The Right Home at the Right Price
Getting Started:
Before visiting your local mobile home dealership, there are several things to consider that will enhance your shopping experience for the home of your dreams within your budget.
Pre-planning and taking notes is important. Along with strategic shopping, you can take measures and precautions that will result in the purchase of the perfect home.
The following is a list of steps and suggestions recommended for your consideration before and during the purchasing process.
1. Budget and Pre-planning:
Decide how much you are willing to spend. Factor in all expenses, including accessories, site preparation, insurance, taxes, etc. If possible, try to prioritize spending less than the budgeted amount.
Determine number of bedrooms you will require now, address how you want them configured and plan out any potential alterations down the line. Perhaps you would prefer the master bedroom and bath to be separated from the other rooms for privacy. Some manufacturers offer floor plans with two master bedrooms with master baths. Often families with infant children prefer to cluster their bedrooms together for safety’s sake.
Determine the size and style kitchen you want. Perhaps lots of cupboards and/or a walk-in pantry would be beneficial. An island in center of the kitchen for food preparation and/or a snack bar is a popular feature in today’s manufactured home, but does it appeal to you? A patio kitchen, located near the main entry on the door or near the rear exit side of the home is readily available.
Bathroom sizes and locations are important considerations based upon your family’s needs and preferences. The most popular floor plans often feature a large master bath with separate tub and shower. Second or guest bathrooms are usually smaller and utilize a tub/shower combination with a shower door enclosure. Also, dual sinks are a very popular master bath option.
You will need to determine whether you choose a floor plan with a living room and a family room or a den/study, or perhaps a plan featuring a large “great room,” which gives the home a more spacious feel and provides a large gathering area for family members and guests. A formal living room is certainly available but not as popular as it has been in the past.
The appearance of the home’s exterior is another important consideration. Your home’s future appraisal value is dependent on the outward aesthetic that is maintained throughout its life cycle. Perimeter eaves enhance the residential attractiveness of the home as well as weather protection above windows and doorways.
Is there a great view from your home site? If so you might prefer larger windows in the area of home most open to the beauty outside.
Before you begin shopping, it’s a good idea to measure and note the sizes of your furniture items, such as dressers, couches, entertainment centers, etc., in order to determine if wall-space and layout of the new manufactured home will accommodate those items.
2. Shop ‘Til You Drop:
Armed with a clear idea of what you want not only makes the shopping experience easier, but also results in pricing from the retailer that is specific to your specifications.
Locating the right home at the right price requires negotiating and patience, but will be worth the wait and dedication. The satisfactory reward of knowing that you planned and put forth effort resulting in the purchase of your ideal home is second to none.
Before viewing display model homes at a dealership you should request a copy of all floor plans and standard features available from the dealer representing your desired manufacturer. Most manufacturers offer a wide range of floor plans in various sizes and configurations. It is extremely likely that locating a floor plan that closely resembles the one you have visualized is available from your manufacturer.
Manufacturers usually allow purchasers to customize existing floor plans to match their exact requirements. However, the charges to make construction alterations can be quite expensive due to engineering and plan approval costs. It is much preferable to locate an existing approved plan that is closest to matching your requirements and one that needs little or no factory modifications.
The dealer may or may not be displaying a model home of the floor plan you have selected at the display center. If the dealer is displaying your model, touring display homes that are the same make and model of the plan you have selected will give you an idea of the features and equipment that will be available with the factory ordered home that you are considering.
If you see something you really like, ask your salesperson to point out which features in the display home are upgrades that you may want when ordering your new home. Larger refrigerators, dishwashers, and higher grade carpeting are some of the more common upgrades customers choose. Most floor plan literature will list the features that are standard in their homes along with the construction features available for modification.
Before leaving the sales center, be sure to ask for a total price on the home you have selected, including specific features and upgrades, and delivery and installation to your home site.
Try to resist making a deposit or signing a purchase order at this time even if everything appears perfect with the home and the price. Continue to check out other dealers that sell the same modes as well as those that sell comparably competitive homes (this may require leaving your local area to find other homes to view). You will probably discover that sales price for the same home are often different, depending on the dealership.
Always be aware that the quoted sales prices for some manufactured homes are negotiable, so bring your “A” game.
3. Getting the Best Value:
The selling price of a manufactured home is certainly a large component of getting the best value. However, there are other considerations that may be nearly as important as the price you pay for your home.
Purchasing your new home from a dealership that displays an interest in you as a customer and displays a sincere desire and patience to make certain that you are receiving everything you are paying for is “value.” The willingness to be helpful and professional during the purchasing process may be an indication that the after-sale service will be just as professional. Sometimes you will be better served paying a little more for your home from someone with whom you have established a rapport with than from a dealer that you do not have the same level of comfort.
Purchasing a home is one of the most important decisions that you will ever make. Knowing what you want, proper preparation, and insistence on value will result in obtaining the “American Dream” of homeownership. The manufactured home is perfect for the realization of that dream. Be smart, be aware, be thorough and get what you want! Welcome home!
