In general, turning off everything when the house is not attended to for a long period of time seems a good idea, but this situation is an exception. We will discuss leaving your mobile home in Sarasota, Florida, during the summer months while also listing it for sale.
Many mobile home Sellers throughout the greater Sarasota, Florida, area are looking to sell their properties when they are not physically living in them.
This comes as no surprise as, often, a seasonal resident will enjoy their mobile home during the winter months only to go back up North to decide that they do not want to keep their Sarasota, Florida home throughout the summer and look to sell the property.
Some of these Sellers will look to turn off all the power to the home when they are not using it to save money on their carrying costs while the home is for sale.
While one can certainly appreciate the frugality that this action promotes, we are here today to explain the top three reasons why turning off the electricity in your Sarasota, Florida, mobile home when you are looking to sell your property is a bad idea.
#1 Mold
South Florida summers are hot and humid with a constant rain storm most days in the afternoon. Water mixed with humidity can create moisture issues and, if not treated correctly, can lead to mold. If a Seller keeps their home’s electricity off, they cannot circulate the air properly in their mobile home. If there are any issues with leaks in their mobile home, through the roof, windows, or doorways, this may lead to a severe mold issue without the Seller even knowing it.
2. Buyers Can’t Check Home Out
Part of buying any item is being able to test it out to make sure it meets your expectations. Whether this is a new pair of sneakers, a car, or a mobile home, we all like to try things out before making a purchase. Having your electricity turned off will not allow the Buyer to test the home out to make sure all of the items that run off of electricity work, thus leaving a wait-and-see feeling for the potential Buyer.
3. Floor Damage
Mobile home subflooring structures are wood-based. As we all know, wood is a natural product that can warp and rot if left unattended. We have seen several times where the home has gotten so hot on the inside without any electricity or air flow that it has warped the floors, requiring the home’s floors to warp. This may cost several thousand dollars to replace, at a minimum.
In addition to the three most important reasons above, another often overlooked reason is burglars and squatters.
Mobile homes are not the most secure buildings by design. They are built from light and penetrable materials. The windows are easy to break, allowing burglars to get inside with a little effort. Turning off the lights for a long period of time is a sign that your house is unattended. This could attract not only burglars but also illegal squatters who are looking for someplace during the hot summer season.
There were lots of incidents where people broke into someone else’s house and when they couldn’t find anything precious, they vandalized and broke everything inside. This can lead to severe damage that could result in massive repair costs.
Aside from keeping your mobile home lights on, it is always suggested that you have a good neighbor look into your house when you are away. In this case, you can have at least a little peace of mind.
While selling your Sarasota, Florida mobile, it is always important to keep your power on throughout the process, whether you are physically living in the home or not. While turning the home’s power off save you a few dollars the risk of either not selling your home or seriously damaging the property simply is not worth it!
Selling a mobile home is trickier than buying it because there are more things to prepare, and it is riskier if you are away during the selling time.
Lastly, it is always better to ask for the professional service of a licensed mobile home dealer to deal with the selling, and who could at least visit your house at any given time while you are away.
Turning your mobile home’s power off when the home is unoccupied is bad for several reasons. One reason is that it can cause your pipes to freeze and burst. This can lead to expensive repairs and may even require you to vacate your home until the repairs are made.
Another reason is that it can be difficult to restart your power if it has been off for an extended period of time. This can result in long delays, inconvenience, and additional costs associated with getting your power turned back on.
Additionally, turning your power off may also void any warranties or guarantees you have on appliances or other equipment in your home.
Finally, if you have a security system, it will likely not work properly if the power is off, leaving your home vulnerable to break-ins. All of these factors should be considered before deciding to turn your mobile home power off when it is unoccupied
We have other articles and videos that are useful for everyone who wants to sell or buy their mobile homes here on our website. The more knowledge we have about dealing with mobile homes, the fewer problems we may encounter. If you have questions and need assistance, you can always contact us through this website, or visit our Facebook Page.
This is Mark Kaiser with The Mobile Home Dealer and we help mobile home Buyers and Sellers get to a better place in life.
See Also:
- Mobile Home Park Lot Rent Vs. HOA Explained!
- Know These 3 Steps Before Selling Your Mobile Home!
- Should You Sell Your Mobile Home In The Summer?
- What You NEED To Do To Protect Your Sarasota Florida Mobile Home In The Summer!
- Can You Buy A Mobile Home With Bad Credit?