Knowledge Builders

can you upgrade a mobile home

by Dr. Cullen Marvin Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Although adding specific structures, such as a garage, carport, porch, deck, sunroom, and/or a roof-over system, to your manufactured home can be a labor-intensive, relatively expensive home improvement project, these additions will expand your living space, add curb appeal, and increase the value of your property.May 22, 2020

Do mobile home upgrades add value to your home?

Mobile home upgrades can help you increase the value of your home, making it easier to sell and more profitable. We all know that mobile home’s generally depreciate in value and that the home is worth less as soon as it’s bought, but does that mean you have to resign yourself to a low selling price?

Can You remodel a mobile home?

A good mobile home remodel can change your entire home. Whether it be a kitchen remodel, exterior update, or total home transformation, each one can increase the comfort and value of your home. These 15 mobile home remodels will inspire and help prove that mobile homes can be just as gorgeous as any site-built home.

Can you upgrade a pre-1976 mobile home to HUD requirements?

But there are no guidelines for upgrading a pre-1976 mobile home to HUD requirements, and no inspection agency authorized to inspect an upgrade. So, while improving the structural integrity, insulation, and overall safety of an old mobile home is a good thing to do, you cannot get a HUD tag for your improvements to a pre-1976 home.

Should you replace your mobile home with a more energy efficient one?

One area where mobile homes sometimes don’t do so well is energy efficiency. Now, the federal government may be able to help with that through programs like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Still, another option when faced with homes that aren’t efficient may seem only too obvious: replace them with homes that are.

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Is it worth it to update a mobile home?

' is yes. You absolutely should buy an older mobile home and remodel it if you can find a home with a sound structure and you can do some of the updates yourself. If you like the idea of living debt-free eventually you should absolutely consider buying an older mobile home and remodeling it as your budget allows.

How do you modernize an old mobile home?

1:398:022 ways to update an old mobile home - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI also added a wood trim around the door the trim that was on the door. They use like a really cheapMoreI also added a wood trim around the door the trim that was on the door. They use like a really cheap foam. It's not even real wood it's like it's like a foam material. And.

What does retrofitting a mobile home mean?

Retrofit - (rět'rō-fĭt') - An instance of modernizing or expanding with new or modified parts, devices, systems, or equipment. The term retrofit is widely used across many industries. For the mobile home industry, it mostly applies to the foundation.

What is the downside of buying a mobile home?

A disadvantage of buying a mobile home is that its value will depreciate quickly. Like a new car, once a mobile home leaves the factory, it quickly drops in value. Stick-built homes, on the other hand, normally appreciate in value over time because the stick-built home owner almost always owns the underlying land.

Can I remodel a old mobile home?

Permit for Remodeling Usually, you don't need a permit for mobile home exterior remodel such as the structure, roof system, walls, windows, exterior doors and mobile home interior remodel such as floors, interior walls, etc. But they must be equivalent to the original construction.

Can you remove walls in a mobile home?

Typically, you can remove interior walls in a manufactured home as long as it's not load-bearing. Load bearing walls in manufactured housing include the exterior walls and the marriage line in a double wide.

What is the average life of a mobile home?

30 to 55 yearsWhile the average life expectancy of a mobile home is 30 to 55 years, you can still outlast that number. This is best done if you ensure the installation is done properly, choose the right location, and generally adhere to maintenance practices.

How can I make my mobile home permanently?

Once the home has been attached to its foundation, you'll also need to obtain an 'Affidavit of Affixture. ' This document certifies the home is permanently affixed to the land. If one already exists, a copy of the affidavit should be recorded at the county assessor's or county recorder's office.

Can you build a house around a mobile home?

If you own a mobile home but want a house, you don't have to sell everything and buy or build a new home. You can simply convert it into the home you want! Converting a mobile home into a traditional type of house isn't hard and you don't need to hire a professional.

Is it trashy to live in a mobile home?

Is living in a mobile home trashy? Not necessarily. The stigma with mobile homes mainly arises when they are located in lower-end, unkempt neighborhoods. This is especially true when they are not adequately maintained.

