured home “for sale by owner” (FSBO) can be a little bit trickier than selling with an agent, but each has its advantages.

Selling a manufactured home without an agent can potentially save a seller thousands of dollars. Furthermore, it’s easier than ever for manufactured homeowners to sell their homes without an agent. Sites like MHVillage provide a variety of for sale by owner listing tools to make advertising effective and connecting with buyers simple.

However, there’s no denying that using an agent offers some benefits. Agents do the legwork of showing the property to potential buyers and can help sellers market their homes more effectively. Agents can also provide help with paperwork, mobile home financing and other important aspects of the sales process.

For those who do choose to work with an agent, try to find one with expertise selling manufactured homes. It’s a specialized market that often involves different paperwork than selling a site-built home. Since many agents don’t deal with manufactured homes, it’s important to do due diligence on anyone you hire to ensure that they’re the right one for the job.

Preparation and Advertising

A successful manufactured home sale doesn’t just happen—a seller needs to prepare their home to attract customers and pique interest.

Professional appraisal and inspection are important early steps for selling your mobile home. A professional manufactured home appraiser, such as Datacomp, conducts thorough market-based appraisals of manufactured homes that make it easier for sellers to price their homes appropriately. Datacomp also provides professional inspections that help spot critical manufactured home repairs and give potential buyers confidence about your manufactured home.

Marketing and advertising are also critical tasks. Creating promotional materials, hosting open houses and optimizing listing copy and photos are all important. Although an agent can help with them, it’s perfectly possible to do them on your own. Check out our articles like Tips to Help You Nail Your Open House for important dos and don’ts for manufactured home marketing.

6 Reasons to become a manufactured homeowner — Photo courtesy of Champion Homes

Finally, make sure that your home is clean and presentable. Inside, make sure that critical areas like carpets and bathrooms are clean, and consider neutral decor schemes that help potential buyers imagine a house as their own. Outside, trim the grass, pull the weeds and think about adding a little low-maintenance garden foliage if you don’t currently have any. It can really help bring a property to life.

Florida Mobile Home Paperwork

The state of Florida requires specific documentation and paperwork for manufactured home sellers. Some of the key documents that may be required include:

The vehicle title of the manufactured home (if titled as chattel) or the real estate deed (if titled as real estate)
Bill of sale for the manufactured home, with both the seller’s signature and the buyer’s
Tax records to prove the seller has paid all applicable taxes on the manufactured home

If you’re selling a manufactured home through an agent, your agent will be able to guide you through the paperwork. For those selling by owner, make sure to read up on the important mobile home paperwork you’ll need to complete.

The actual transfer of title will happen after the sale has closed. If the home is titled as chattel, the buyer must go to the Florida DMV with the seller’s signed documents to have the title transferred. Once the title is transferred, the buyer will receive a tax sticker, which they must affix to the exterior of their home to show that the home is in good standing.

Finally, remember that many mobile home communities in Florida (and elsewhere) have additional requirements for selling a home in their community, such as giving park owners right of first refusal or using the park’s sales representative to sell a home. Check the individual requirements of your park if selling a manufactured home located in a community.

Sell Your Home Like a Pro

MHVillage is the premier Florida online mobile home sales site. We offer Florida mobile home sellers an easy-to-use interface and millions of unique site visitors per month, plus a free mobile home value for every home listed. Check back with our blog for more state-by-state tips on the best way to sell your manufactured home, and make sure to read our Mobile Home Seller’s Guide for more key tips and insights.

Mobile Homes as Great Vacation Rentals and Secondary Homes

Vacation Mobile Homes — Photo courtesy of Equity LifeStyle Properties.

Have you been dreaming of making vacation memories in a second home with a scenic view? How about a vacation rental that requires little maintenance and minimal expense? If so, buying a vacation mobile home is an excellent option.

Manufactured homes have many desirable qualities that make them a great choice for vacation homes and rentals. We’ll explore those qualities here, along with some important considerations when selecting a vacation mobile home.

