Why Do Trailer Parks Have A Bad Reputation? The TRUTH!
Trailer parks provide an affordable way of living. But why do trailer parks have a bad reputation?
What’s wrong with living in a trailer park?
Trailer parks have a bad reputation because of two main reasons. First, they are considered a dwelling for poor people or people from a lower-class background. Second, most people assume they are neglected or dirty, meaning the living conditions are deplorable.
Living in a trailer park is much cheaper compared to renting an apartment. Therefore, they provide an affordable means of living for low-income earners or someone looking to save money on rent.
For instance, it will cost you around $800 per month to live in a trailer park in California. If you were to rent an apartment in the city, you could expect to be paying around $2000 per month.
However, as much as trailer parks provide affordable housing, they also have quite a bad reputation.
And most people frown upon the idea of living in a trailer park. Due to this bad reputation, some people would never agree to live in a trailer park, even if someone else was to cover all their expenses.
So, why do trailer parks have a bad reputation? Why does living in a trailer park come with such a stigma? Why are there so many negative connotations associated with living in a trailer park? I’ve been doing some research and I will shed more light on this issue here.
About Trailer Parks
A trailer park is simply an area where people can rent a lot or space to park travel trailers or set up mobile homes and live in them.
Usually, the park will provide the residents will the necessary utilities and services.
Some trailer parks will charge you a flat rental fee, which will also cover your utilities. Others will charge you a separate fee for these utilities, which you will be paying on top of your lot rental fee.
However, they’ve developed a bad reputation based on unfair stereotypes about “trailer trash” and those who live in a manufactured home park.
Pros of Living in a Trailer Park
Save Money
Saving money is, without a doubt, the main benefit of living in a trailer park. As mentioned earlier, living in a trailer park is much cheaper compared to renting a similar-sized apartment in the city. Therefore, if you are struggling financially, then a trailer park provides an affordable means of living.
As much as you will have to pay for things like renting space and utilities, your monthly expenses when living in a trailer park will be much lower compared to living in a rented apartment.
So, if you are looking to save money on your living expenses or you simply can’t afford to rent an apartment in the city, then living in a trailer park provides a cost-effective and convenient option.
Age Restrictions
Some trailer parks have age restrictions. For example, a particular trailer park may have an age restriction of 55 years and above.
So, any person below the age of 55 won’t be allowed into the park. And as you may have probably realized, you will feel happier and safer when you are living in a like-minded community.
Furthermore, you will enjoy plenty of peace when you are living in such a community, which is usually not the case when it comes to mixed-age communities or neighborhoods.
Pets are Allowed
Finding an apartment that allows pets is not easy. For instance, some landlords argue that pets can scratch carpets or chew on furniture.
Other landlords claim that pets will be a nuisance to other tenants, while others restrict pets due to liability issues.
But with trailer parks, you won’t experience such issues. Most trailer parks are pet-friendly. Therefore, if you are a pet lover, then you won’t have any issues living with your furry friend in a trailer park.
Low Maintenance
When you are living in a traditional home, you will have to attend to various maintenance tasks such as mowing the yard, removing trash from the yard, trimming the hedge and cleaning the driveway, just to name a few.
And these tasks can be quite laborious and time-consuming. If you decide not to attend them yourself, you will have to pay someone else to do them. In short, you will have to either spend your time or spend your money to take care of your yard.
But when you are living in a trailer park, the maintenance tasks are minimal. In most cases, the rent that you pay will also cover yard maintenance. Therefore, you won’t waste your valuable time or money taking care of the yard.
In a situation where yard maintenance isn’t covered by the rent, doing the work yourself isn’t laborious or time-consuming. Usually, you will have a smaller yard whose maintenance needs are minimal.
At the same time, you will have the freedom to undertake upgrades to your mobile home as much as you want. For instance, you have the freedom to remodel your home however or whenever you want.
Simply put, when you are living in a trailer park, you will enjoy most of the benefits that come with homeownership. At the same time, you won’t attend to the maintenance tasks that come with traditional homeownership.
Location Flexibility
A trailer park also offers a flexible way of living. For instance, you may at some point feel like you no longer want to live in a particular location.
And when you are living in a trailer park, you can simply sell the home and purchase a new one whenever you want. But when you are living in a traditional home, you may not have the privilege of changing your location whenever you want.
Cons of Living in a Trailer Park
Value Depreciation
One of the main drawbacks of living in a trailer park is that your mobile home will depreciate. So, if you decide to sell the mobile home, you can only sell it at a much lower cost compared to the amount you spent buying it. A traditional home, on the other hand, tends to appreciate value with time.
Prone to Natural Disasters
Most mobile homes have temporary foundations. So, if a natural disaster like a hurricane, a severe storm, or an earthquake were to strike where you’ve placed your mobile home, there’s a high chance that it will be destroyed.
And if you don’t have mobile home park insurance, you will find it extremely challenging when it comes to rebuilding your home.
Why Trailer Parks Have a Bad Reputation
Without a doubt, living in a trailer park comes with more benefits than drawbacks. But this notwithstanding, living in a trailer park is something that’s frowned upon by most people. So, why do trailer parks have a bad reputation? Well, there are a couple of reasons why.
- People are considered poor
- Their construction is considered inferior to a traditional home
- They decline and lose value as they age
Key Takeaways
- The benefits of living in a trailer park outweigh the drawbacks by far
- Trailer parks have a bad reputation
- Trailer parks have a bad reputation because they are considered dwellings for low-income earners