Can you live permanently in a mobile home?

You cannot live permanently on them, some may have restrictions as to how much time you can spend there in one go. Residential parks are open all year round and you can live there permanently in a purpose built home.

Do mobile homes appreciate?

Still, according to a detailed FHFA report, we can see that mobile homes appreciate very similar to stick-built homes. Contrary to popular belief, mobile homes' values do tend to appreciate over time rather than depreciate.

How do you make an old mobile home look good?

3:4610:18Fixing up our old mobile home / DIY / CHEAP / Vlog style! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd then I just started prepping to paint this door I just use a very strong degreaser to clean theMoreAnd then I just started prepping to paint this door I just use a very strong degreaser to clean the doors off so there's no grease. So the paint will stick to it okay. And since these are gold.

How can I make my mobile home look better?

Construction Upgrades That Make Your Manufactured Home Look More like a Site-Built Home.Upgrade to a Higher Roof Pitch.Extend the Eaves.Install Larger Doors (Exterior and Interior)Install Crown Molding and Trim.Install your manufactured home over a Basement Foundation.Add a Garage Beside your Home.More items...•

How do you make a mobile home not look like a mobile home?

Pop-Outs, Additions, And Miscellaneous Exterior Adornment If there is room on your lot, creating a room addition breaks up the standard rectangle shape of manufactured homes, while also greatly adding to the feeling inside as well.

How can I make my mobile home walls look better?

WallsRemove all trim from the walls.Prime the walls with an oil based primer.Fill in the line gaps in the paneling with drywall mud.Tape and mud the joints between the 4 x 8 sheet of paneling.Spray orange peel texture on the walls.Prime the walls for paint with a latex primer.Paint the walls.

How to upgrade a mobile home?

You can upgrade your mobile home by addressing this weakness. Begin with the insulation. Make sure your home has proper insulation to keep out any creeping cold or thick heat. Swap out your windows and doors to prevent seepage as well, and replace the weather stripping and caulking to create stronger seals as well.

How to make your mobile home more valuable?

Look into replacing your appliances one at a time from the watt-sucking appliances that came with your home to some newer and sleeker energy-efficient appliances. These upgrades will make your mobile home more valuable.

What are the cash cows of a mobile home?

Kitchens and baths are the cash cow of the home. If you can find a way to remodel or update these two rooms, you can greatly increase the value of your mobile home.

How to make your mobile home feel warmer?

Pay special attention to fixtures in particular. Older mobile homes tend to have cheaper fixtures, tubs, and sinks. Spend a little money on more traditional fixtures to give your home a warmer and richer feel.

How to make a mobile home look like a stick built home?

Mobile homes are known for their flat roofs. Make your mobile home look more like a stick-built home by installing a pitched roof. This will be better for your gutters and rain run-off as well and increase the value of your mobile home.

What happens if you strip a mobile home?

But, if you strip the mobile home, you make it more like real estate. Remove the wheels and chassis, affix the home to a foundation, and consider digging a basement for it. Once you’ve done this one a piece of private property, you will have converted the home to real estate. In doing just these simple things, you immediately increase your mobile ...

How many people live in manufactured homes?

Choose Wisely. According to the Manufactured Housing Institute, 22 million people live in manufactured homes in the United States. People all over the country are finding affordable housing solutions in mobile homes. Yet many worry about the declining value of the home. After all, you’ve been told for generations that mobile homes only lose their ...

What is the benefit of working on a manufactured home?

Plumbing – One benefit of working on a manufactured home, is that there is an easily accessible crawl space underneath to rework any plumbing that may need it. Depending on what the plumbing looks like, we will often replace the plumbing lines with Pex. If we’re going to be doing plumbing underneath or inside of walls, we want to have access before we start to do any siding or wall work. The plumbing in this house was good underneath the home. There were a few small links under the kitchen sink, so we replaced all of the under sink plumbing throughout the house, but we didn’t go any further.

