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The many quality mobile homes California has to offer have several features in common. First, they provide safety unlike those manufactured 40 years ago, thanks to the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974. They also continue to cost tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars less than tract housing or custom builds. Lastly, mobile homes now offer many of the same upgrades as traditional homes. With all that in mind, how could you not consider a manufactured home for your next residence? Take the following list of tips with you when you begin shopping for a mobile home in California.
1. Choose a builder first. The greatest advantage of mobile homes is that the manufacturers do not determine the locations. With tract housing, for example, if you want to purchase a new home in a particular area, you are limited to the builders developing in that area. With manufactured homes, you can choose your builder and location separately. Research mobile home builders online. Consider awards and reviews, then pick the one that scores the highest among both peers and buyers. For example, buyer Cynthia Findley left this review on the AZChampion website: “As a single woman, my Park Model Home is exactly what I need. My family and friends comment on my new home being both well built and attractive.”
2. Research floor plans. Before you visit any manufactured homes in person, look at the builders’ available floor plans on their websites. Each builder offers hundreds of floor plans, complete with photo galleries of each and even video tours. Going through them ahead of time will keep you from becoming overwhelmed at the factory. Pick your ten favorites and start with those during your visit. Also, be sure to consider the mobile home’s exterior and whether or not it will complement the land on which you plan to situate it. In other words, don’t fall in love with a log cabin mobile home if your property lies in the Arizona desert.
3. Take the behind-the-scenes tour. When you visit the factory to see the quality mobile homes California has to offer, you might be tempted to skip the tour of the manufacturing process and head straight to the model homes. Don’t miss this chance to observe how they will build your home and ask questions about its construction. If you ask your tour guide whether or not the rafters are 30-pound rated, s/he will know you are an informed and serious buyer.
4. Opt for upgrades. Once you decide on a floor plan, look at all available upgrades. Remember that you are purchasing a home that costs tens of thousands less and will retain its value better than a traditional house. If you want a particular upgrade, go for it. It won’t seem like a wasted purchase if you decide to sell in a few years. Two upgrade packages currently available for a variety of mobile home floor plans are the “Suite Retreat Bathroom” and the “Ultimate Kitchen.”
The bathroom upgrade package includes an oversized bathtub with optional Jacuzzi jets and a glass-surround shower, allowing you to relax whichever way you prefer. Large his and her vanities feature abundant storage. Plantation shutters cover the windows, while brushed-nickel hardware and a custom framed mirror serve as stylish accents. This relaxing retreat even has a fireplace and a built-in nook for a TV.
In the kitchen upgrade package, you will find a 23-cubic-foot stainless steel side-by-side refrigerator, a 30-inch stainless steel single wall oven, a 30-inch black ceramic cooktop, a 2.1-cubic-foot built-in microwave oven and a stainless steel dishwasher, all made by GE. A 36-inch stainless steel range hood sits above the stove. The sink features a Huntington Brass faucet with sprayer and soap dispenser. The spacious cabinets have decorative glass in the doors, and they include drawers for pots and pans as well as a pull-out trash bin. Finally, a ceramic tile backsplash runs from the counter all the way up to the cabinets.
If you keep these four tips in mind, especially the advice about opting for upgrades, shopping for a mobile home will be easy. Take your time and don’t rush the process. Another advantage manufactured homes have over those traditionally built is that you don’t have to decide right then and there or lose the opportunity to purchase. The builder will gladly construct as many homes as the buyers demand, which takes a lot of pressure out of the purchase process.
About the Author: Phil Austin writes about mobile homes for a variety of trade and homebuyer publications. He regularly visits the home centers of mobile home manufacturers. Recently, he spent time at the Factory Expo Home Center in California and was very impressed by the quality of construction and variety of options available. |