Benefits of Vacation Mobile Homes

So, why are manufactured homes so well-suited for vacation homes? The main reasons are:

- Price: Buying a manufactured home often is substantially less expensive than buying a site-built home. This price difference can mean the ability to own a vacation home for families that otherwise could not afford one.
- Maintenance and Taxes: Manufactured homes often are much more affordable and easier to maintain than site-built homes, so if you’re on a tight budget, a manufactured home generally will cost you less to keep up. Further, property taxes often are much lower compared with site-built homes.
- Availability: Manufactured homes can offer a useful way to enter a housing market with low supply and/or high costs.
- Consistency: HUD-approved manufactured homes are built to a high standard of toughness, assembled indoors away from weather conditions, and rated for specific factors such as wind resistance. Buyers easily can learn about a manufactured home’s weather ratings through the manufactured home data plate located inside the home.
- Aesthetics and Design: The compact and elegant design of today’s manufactured homes makes for ideal vacation getaways when properly maintained. Plus, many manufactured home models offer attractive aesthetics that renters and vacationers love.
- Customization: Buying a new, custom-manufactured home allows the buyer to choose from a huge variety of designs and interior schemes — from the floorplan of the home itself to cabinetry and countertops.
Vacation Rental? Second Home? Or Both?

For buyers who plan to use their manufactured home as a vacation rental, there are specific advantages:

Photo courtesy of Equity LifeStyle Properties.
- Amenities: Manufactured home communities in popular tourist destinations often provide amenities that are attractive to travelers. Your stay comes with many perks and conveniences.
- Location: Most popular tourist destinations have very high real estate costs, especially if you want to be close to the local attractions. Buying a manufactured home will allow you to enjoy the same great location without having to break the bank.
- Energy and Utility Costs: Since energy and utility costs are much cheaper for manufactured homes, you’ll be able to lower your expenses while on vacation in your second home.

Many mobile home buyers use their vacation mobile homes as a place to enjoy good times with family and friends. If you’re retired or semi-retired, you might be at your vacation property for half the year or even longer. You also might be among the increasing number of Americans who work from home, in which case your vacation mobile home can become an office as well!

Finding Your Perfect Vacation Mobile Home

What should buyers look for when selecting a manufactured home to turn into a vacation home?

A vacation mobile home is a valuable investment, so it’s important to evaluate insurance options for your second home.

When you’re ready to explore financing options for your vacation mobile home, read up on mobile home financing to learn about some of the choices available. Note that some options, such as FHA loans, are only valid for primary residences, but others aren’t as restrictive. Working with a mortgage broker can be helpful in finding the right mortgage for a vacation mobile home.

Manufactured homes have put the dream of a great vacation home within reach for many Americans. Your perfect vacation mobile home could be waiting at MHVillage, where buyers can search thousands of mobile homes for sale across the U.S. in the country’s largest manufactured home listings site.

Selling a Manufactured Home by Owner: 5 Mistakes to Avoid

For those with an independent spirit, it’s definitely possible to sell a manufactured home yourself. Sellers can save a considerable amount of money on commission fees—but those who don’t know how to sell a manufactured home by owner can also harm their selling prices by falling into the common pitfalls of going FSBO (for sale by owner).

That’s because those who choose to sell a manufactured home on their own have to cover the tasks the selling party would normally do, so it’s critical to know what those tasks are and how to approach them. These five common mistakes can all trip up novice manufactured home sellers, so smart sellers will take notice before it’s too late.

1. Going in without an inspection and an appraisal.

A thorough inspection and appraisal should always be among the first steps a seller takes when putting a manufactured home on the market. An appraisal will help establish a fair asking price for your manufactured home, while an inspection will identify any issues and give potential buyers peace of mind.

Datacomp Appraisal Systems, Inc. is the industry leader in market-based appraisals and inspections for manufactured homes. Their expertise helps sellers across America set a realistic price for their homes. At MHVillage, we think a Datacomp appraisal is so important that we even offer a free mobile home book value to every seller who lists a home on MHVillage.