What is a pre HUD home?

Pre-HUD standard homes (built before June 1976). Any single wide narrower than 14 feet (we might make an exception to this depending on the park it is in, or the land it is one and what we plan to do with it). Any mobile home that has significant roof (caving in), wall, or floor damage.

When is it time to start working on modifications?

Once we’ve cleaned everything out of a house and removed all that may be in the way of doing the renovations, it is finally time to start working on the modifications .

Is it good to clean up a remodeling job?

By having the space swept up and clean on an ongoing basis, it allows my mind to function better about what work still needs to be done, and the quality of the work that is being done. I also find that when the job site is kept clean, and required to be maintained as such, the contractors seem to do better overall work on my jobs.

Is it a no go to repair a mobile home?

Any mobile home that has significant roof (caving in), wall, or floor damage. (This is judged on a case by case basis, but of the ceiling and walls are caving in, it is a no go. Any mobile home that would require repairs far in excess of what the house could sell for as an After Repair Value.

Do mobile homes get free?

We are often offered mobile homes for free from various parks, or tenants in parks looking to get out. And, we turn many of these down! Why, you ask? We find some of them simply aren’t worth putting any money into them. Each case is unique and depends on the given the market surrounding that house.

Is an older mobile home a good investment?

Whether you are an investor looking to make a high margin from a rental property, or someone looking for affordable housing for your family, an older mobile home can be a great place to start!

What are the different levels of manufactured homes?

There are 3 levels of manufactured home models: the most affordable, low-end models, the mid-range models, and the high-end or luxury models.

Why is it important to upgrade windows?

Windows impact your energy costs and both the interior and the exterior aesthetics of a home so it’s a smart investment to upgrade to the best windows you can afford.

What is the R value of a low end home?

Low-end model homes will have sidewall insulation with an R-value of 11, maybe 13, standard. Upgrade to the highest you can afford (22+).

How much does a double wide home cost?

The most affordable models will have staples and glue instead of nails, smaller studs, Chinese steel beams, low roof pitch, economy grade flooring, particle board, plastic fixtures, vinyl wallboards, etc. You won’t be able to upgrade these models too much. If your budget is at all flexible you will want to bypass these entry-level homes. You will find these homes on every dealer’s lot with large signs advertising double wides for $39,995 or single wides for $19,999

What size hollow core door is used in a manufactured home?

The cheap 26″ x 74″ hollow core interior doors are standard on most manufactured homes, from low-end to luxury models.

Do you get what you pay for manufactured housing?

In the manufactured housing world, you absolutely get what you pay for but that’s the brilliance of manufactured housing. We can get exactly what we need in a home.

Is a better built home better for resale?

A better-built home will usually have a better resale value in the future.

How wide are mobile homes?

Site-built homes typically have wide eaves to help keep water away from the siding and windows; they are usually 12 to 16 inches wide. Most mobile homes, on the other hand, have smaller eaves and gutters (typically 6 and 5 inches, respectively).

Why do mobile homes have a higher roof pitch?

By having a higher roof pitch, your mobile home will look more like a traditional house, and it helps rain and snow slide off more easily.

What do mobile homes use for ceilings?

Later on, towards the 80s, mobile homes began to use drywall for ceilings, and some of them were vaulted, making the space feel more open and more like a traditional house. Similar to stick-build homes, these ceilings used popcorn texture. You can give your mobile home a modern look by scraping off the popcorn ceiling and retexturing it, giving it the feel of a high-end traditional house.

What are mobile home cabinets?

Mobile Home Cabinets. Cabinets in mobile homes are typically durable but inexpensive and made out of more affordable materials. This has changed massively over the years; most new mobile homes have options for high-quality, modern cabinets like those found in stick-built homes. If you have an older manufactured home, ...

How big is a mobile home door?

Normally, manufactured home doors are around 32 inches wide, 76 inches tall , and made out of aluminum.

Can you remodel a mobile home?

