4 Things to Consider Before Moving a Manufactured Home

While it was scary enough moving our 79-80 mobile home 11 miles with a large tow truck, I’d hate to think what it would be like moving one across the mountains of WV! That one picture shows just what some of those mountain roads look like! Barely wide enough for a car, much less a mobile home! Definitely one of those ‘don’t try this at home’ moments! You’re doing a great job Crystal! Keep up the good work!

Thank you so much! I’ve seen some manufactured homes pulled up the mountain on dirt roads that cars had trouble going up. It’s a neat thing to watch!

Thank you so much for reading Mobile Home Living!

We are renting a manufactured house and thinking about buying it. The house was moved from the south (roof load zone) to Idaho. We get a lot of snow here. When it was moved apparently no one checked the roof load because it is nowhere near code now. Should we have an engineer check it out? What would you suggest? Thank you.

Hi Jeffrey,

It’s very smart of you to be considering this. I’ve never ran across this issue before as it is typically cost prohibitive to move an used manufactured home so far. I would get definitely get a professional out there and take a look at it and perhaps even get a couple of estimates on a roof replacement or reinforcement and see if the sellers are willing to negotiate their price. The owners likely never even knew or considered that there was such vast differences in the way homes are built based on their location.

If the home has a decent pitch and the roof is healthy (other than the load issue) there may be some things a roofer can do to help reinforce it without a completely new installation. I’m not very knowledgeable on roofing advancements unfortunately.

You are certianly on the right track! Best of luck (and please let me know how it all goes for you). Thank you!

My 1960 Nashua single-wide apparently moved three times during its 57 years in California, once to its first home, another to Boonville where I found it, and finally another twisty 50 miles through the redwoods to my homestead. It was already pretty tired, but had been lived in almost continuously over its life and seemed worth the gamble. I found the same mover who had hauled it to Boonville from Lakeport, and he was confident. He hired a pilot car, and delivered it without incident.

Because I’m on a 1200-foot ridge barely a mile from the Pacific, I get heavy orographic rain and some intense winds during winter. To deal with this, I simply added a metal roof, and used long screws to anchor the furring strips that the metal panels are now screwed to. A gale-force wind might take the roof off, but I’m surrounded by redwood forest and doubt the winds will ever reach that intensity. I’ve also purchased the Xi2 anchor system that helps the body of the trailer withstand sustained winds.

Did I mention I found the trailer on freecycle.org, a website where people offer up things they no longer need?

This experience has me thinking of what a tremendous resource we have in the hundreds of thousands of aging single-wides that could be refurbished and gathered into collectively owned parks to provide affordable housing for people whose incomes are insufficient to finance a home purchase at salaries that prevail in their communities, as is the case here in my county.

So this topic of moving a mobile home is actually really important, and worthy of study and experimentation. I’m doing my part!

Many thanks, Crystal, for shining a light on this topic, and for your tremendous, loving work on behalf of durable, affordable, dignified housing.

Loved reading every word of your comment, Jeff! I would LOVE to see your new home! You have my email already, please send me some photos!

Any advice on what to do next ??????? This morning two vehicles of mine were damaged when a local Salvage company decided to move out a older trailer home from my mobile home park in Aberdeen, SD. I got awoken to someone pounding on my door. Answering it i got “Hey buddy sorry but my driver clipped your 1998 Jeep when he passed by. To my surprise that driver not only tagged my older Jeep / but he also clipped my 2016 Nissan in the process. Auto Body experts quoted $6500 damage to my Jeep thus making it unfixable. And my baby, My Nissan Versa, all 9700 miles of it had $3500 damage as well. No prior attempts were made for me to move my vehicles. My lot manager told me to report this to my local Sheriff. I called the deputy Sheriff but to NO avail ……… They didn’t come out to survey the damage or make a report. Just said sorry you need to deal with the party involved and if he refuses to pay restitution over lost property you can file it in small claims court !!!!!!!!! $%#@! Is there no justice to personal property anymore and should this be classified as a hit and run incident ??????????? Even my auto insurance rep said to deal with the local Sheriff’s dept. I feel helpless and totally betrayed. 1/26/2018

Hello,

I’m so sorry this happened. The transport company that moved the mobile home must have a license and insurance. You will need to put a claim into their insurance company. Take a ton of pictures, get a police report (just go to the police dept and tell them you need one for an insurance claim) and write down the events in the order it happened.