2. Neglecting to create a marketing plan.

It can be easy to forget that marketing is a big part of selling a mobile home, but it’s one of the most essential tasks for attracting buyers. A good marketing plan for selling a manufactured home should include:

Identifying a manufactured home’s strengths and how to accentuate them
Strategies for setting an asking price and vetting offers
Designs for advertising materials
Taking photos and writing descriptions that will attract buyers
Listing your home on MHVillage, the nation’s #1 marketplace for mobile and manufactured homes

Marketing a mobile home can be challenging when you’re handling everything on your own, which is why MHVillage offers for sale by owner listing options specifically for individual sellers. In addition, we have developed a suite of marketing tips and resources for manufactured homes to help ensure you’re crafting a winning strategy.

3. Not staging the home to show its best side.

Presentation is an important part of selling a home. Doing basic maintenance is the first step—trimming the grass, cleaning the windows, and putting on a fresh coat of paint can make a home look 10 times better. The inside of the home should also sparkle before you show it, and it’s not a bad idea to spring for a professional cleaning service.

Sales stagings are also often more successful when they decorate in a way that encourages the buyer to imagine the home as their own. Neutral colors and unobtrusive decor are usually preferable because they help give a home a blank-canvas feel rather than putting the current owner’s personality on display.

4. Failing to offer a full and honest disclosure.

It may be tempting to gloss over some of the minor issues on a mobile home seller’s disclosure, but it’s not worth the risk. “When in doubt, point it out” is the rule. A small problem now can become a bigger problem down the road, and you don’t want to be on the receiving end of a lawsuit from a buyer who feels that you misrepresented the home. A buyer who’s genuinely interested in your home will be relieved to hear you point out the small problems because it speaks to your diligence and honesty.

An easy way to ensure full disclosure is to simply offer the full inspection reports to any buyer who requests them. Remember also that manufactured home seller’s disclosure laws vary widely, so familiarize yourself with state and local laws to ensure you stay on the right side of them.

5. Negotiating too much or too little.

There are two equal and opposite mistakes that a FSBO seller can make: Accepting an offer without trying to negotiate, and negotiating so hard that a good buyer loses interest. This aspect depends on how quickly you’re trying to sell a manufactured home. Someone who needs to sell quickly should usually entertain a wider range of offers, while someone who’s in no hurry can be a little more discriminating. Each seller simply needs to know their situation and be aware of how much they’re willing to budge on the sales price.

MHVillage makes it easy to sell a manufactured home with or without a real estate agent. Get started selling today by listing your manufactured home, or check out our step-by-step walkthrough for how to sell a mobile home for more insider tips.

The Mobile Home Delivery Process

Today, the majority of mobile homes are actually moved only once from the factory to the home site. Still, mobile home delivery is a complex process that has the potential to be stressful and even costly if the proper procedures aren’t followed.

What preparations should a home buyer take to make sure their manufactured home is delivered successfully and safely? Here, MHVillage’s manufactured home experts will give buyers a quick guide for what to expect from the mobile home delivery process.

Preparing a Manufactured Home Lot

Before a manufactured home ever touches your lot, the lot must be prepared and in good condition. Take the following steps before buying a manufactured home to ensure that the site is ready to receive your new home:

Always have a prospective lot inspected by your manufactured home dealer before designating it as your delivery space.
Ensure that your target home site is properly zoned for a residential dwelling and that manufactured homes don’t violate any local zoning regulations. (If the lot is in a manufactured home community, your zoning is probably OK.)
Know that successful mobile home delivery will require you to have sufficient flat, accessible space in each direction from your home site to give work vehicles room to maneuver.
Most manufactured and mobile home dealers have delivery ranges (typically around 100 miles), so check to ensure that your site isn’t outside the range of your preferred dealer (or vice versa).

Laws and Permits

A homeowner also needs to check with their local government to ensure that they’re familiar with all of the legal and permit procedures for situating a manufactured home on their land. Local utilities are particularly important, so research what it takes to hook your site up to water, gas, and electricity (or to install your own systems, if permitted).

