Manufactured Home Pre-Occupancy Walk Through and Re-Inspection
At the completion of the installation (also called” set-up”) of your new manufactured home and prior to you moving into the new home, your retailer, or sometimes a representative of your home’s manufacturer, will conduct a thorough walk through to inspect the condition of your home and explain features, proper operation, and maintenance requirements of your new manufactured home. You should also receive instructions on who to contact for any problems you may have in the future with your new manufactured home and how to contact them (i.e., in writing, telephone, or e-mail).
The walk through is usually conducted by someone very familiar with the operation of fixtures, appliances, water heaters furnaces etc. However, you, the homebuyer, should take interest and be diligent with the inspection process to make sure that items in need of repair are all accounted for during the walk through inspection process and the systems operation is thoroughly understood. Do not be hesitant in asking questions until you understand completely how everything is supposed to work and all legitimate defects and cosmetic issues are detailed in writing and you retain a copy of the inspection report.
The preprinted inspection report supplied by the manufacturer is usually designed with a checklist of home items in a room-to-room format and usually begins with an inspection of the exterior of the home. When inspecting the home, it is important that you tour the complete perimeter of the home and pay close attention to how the sections are joined at both ends as well as at the area where roof lines are adjoined. Make certain that the inspector notes everything on the inspection report (punch list) that is not correct — regardless of whether or not the problem is a responsibility of the factory, the dealer/retailer, or the installer.
During the walk through, it is very important that you carefully examine your home for any cosmetic problems and have them noted on the list of items needing attention. Cosmetic damage to walls, doors, cabinets and floors can occur during move-in, so it is important to identify any problems that exist prior to your move. After your move, cosmetic damage will be the responsibility of the homeowner.
Upon completion of the walkthrough inspection, the estimated time frame should be given to you for the retailer or factory to make any repairs noted on the inspection report. Depending on the availability of parts to make these repairs, the timeframe could be between a week to 6 weeks. The exception, defects, or problems related to health and safety should be accomplished within 24 hours.
Some manufacturers require a re-inspection 60 or 90 days following the walk through inspection. In the meantime, it is a good idea to keep a list of any problems discovered following walk through that were inadvertently overlooked initially or may have developed after occupancy.
Your home has a red HUD label on the outside of the home (usually left rear), and a HUD data plate on the inside of the home, usually in the area of the electrical panel or closet. These contain important information that you will want to keep with the manufactured home and not remove.