You will also want to find the dept that handles manufactured home transport licensing in your state and ask them what the proper protocol is for damage during transport. If their insurance doesn’t cover it, the owners of the home being moved will be the next you make a claim with. Then the park’s insurance.

You may want to hire an attorney to write the letters to the insurance companies. When they know you are serious and have a lawyer they usually act a little differently.

Let me know how it goes!

Would you sell your 30 year old modular (haul off our property) and start over or remodel and add-on. We are owners with a mortgage? Peyton, Colorado

Hi Jennie,

I think I emailed you unless I’m confusing you with another reader (I get lots of emails and comments). So, if you still have a mortgage on the home I would probably do at least a basic remodel before I gave up on it. Otherwise, you’re going to be paying for two mortgages. However, if you can trade in the home for a new(er) home that may be your best option. That way you would be able to live in a new model home while still having one mortgage. Keep in mind, that trading in a mobile home is similar to trading in a car – if you have negative equity it will be attached to the new mortgage so you’re still going to pay for it (perhaps even at a higher interest rate).

There are so many variables to consider in these types of situations. Best of luck!

In Texas, there is a law that prohibits federal financing of manufactured homes if they have been moved twice or more. How can I find out if my manufactured home has been moved twice?

Hi Carolyn,

From what I understand a lot of states use titles as proof of ownership, a record of liens, and as proof that taxes are paid in full and the home is legal to be transported on public highways. I would suspect that TX has a record for each time a permit has been requested for the transport. However, last I read TX doesn’t even have a HUD state agency and is a state that has fewer restrictions regarding manufactured homes compared to other states. So, I suspect the information would be held through the DMV or whatever department handles titles. I’d call them and ask.
Sorry I can’t be more helpful.

Can you move your manufacturer home while you still have a loan with your property to a new property you are buying that is not tied to the home and still continue to pay that loan cause the new land you buy iqs paid in full

Hi Kathy,

You shouldn’t have any issue but the lien holder will need to be informed before the move. You may want to call the bank just to be sure. The mobility of the homes is one of the reasons banks and finance companies charge so much more in interest (they say it’s because of higher bankruptcy and repo rates but statistics don’t align with that).
Best of luck!

What do I do? I paid a mover on Aug. 1st to move my double wide and it has now been over a month and it still has not been put together or set up. There is no communication on their part and they don’t seem to be in any hurry to get it done. I need this done before it rains since the wrapping is torn on several areas of the home. What can I do to get them motivated?

Hi Donna,

This is bad. I would start court proceedings for the money back along with any damages that have occurred and hire someone else to get the home together ASAP. Every day it’s not setup properly is a chance of permantly damaging the home.

Best of luck!

Was thinking about moving my double wide (70×24) vacation home from its original location, leased land, to a permanent lot. We love the layout of of the home and always said we would love have this as a permanent home. haven’t found a lot yet but have no idea where to begin. Any help would be great. I would obviously have a professional mover and understand it would cost about 10K-15K.

Hi Rich!

In most states, it won’t take that much to move (though it may cost that in CA). I would look for a regular Realtor that specializes in land or just start hunting for land for sale on Craigslist. You can setup a notification system through Search Tempest to notify you of Craigslist listings that include certain keywords (such as ‘land for sale’ or ‘lot for sale’) by location. Also, if you drive around the area you like and see an old house or a mobile home on a lot that isn’t being lived in you may have luck talking the owner into selling.

Also, post that you are looking for land to buy (without mineral rights) in Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. Best of luck!

I’ve got to move my mobile home and I’m trying to find out if I have to move everything out for it to be moved to another location? I’ve packed things off the walls, kitchen cabinets and going to lay tv cabinet on floor before moving and other things that may fall over during the move. Question is can I leave packed boxes in trailer?

Hi Angie,

It really depends on the distance, home, and mover. Some movers are OK with items as long as they are evenly placed and secured for weight distribution (appliances are usually acceptable). However, by leaving things in the home during transport you may negate any claims of damage and all they have to do is raise concern before the contract is signed. I wouldn’t chance it around doors or windows at all.

Best of luck!

Is there insurance available somewhere for a manufactured home that is used and we have completely paid for but are waiting to move it until our property is ready? The movers I understand have nothing to do with it until they actually start the teardown for the moving process.