Those who are considering moving into a manufactured home community should also read the community’s rules in detail because these rules can affect what kind of home you can buy and how you can position it. Rules, requirements, and fees vary widely from community to community, so it’s important to know before you buy.

Also, check to ensure that any logistics company that you trust with your new manufactured home is an expert in moving mobile homes. As you might expect, it’s a specialized industry that shouldn’t be left to amateurs. A manufactured home dealer will usually work with a skilled and experienced mobile home mover, or you can choose one from our state-by-state list of mobile home movers.

Planning the Mobile Home Delivery

The manufactured home delivery process demands careful planning and coordination at every step. If possible, it’s a good idea to use a single contractor who can handle everything from moving to assembly, and mobile home setup or to go through a dealer with the resources to coordinate multiple contractors.

Route planning is a particularly important task for moving a manufactured home, as low bridges, power lines, steep hills, and excessively curvy roads must all be avoided. Again, this isn’t a task for the homeowner. Leave it to the professional manufactured home movers, as they’ll be able to spot any problem areas during their planning process.

Note that your mobile home delivery costs may not include extraordinary circumstances, like bad weather and heavy traffic. Your transportation budget should have some flexibility built in to account for these possible hiccups.

Before your home is delivered, put corner markers for your mobile home in the exact location that the corners of your home will be placed. Again, a dealer or inspector can usually help with this.

Delivery Day

Once the arrangements are all in place, the homeowner’s main role on delivery day is to let the experts do their jobs. The manufactured home, along with additional materials such as tie-downs, will be shipped to the home site. Once on-site, the manufactured home’s parts will be inventoried by the construction supervisors, installed by the home installation contractor and examined using a HUD checklist to ensure that the home is installed correctly.

Finally, to get the manufactured home move-in ready, plumbing and electrical contractors must connect it to the water and electrical grids. Upon completion, the owner of the home must then obtain an occupancy permit from their local building authority to certify that the home is safe to inhabit.

Explore more

We cover manufactured home moving, lot buying, and many other important topics in posts like How to Buy a Manufactured Home and Land Together and Moving a Mobile Home: Your Questions Answered. And for those in need of a qualified mover, remember to check our list of professional mobile home transporters.

6 Compelling Reasons to Become a Manufactured Homeowner

Buying any kind of home can be a joyous and fulfilling occasion, but it’s also a big decision. In the world of real estate, it’s always important to think about your reasons for making a move on a property and weigh them carefully.

Should I Buy a Manufactured Home?

Maybe you’ve heard about manufactured homes and wondered whether or not you should commit to purchasing one. So, what do manufactured homes have to offer the discerning homebuyer?

As you’ll see, there’s quite a lot of upside to a manufactured home. Whether you’re actively searching for your next home or browsing for the right opportunity, here are six reasons why manufactured homes are worth a serious look for home buyers.

1. Manufactured homes are safe and pleasant places to live.

Today, when you buy a HUD-approved manufactured home, you can rest assured that it’s built to last. Since the manufactured home HUD code was introduced in 1976, all new manufactured homes are built to a rigorous set of federal standards. The HUD code is actually the only federally administered building code, and what’s more, homebuyers can track the history of any HUD-approved manufactured home through its HUD tag.

Newer manufactured homes also often include many of today’s must-have home luxuries and design features. You will often find homes with hardwood floors, granite countertops, open floor plans and much more. They come in a variety of sizes–from single-wide to multi-section homes–and they’re built for individuals and families to make memories and live life in.

2. Manufactured homes can save home buyers a lot of money.

If you love a good deal (and who doesn’t?), buying a manufactured home can be a great choice. The average cost of a manufactured or mobile home is well below that of a stick-built home, making manufactured homes a more accessible and affordable housing option for many home buyers.

Many real estate experts agree that becoming a homeowner is an important step toward prosperity. Rather than giving your hard-earned money to a landlord each month, you’ll have a place to call your own (and one that you can build equity in much like site-built homes). Manufactured homes offer a cost-effective way to own your home and begin building for the future.

3. Manufactured homes are investments that will hold their value.

The myth that manufactured homes cannot appreciate is just that—a myth. In fact, so long as they are maintained, manufactured homes retain their value approximately as well as stick-built homes do.

