Four Complications Homeowners Often Run Into When Extending Their Manufactured Homes
Are you considering building an addition onto your manufactured home? Most manufactured home sellers will tell you that it's better to sell your home and either purchase or build a new one. Not only is it an affordable option -- since you'll gain money from the sale of your old home that you can put into a new home -- but there are a few complications that you might run into if you try to extend your home instead.
Your Home Can No Longer Be Moved
One of the big benefits of a manufactured home is that it can be easily moved from lot to lot. If you want to move from one state to another, you can! But with an addition, your home's structural integrity will have changed -- it will no longer be as simple as just lifting your home out of its lot. Your home may not be able to be moved entirely, or it may need to be entirely disassembled and then reassembled. If there have been significant changes to place the addition -- such as the removal of an entire wall -- your home may actually become damaged while being moved.
Your Home May Have A Lower Resale Value
Because your home can no longer be moved and is no longer in the same condition as when it was purchased, it may have a lower resale value. New buyers will worry that the insulation or the electrical system may have been altered or may no longer function properly. These things can affect purchase price.
Your Home May Not Meet Code Requirements
If your home is not on a lot that you lease, there are usually specific code requirements that you need to follow. Additions often won't fall under this code, so you may find yourself having to move lots if you want to have an addition. Again, it may simply be less expensive to trade up to a bigger model of manufactured home than both move and alter your existing one.
Your Home May Have Its Warranty Voided
Most manufactured homes have a warranty. This warranty is usually voided entirely if you add an extension -- if your roof starts leaking later on, you won't be covered, even if the area of the roof that is leaking is nowhere near the addition. You should always check with your home warranty company before moving forward on any alterations to your home.
Essentially, the process of extending a manufactured home is far more challenging than the process of extending a conventional home. Because of that, it's often better to "flip" your current home into a newer model. Your manufactured home contractor can explain more about the benefits, downsides and consequences of each action. One company that may be able to help meet your needs is Country West Mobile Home Park.
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