Jean,

That’s a really good question. Unfortunately, I don’t have an answer for you. I bet if you posted this question in our Facebook group someone would be able to help – they are the most informative bunch I’ve ever seen. Here’s the link (just ask to join and then post your question): https://www.facebook.com/groups/mobilehomelivingremodels/

Hello, Are there any agencies that can help people with low-income that are told they can keep their MH, but need to move off land? They are having hard time coming up with money to transport.

I have a moble home that I moved in 2009 from one property to another in the same county which is a family member doing a rent to buy option. The home is on his land and has been paying property taxes on it this whole time. I no longer own the land where it was moved from but in the last two years I started receiving a tax statement for the home from the old property I have been trying to get this settled with no luck. But now my tax appraisal office said I needed to contact Austin to do a change of address that I had no idea of. Who do I need to contact to get this done.

Hi Kem,

Usually, your local tax assessor’s office will be able to help. Best of luck!

Hi Dedra,

That’s one of the worst problems about renting a lot in a park with a home you own. This article may help but the agencies listed are mostly for repairs. If the park is closing there may be a state fund or laws that require the parks to help homeowners move. Your state HUD agency/department may be able to help you as well. Just Google your state’s name and “HUD agency” and you should be able to find it (though there are a few states that don’t have its own agency so you’d have to go through the national HUD office in DC). Best of luck!

I need advice: I live in a 1996 double wide, in a family park in Salem, Or. This week, I received word that the park is being sold. I am trying to research my options and have started the process of trying to find where else in town I could relocate. I was told today, that a lot of parks only allow entry to newer models and I may not have this as a possible choice. I have spent hours on the internet trying to confirm if this is true or not. What are your thoughts?

It’s true, unfortunately. Many parks won’t accept older models and many states won’t even let you transport an older model mobile home without a hassle. I’m not familiar with OR laws so you’ll want to check the DMV for rules and find a park that will accept older parks. If the new owners are using the property for something else they may just try to buy you out which could be the best option for older mobile homes.

Best of luck!

My mothers 20 year old double wide will be mine one day soon, But, I feels it’s turned 180 degrees the wrong way. Can it be turned and set back on the same concrete pad?

Hi Karen,

As long as your blocking schematics are the same both ways I don’t see why you couldn’t do it. The worst-case scenario would be needing to pour new footers – that would be tricky. It probably wouldn’t be cheap because it’s still a time-consuming and labor-intensive job but it would certainly make a huge difference in everyday life. If you do get it done PLEASE take lots of photos and notes so I can share them on the blog.

Best of luck!

I have 15 days to move out of a family park and into an older more rundown community because I have no other options and places to go and my home needs to be out of this park within 15 daysthe mover doesn’t have the permit to set it up in this older home he said because of covid it’s going to take him a couple of months before I can get back into my home there needs to be an electric pole put in and all that in this older Mobile home Park he’s still charged me $13,000 is that normal also I have a screen room and a carport added on to my home I don’t believe it’s the perks I believe it’s mine he was going to charge me 15 extra $100 to take this down and then said he would read pay the 1,000 if I give it to him for the scrap metal what are your thoughts on this he said it would never be the same again trying to put it back up I don’t need it for the new park that I’m going to

I live in Tx and am having a 2005 MH moved. I was told the straps will need to be replaced? Is this true?

Thanks for the reply Crystal. It’s a thought still, but not a reality soon.

We are looking to purchase a used 21 yr old double wide mobile home and have it moved to our property to use as a camp, but have no idea what a fair price would be, seeing as we will need to account for the transport and such. Can somebody advise what type of expenses we are looking at needing when it’s on site at the final destination? I presume it will need to be taken apart to move in 2 sections which I’m guessing means we will need to redo the roof and probably floors too at that point. (The roof and floors appear to still be acceptable now as it is I place, but once they are taken apart I presume based upon the age of the original roof and floors that they also should be replaced as well once it’s transported to the new location.)
Also, how can I find out a fair purchase price to offer seeing as we will need to take into account for any of the costs involved in the transport and don’t want to be upside down from the start of this venture. Once it is moved it will be on our own property which will add some value, and less loss of value I presume, but I also have to consider the need to insure it, which will be based on its current value as a depreciating personal property like all vehicles and rvs, etc.

I have purchased a 1979 mobile home that is a zone 1 but is currently under a clause that at that time the zones don’t apply. Will I be able to move the home, to a zone to in which it has been in a zone 2 since 1979?

in lake county florida can i get a fha mortgage if i moved my moble home one lot over by the same people i bought it from a local dealer