Whether you are a young family seeking a home or an older couple planning to retire, moving into a mobile home is an economical and convenient approach to living a simpler lifestyle.
According to BBC News, an estimated 20 million Americans live in mobile homes as of 2013. Housing trends support that this number is only continuing to go up.
Read our blog below for 4 professional moving tips for moving into a mobile home.
The topics covered include:
- Choosing a Mobile Home
- Purchasing a Mobile Home
- Renting/Purchasing Land or Community Living
- Anticipating to Downsize
Choosing a Mobile Home
Mobile homes come in various sizes and builds, so it’s important to address your lifestyle needs before purchasing one.
Traditional trailers and RVs are commonly found in campgrounds that often provide a range of free amenities including pool access, recreational activities, and more. You also won’t have to worry about forgetting to pack for something when planning a road trip.
Tiny houses are popular among trendsetters and the environmentally conscious. Even the HGTV network has created shows such as Tiny House, Big Living and Tiny Luxury to cater to this demographic.
Living in a floating home or houseboat is great for those who want a peaceful view, more natural light, proximity to wildlife, and fewer responsibilities and expenses compared to owning a traditional home.
Purchasing a Mobile Home
Depending on where you choose to live, the home might be the cheapest part of the entire venture.
New manufactured homes typically sell for under $100k. In the negotiation process, be sure to consider the cost of moving and setting up your new home. While these costs may not be unreasonably high, you may be able to lower the sticker price by counteroffering.
Not sure where to start your search? We recommend visiting MHVillage for buying, selling or renting a mobile home.
Renting/Purchasing Land or Community Living
When you make the decision to purchase a mobile home, you have a few options to pick from:
• Purchase land
• Rent land
• Join a mobile home community
Renting or purchasing land for a mobile home is less competitive and expensive than traditional real estate. If you purchase land, you have greater control over who can become a tenant. You can also create a positive cash flow through appreciation when renting out homes.
Keep in mind that if you rent or purchase land that you might encounter extra fees in the form of sewage and other utility hook-ups. You may also find your rent going up every year if living on leased land.
Mobile home communities will offer collegiality with your fellow members. Your community may also provide amenities that traditional homes don’t typically offer.
Anticipating to Downsize
If you are currently living in a space that is larger than a mobile home, you will surely need to downsize your belongings.
Manufactured homes don’t come with a basement or attic, so you will have to either toss out unwanted items or place them into a storage facility.
On the other hand, if you have the extra space on your own land, you could build or install an outbuilding for storage.
Move into Your New Mobile Home with Priority Moving Services
Moving into a manufactured or mobile home marks the start of an exciting new chapter in your life.
That is why we recommend contacting Priority Moving Services to guarantee a safe, cost-effective, and efficient move. Being among the highest-rated moving companies in the Northwest, we were named as Expertise’s top 20 Portland movers in 2016.
Contact us today for a free quote for all of your residential and long-distance moving needs.