Remodeling the walls in your mobile home can instantly change the entire feel of your house -- from a manufactured home to a traditional house. Many mobile homes have old-school paneling that was popular in the 60s and 70s. If your mobile home has paneled walls, the easiest way to update them and make your manufactured home look like a house is to:

Is a mobile home a house?

Manufactured homes are usually easily distinguishable from their site-built counterparts, and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing, some homeowners would rather their mobile home look more like a house.

What is the most expensive repair on a manufactured home?

We have found that one of the most expensive repairs on a manufactured home often tends to be the roof. If the roof has leaked in the past, often the drywall or acoustical panels in the ceiling may be sagging. With a bad roof, water may have also gotten into the walls, and even the floor.

How much does it cost to replace asphalt shingles on a manufactured home?

Replacing the asphalt shingles on the roof of a manufactured home can cost anywhere from $2,500 to $6,000 depending on the size of the home. Our project home is a 1983 24 x 56.

Why did they save the old laminate countertops in my mobile home?

In a few remodels we have done, we’ve actually saved the original ancient laminate countertops the mobile home came with because they were still in good condition and we keeping the original cabinets.

How much does it cost to replace fixtures in a home remodel?

In pretty much every remodel that we do, we replace all of the fixtures throughout the home. For about $1,000 we know that we can put in modern attractive fixtures that really add value to the home. The only place where we may keep the old fixtures is in the shower or tub if they are in good condition.

How long does it take to remodel a house?

We like to realistically plan about 45 days to complete the work from start to finish. Sometimes it is less than that, sometimes a little more, but if we hold everyone to a schedule, it can usually be accomplished. Even with a large remodel.

What happened after we finalized the purchase of this house?

After we finalized the purchase of this house, the seller left us a house full of treasure they no longer wanted. The house and storage room were full of junk. Unfortunately this happens more often than we’d like.

Do mobile homes have built ins?

Lots of older mobile homes have built-ins. In my opinion, those old built-ins make the home feel like “an old mobile home”. Newer stick-built or even manufactured homes rarely have these things. We decided to remove the hutch in the entryway and replace it with a closet. You can see the built-ins in the 3rd picture above in both the entryway and the dining room. These really date the property, so they were removed to give the home a more up-to-date feel.

What are the requirements to replace a mobile home?

Requirements could include that you: Own the mobile home that’s being replaced. Reside in the home. Do not have any mortgages or liens on the home. Own the land the home is on. Have income below a certain level.

What is a mobile home replacement program?

This is where a mobile home replacement program could come in. A mobile home replacement program helps by assisting in replacing older mobile homes with newer ones. For instance, the state of Maine has a program to replace homes built before 1976 with newer models. It’s called the Pre-1976 Mobile Home Replacement Initiative and it combines a loan and a grant.

What to do if you live on the inside of a mobile home?

If you’re looking to make some changes to the interior of your mobile home, consider remodeling. From your bathroom to your living room and master bedroom, remodeling could give your home the boost you’ve been looking for.

Can you fix a mobile home?

So if replacing your mobile home as it ages turns out not to be a feasible option for you, you might decide to turn your attention to repairing and making changes to your existing home.

Can a mobile home replacement program be a fresh start?

Fresh starts. For fortunate recipients, a mobile home replacement program could provide a wonderful fresh start. Plus, the homeowner might not be the only beneficiary. In fact, the community could discover it benefits them, too.

Is a mobile home created equal?

As a mobile home owner yourself, it may come as no surprise that not all mobile homes are created equal. Plus, if you’ve ever lived in an older mobile home, you may be only too aware of its deficiencies. And the fact is, you’re not the only one who realizes that older mobile homes can have some elements to be concerned about.

Can you pressure wash a mobile home?

As far as the exterior of your mobile home goes, you may choose to start with a good pressure washing. And if the cleaning doesn’t quite cut it, painting your mobile home may be an option to freshen up the outside. Finally, check out our 7 Ways To Increase Your Mobile Home Curb Appeal.

What is a good mobile home remodel?

