Can a Mobile Home Be Too Old to Move?
Modern mobile homes are so advanced in terms of structure, amenities, and quality. The age of your mobile home will determine how advanced it is and the amenities it lacks or has. But can your home be too old to move?
Can a Mobile Home Be Too Old to Move?
Yes, a mobile home can be too old to move. There are structural and legal hurdles to moving an old home, and there is also the challenge of finding a park that will accept an older home.
One of the challenges with these older mobile homes is that they may be too old until they are not mobile anymore. However, it might still be possible to move an older home. Read on to learn more about these homes.
What Makes It Challenging to Move an Old Mobile Home?
1. The main reason why an older mobile home may not be moved is structural. Some of these homes have rotting floors, leaking roofs, and several other challenges that make them immobile. It is not uncommon to find an older mobile home with holes in its floor and the occupants have to jump over them to get to a different room.
Some of the mobile homes are so old that there is no way to move them without them falling apart. Due to this problem, some movers have restrictions on the age of a mobile home they can move. Some can only move mobile homes that are less than 20 years old, while others can move any home as long as it is structurally in good shape.
2. The other challenge in moving an older mobile home is legal. You may find it challenging to move a manufactured home built before 1976 on the highway in some states. In some instances, an older home will need to be lifted on a flatbed truck which some mobile home owners find to be too expensive.
The rules can change or be waived when the mobile home park closes and all mobile homes have to move within a short time. In such a case, you only need to get a mover who will be okay with moving an older home.
3. The third problem with moving an older mobile home is finding a place to move it. In some states, such as Washington, a mobile home park cannot bar your mobile home just because it is too old. However, these parks set other restrictions that see older homes being locked out.
The parks might require the home to upgrade things like electricity, heating, water systems, AC, and several other components. For some mobile home owners, it is cheaper to buy a new mobile home compared to upgrading the older home.
How Do You Prepare Your Mobile Home to Move?
Regardless of the age of your mobile home, it needs to pass an inspection in the current location and pass another at the new location. As such, you need to ensure that the home is ready to pass the inspection by doing the necessary upgrades.
The first step should be to check the restrictions of the park where you need to move your old mobile home. Perform the necessary upgrades and modifications in electric connectivity, AC, floor, and several other parts.
Most parks around the country want a mobile home that is actually mobile. This means that the home is not in a state to break down when it starts to move. If your home is in a bad shape, consider the cost of repairs and moving compared to the cost of buying a new home.
If your mobile home is in a good state to pass an inspection, get it ready to move. Follow the steps below:
• Attach the Wheels – Cut the attachments that hold your mobile home to the ground and attach axles then the wheels and the transport tongue. This should be done by professionals.
• Prepare the Exterior – Remove anything on the home’s exterior that is prone to wind and screw the doors shut. If there is a loose siding, you need to fasten it.
• Prepare the Interior – You need to ensure that all the components in a home’s interior that can be shaken loose are either removed or fixed firmly. The closet, light fixtures, cabinet doors, toilet tank tops, and so many other components need to be secured tightly.
Ensure that the moving company you choose offers insurance. This protects your home during the move so that you never have to incur costs for damages that are not your fault. If there is any permit needed to move an older home in your state, the mover will advise you before the move.
To Move or Sell and Rebuy an Older Home?
The main hindrance to moving an older home is cost. If you calculate the cost of repairing the home, the cost of moving, and the cost of insurance among others, you may find that buying a new mobile home is more cost-effective.
There are many factors that determine the cost of moving a home. In most cases, you will pay for:
• Mover fees
• Permits and necessary paperwork
• Fines associated with leaving the current park
• Building permits
• Gas
• Tires and axles
• Insurance
• Bridge, ferry, and toll costs
• Repairs and replacements to make the manufactured home ready
• Utility deposits
• Labor costs for disassembling and re-assembling the home
• Safety cars
• Renting any extra wheels or axles that may be needed
The final cost will depend on the distance you need to move, the weight of the mobile home, and the cost of labor. If your mobile home is too old and needs several repairs and replacement of parts, the cost may be too high to make the move a good idea.
If you sell your old home, you never have to pay moving costs at all or perform any repairs. Moving costs can be $15,000 or more when you factor in repairs. If you have to move more than 100 miles from your current location, the cost will go even higher.
The cost of a new home ranges between $37,000 and $74,000. It is also likely that your old and worn-out home will not fetch much if you decide to sell it. Even worse, it may not serve you well when you move it and will instead require costly repairs.
How Do You Move an Old Mobile Home After a Community Closes?
If a community closes, and you have to move, you will receive a notice at least twelve months in advance. Before the twelve months lapse, you will not be evicted from the home.
In such instances, you have the time to decide what to do with the old home and whether it is cost-effective to move it. If there is another mobile community near your current location, moving your old home will be a good idea. You can do simple repairs to ensure the home does not break down during the move and then move it only a few miles.
The advantage of moving the home after the closure of a community is that you will not be required to meet any building codes set by the county or state. Even better, most states will offer relocation assistance from the state.
The state might reimburse the moving costs to low-income homeowners and seniors. This makes the move worth it even when you have an old mobile home.
Closing Thoughts
When searching for a mover for your mobile home, most will ask to come and inspect the home before they decide whether or not to move it. Some structural damages to the homes might hinder transportation.
A good mover will suggest ways to fix the issues with an old mobile home as long as the local laws allow, you can move the home after the issues are fixed.