Another factor to consider: Regardless of the value of your mobile home, owning the land on which your manufactured home sits is an excellent investment. Whatever you decide to do with that land in the future, it’s yours to keep, and a plot of land is never a bad asset to have.

4. Manufactured homes have financing options available.

It can be easier than you’d expect to get financing for a manufactured home. For those planning to buy manufactured homes with land and place their homes on permanent foundations, numerous manufactured home financing options are available. Government-assisted loans for manufactured homes are widely available, including:

FHA-insured loans
VA loans for veterans
USDA Rural Development loans
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans

Those buying a manufactured home without land, meanwhile, should look into options such as chattel loans.

5. Manufactured homes are an excellent choice for all stages of life.

For single folks or those just beginning their journey as a family, manufactured homes make excellent starter homes because of their low cost and the many options available. Joining the right manufactured home community can be a great way for younger people to make friends and meet other families.

However, manufactured homes can be equally great for seniors who are retired or nearing retirement. Many folks want to live smaller and more efficiently as they age, and manufactured homes are ideal for right-sized living. Numerous senior mobile home parks are also available in popular retirement locations like Florida or Arizona.

6. MHVillage makes it easy to find your ideal manufactured home.

MHVillage provides both the wide selection and the up-to-date information that manufactured home buyers need to make informed decisions and select a great manufactured home. Get started by browsing our manufactured home listings with tens of thousands of manufactured homes for sale, or check out our Manufactured Home Buyer’s Guide for key insider tips on finding the right home.

When Is the Best Time to Sell a House: Mobile Home Edition

When is the best time to sell a mobile home?

When selling a mobile home, sellers use many different techniques to get a better price for their homes. Attractive photos, in-depth descriptions, and detailed floor plans all help pique buyers’ interest and encourage them to give your listing serious consideration.

However, the time of year when you list your manufactured home for sale is one factor that some say is often relevant. There’s some truth to that—but it’s also not the full story.

Let’s take a look at what the facts say about the best time of year to sell your manufactured home, and why MHVillage can make it easier no matter the season.

The Best Times to Sell a Mobile Home

Many real estate experts agree that late spring and summer are the best times of year to sell a house. There are many reasons why—including the end of the school year—that many leases end in the summer, including potential buyers have more time to look at listings and visit homes.

To determine the best time to sell a mobile home, you’ll need to think about some key questions, including:

Do you want to sell as quickly as possible, or get the most money for your manufactured home that you can possibly get?
In what season is your real estate market most active? (This will often be affected by the climate where you live.)
Is your manufactured home in an area that appeals to families with children, is it more geared toward retirees, or neither?

Some studies claim that home sellers get better prices for their homes on certain dates, but it’s rarely worth the trouble to try to game the calendar down to the date. Sellers are better off focusing on the tried-and-true techniques for how to sell a mobile home.

Is There a Bad Time to Sell a Mobile Home?

December is often considered to be the weakest month for the real estate market, with the period immediately around the Christmas holidays being among the slowest.

In general, late fall and winter are thought to be the weakest times for home sales.

On some levels, this makes sense, as many folks are busy with other events during these times. Buyers may believe that they have more leverage since they assume that anyone selling a mobile home during the holidays is desperate to make a deal. For these reasons, many folks will choose to sit on their mobile homes for a few months rather than list them for sale during the winter.

However, there are a few flip sides to think about that may prove to be to your advantage when selling a mobile home in the winter:

Buyers who are braving the winter anyway are often highly motivated and in need of a place to live.
Many buyers will have year-end bonuses in their pockets and are prepared to make a larger purchase.
If you live in a warm climate with many “snowbird” buyers, fall and winter may be the ideal time to sell.
Corporate relocations often happen at the end of the year to give employees a fresh start in Q1.

