
A manufactured home inspection is a must for anyone who is buying or selling a home. Home buyers are likely to benefit the most from inspections, but sellers can also gain valuable information.
It can be a long and tedious process to buy a mobile house, especially when you do it privately.
You’ll need to hire an inspector for the mobile home after you have confirmed that the seller holds the correct title and there aren’t any liens or holds on it.
This article will cover the basic aspects of a manufactured-home inspection. You will learn why you need an inspection, what to expect from it, how to hire a qualified manufactured home inspector, and what to expect to pay.
Why Do I Need An Inspection?
You should get an inspection done on each home that you plan to purchase to protect your investment and yourself.
Manufactured houses are built differently from a home that is site-built. These differences may create issues that the average homeowner would not be aware of. In some manufactured homes, the floor may extend beyond the I-beams. The walls can separate from the roof if the I-beams are not equipped with steel outriggers to support the extra weight. Crowning is the term for this separation, which is difficult to fix. This is not something you would want in a house.
This pier failure is one of the issues that an inspector might find under the house.
A manufactured home is not safe if the piers have fallen. It is important to fix them as soon as you can.
Protect all parties with home inspections.
When you buy a house, an inspection can save you thousands of dollars. Hiring an inspector will not only save you money but also time and hassle in the future. Inspectors use tools like moisture readers to provide information that is not visible to the naked eye. Together with the knowledge of a licensed home inspector, these tools are invaluable for a buyer.
Hiring an inspector to inspect your home before putting it on the market will help you identify and fix any problems. These repairs can be done before the buyer comes into play, which will help you sell your home more quickly and at a higher value.
An inspection of a manufactured home would reveal that the insulation and belly wrap was ripped. A healthy manufactured home is dependent on belly wraps.
Banks, estate agents, and insurance companies are also protected by inspections. In some cases, a bank will require an inspection before they provide a loan. In some states, all home sales must be accompanied by an inspection of the property and an appraisal before the sale can be completed.
A home inspection is a must for anyone who wants to buy or sell a manufactured or mobile home.
Roof rafters of an older mobile home.
What Is A Mobile Home Inspection?
The manufactured home inspection in florida includes a thorough inspection from the roof down. Roofs, electrical, heating, cooling, and plumbing are all thoroughly examined.
A licensed and competent inspector of manufactured homes is familiar with the issues unique to factory-built houses. They can identify current and future problems that could be dangerous, reduce the value of the house, or be expensive to fix.
A manufactured home inspector posted a list in the InterNACHI forum of the 10 most important things to look for during a manufactured-home inspection.
- Proper marriage line alignment
- Overextended jack heads
- Wood pads with cracks
- Water damage can be caused by squeaking, warped, or bowing flooring
- Toilets with a bad wax ring, loose flanges, or a wobble
- The belly wrap has a moisture barrier and is healthy.
- Water heaters and furnaces can cause damage.
- Pier Spacing
- Outrigger healthy with no visible sagging
- Ceiling panels that sag (caused by 1’x2″ or 2’x2″ rafters broken)
Examples Of Manufactured Homes Inspection Reports
You will receive a detailed report with pictures and information about any issues that were found by the inspector. It allows you to make a better-informed decision.
An inspector’s report should be comprehensive. You can expect several pages of information and many photos. Some inspectors may also provide videos taken with drones of your roof.
Where To Find A Licensed Manufactured Home Inspector
You will now need to hire a home inspector, as you know how important it is to have a manufactured-home inspection.
In 39 states, the home inspection industry has been regulated. Home inspectors are not regulated in the other 11 states. In some states, anyone can call themselves a home inspection.
State Requirements For Home Inspectors
You will need to know the home inspection rules in your state to protect yourself against fake inspectors. Two resources can help you to determine if the state that you live in regulates this industry.
If your state does not regulate home inspections, then you should stick to inspectors who are members of professional associations such as the American Society of Home Inspectors or the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors.
ASHI stands for the American Society of Home Inspectors. They claim to be America’s largest non-profit professional organization for independent home inspections.
InterNACHI
InterNACHI is the largest professional association for home and commercial property inspections in the world. InterNACHI inspectors must complete dozens of inspection-related training courses and pass hundreds of quizzes and tests as part of the membership requirements.
It is important to hire an inspector who has experience, is licensed, and knows what they are doing. Even though passing an exam is important to have experience working with manufactured homes, it is more important that you actually do so. Inspectors must also respect manufactured homes.
A little respect is never a bad thing.
Inspectors must also respect manufactured homes. Many inspectors, like many real estate agents, make fun of manufactured home and their residents. The inspector’s forum shows the problem. Avoid these inspectors. They don’t deserve to be in business if they are disrespectful of people or their homes.
How Much Does A Manufactured Home Inspection Cost?
In the US, the average cost for a home inspector is about $300. Homeadvisor.com gives an average price range of $267 to $371.
The majority of inspection sites that I visited based their rates on the size and type of home. The flat rate is for homes up to a certain size, and they charge more for larger houses. There may be a fuel and service area surcharge.
Most inspectors will charge extra fees if the inspector has to travel outside of their service area or crawl under a home to inspect it. This can take more time. Barns and buildings on the property are usually charged extra.
Summary
You can save thousands of dollars by having a home inspection done. A manufactured home inspector will look for issues such as roof leaks or pier damage. They may also check for moisture and condensation. The bottom line, a manufactured home is worth the money and time.
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