A good mobile home remodel can change your entire home. Whether it be a kitchen remodel, exterior update, or total home transformation, each one can increase the comfort and value of your home. These 15 mobile home remodels will inspire and help prove that mobile homes can be just as gorgeous as any site-built home.

How many articles are there on mobile home living?

We know it can be a bit overwhelming to look through the 680 articles here on Mobile Home Living so we like to create lists like this that are easy to digest and fun to look at.

What is the Texas Blogger's DIY manufactured home remodel?

What we loved about this Texas Blogger’s DIY manufactured home remodel is that they took their time and didn’t stretch themselves too thin financially during their remodeling process. They have completed big and small projects as time and money allowed over the years and are slowly making their mobile home their dream home.

When did Dede remodel her mobile home?

This inspiring remodeling story showcases DeDe’s beautiful 1995 double wide remodel and how one woman found herself downsizing unexpectedly. She, along with her contractor, did a beautiful job of updating this 90’s mobile home and making it accessible for an older owner such as DeDe.

Who designed the single wide mobile home?

We stumbled upon this single wide mobile home remodel a few years ago, and we fell in love with the transformation. Designer Michael Biondo turned a basic single wide mobile home into a light and airy beach-ready home for his client.

Can you turn an old mobile home into a dream home?

Turning an older mobile home into your dream home can be a huge task. These owners not only took on the job but completed an extreme single wide home remodel that turned out beautifully .

Did Melodie and her husband sell their mobile home?

Our next mobile home makeover will inspire anyone who is looking to live debt-free. Melodie and her husband decided to sell their stick-built home and buy a mobile home with the cash, and boy are they glad they did! Within three months of purchasing their double wide, Melodie had a Marvelous Manufactured Home Makeover that we fell in love with.

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1.Mobile Home Upgrades That Can Increase The Value Of …

Url:https://www.mhomebuyers.com/mobile-home-upgrades/

24 hours ago Upgrading the doors in an older mobile home make a huge difference in the finished look. Also, in most mobile homes, there is lots and lots of trim throughout the house. If we keep the trim and just paint out the interior, then we are very careful to caulk all of the gaps between the trim and the walls. This is a biggy for me, as I believe that the unfilled gaps between the trim and the walls …

2.How Do You Update An Old Mobile Home?

Url:https://mobilehomefriend.com/how-do-you-update-an-old-mobile-home/

29 hours ago  · Follow the steps below on how to upgrade your mobile home if you have made your decision! Step 1: Setting up an Analysis Appointment The first thing you should do is schedule an analysis appointment to obtain estimates and find out exactly what the issues are with your current home and why you want to upgrade.

3.10 Smart Upgrades To Make When Buying A New

Url:https://mobilehomeliving.org/10-smart-upgrades-new-manufactured-home/

7 hours ago Make your mobile home look and feel like a house on the outside by making these renovations: Your Mobile Home’s Roof and Eaves; Your mobile home’s roof pitch can be an aesthetic and useful upgrade. By having a higher roof pitch, your mobile home will look more like a traditional house, and it helps rain and snow slide off more easily.

4.Best Way to Remodel a Mobile Home to Look Like a House

Url:https://homenation.com/blog/remodel-your-mobile-home-to-look-like-house

22 hours ago  · But there are no guidelines for upgrading a pre-1976 mobile home to HUD requirements, and no inspection agency authorized to inspect an upgrade. So, while improving the structural integrity, insulation, and overall safety of an old mobile home is a good thing to do, you cannot get a HUD tag for your improvements to a pre-1976 home.

5.How To Make An Older Mobile Home Look New Again!

Url:https://mobilehomefriend.com/how-to-make-an-older-mobile-home-look-new-again/

27 hours ago

6.What Is The Mobile Home Replacement Program & Do …

Url:https://www.mobilehomesell.com/mobile-home-replacement-program/

28 hours ago

7.15 Great Mobile Home Remodels With Tons Of …

Url:https://mobilehomeliving.org/15-great-mobile-home-remodels/

20 hours ago

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