Best time to sell a mobile home — Photo courtesy of Skyline Champion Corporation

Other Factors to Consider

Of course, the major factors affecting your manufactured home resale price have little or nothing to do with the weather. The bigger factors include:

Home Value: The appraised value of your manufactured home has always been among the biggest factors in what you get for it, so make sure you get an appraisal through a reliable mobile home appraiser such as Datacomp.
Asking Price: You’ll still need to list your manufactured home at a reasonable price that’s not too far above its appraised mobile home value.
Location: A manufactured home that’s in a desirable manufactured home community or attractive location will typically sell faster.
Land: Manufactured homes that come with the land they sit on will often be more attractive to buyers.

A seller’s takeaway here should be that while it can make a difference when you choose to list your home, it’s not as big of a factor as some might tell you—and the time of year shouldn’t prevent you from listing if you want to sell.

In the end, it’s only a bad time to sell your manufactured home if you’re doing it without the help and support that you need. Sellers are always more successful with the right resources and know-how in their pockets, regardless of what time of year it is.

That’s why so many sellers choose to list on MHVillage.

When you list your mobile home for sale on MHVillage, you’ll get access to all kinds of resources that will help draw buyers to your listing, including a free home valuation from the mobile home appraisal experts at Datacomp.

You can start right now with our Mobile Home Seller’s Guide—a document packed with useful tips and tricks for optimizing your MHVillage listing.

Easy Spring Home Updates for Your Manufactured Home

spring home updates Dress your Home to Sell

By Zoe Papadakis

Winter has its charm, but spring is the time for rebirth and renewal. Sprucing up your manufactured home maintains its value — especially if you plan to put the place up for sale. With spring around the corner, now is the time to make a checklist. When the weather warms up, get to work!

Skirting

Homeowners cannot overlook the skirting around a manufactured home. Skirting protects the house from unwanted pests like skunks, opossums, rats, and raccoons. It improves energy efficiency and keeps rain and wind from entering your home. Knowing how to install and maintain skirting is useful for DIYers. Choose materials like brick, metal, cinder block, vinyl, stone, or masonry.

Yard and Flowerbeds

Green grass, colorful flowers, tantalizing vegetable gardens, and ornamental shrubbery beautify the outside of your home. Whether you prefer to plant a garden around the perimeter or set up containers on a sunlit deck, nothing says “spring” like flowers and greenery. Shrub, hanging baskets, window boxes, and small shade trees color up the front of the house. A well-manicured lawn, native plants, and a birdfeeder draw feathered friends to your serene setting.

Front Porch Living

Think of it … sitting on the front (or back) porch with your favorite beverage in hand, fireflies in the yard, and that summertime sound of crickets. Sounds nice, yes? Now’s a good time to invest in a swing or rocker, a small patio set, or some lawn chairs. If you don’t have a deck or porch, build one! An outdoor deck is a nice place to stargaze.

Affiliate Link Below – MHVillage receives a small commission from the seller for purchases made through this link.

Mailbox

As part of your home’s curb appeal, a clean, painted, undented mailbox adds to a rural or suburban setting. Replace or repair broken mailboxes and plant some flowers around the post. Mailboxes don’t cost a lot of money, and you can find all kinds at your favorite home improvement store.

Indoors

Overhaul your home’s inside – do it all at once or one step at a time. Pressure-cleaning, painting, and new window coverings are a start to giving the house a dynamic new look.

Artwork gives you something colorful to look at every day.
Tear out old or moldy carpeting and lay some new linoleum, vinyl, or wood flooring.
Update lighting with energy-efficient bulbs to brighten up each room. On that note, new light switches and switch plates give your home a modern look.
Crown molding provides elegance to ceilings.
Replace flat inside doors with stylishly carved ones.

New doors or a paint job on the kitchen and bathroom cabinets gives them a fresh look. Replace old cabinet hardware with new pulls to complement the décor.

Updating your manufactured home will cost a few bucks, to be sure. But home maintenance is part of the ownership package, so whether you plan to sell the house or live in it for years to come, it makes sense to make it work.

Zoe Papadakis is a retired financial adviser and an avid do-it-yourselfer. She enjoys doing yard work, building furniture and remodeling projects around her house. She recently built a new gazebo for the backyard.