You found the mobile home you have been looking to buy for quite some time that is located in the greater Sarasota Florida area!
But, before you pack your bags and begin to head towards the beautiful Sarasota Florida area you first need to close on the new home that you are buying.
In order to do that you may want to hire a trained professional who can complete a thorough inspection of your mobile home so that you know exactly what type of condition the home is in prior to making your final purchase.
There are several licensed mobile home inspection companies throughout the Sarasota Florida area that we, here at The Mobile Home Dealer, work with on a regular basis. All of these companies do a fine job of taking a detailed look at the entire home to see exactly what is going on with the property prior to the new owner moving forward and buying the mobile home.
Generally speaking, a mobile home inspection may cost several hundred dollars to complete and the cost will need to be paid by the Buyer of the mobile home.
What the Buyer of the mobile home needs to understand before they spend their money on an inspection is that every mobile home we, at The Mobile Home Dealer, sell our homes in “As Is” condition.
What as is condition means is that, essentially the Buyer is buying what they are seeing and nothing more. There are no warranties that are expressed or implied by us as licensed mobile home brokers nor from the actual Seller of the mobile home.
If a Buyer is looking to get a home inspection to get a better idea of what exactly is going on with the mobile home they are buying then we certainly suggest this if this will help put the Buyers mind at ease. Many times, Buyers will do this if they are buying a mobile home without ever stepping foot into the property.
Here, the Buyer will gain quite a bit of knowledge on the property and its central operating components such as the roof, flooring system, hot water heater, plumbing, and electrical setup. Having this information handy prior to making a purchase is always a wise decision so that the new homeowner can have a much more clear way of understanding what potential repairs may be needed in the future.
What a home inspection on a mobile home should not be used for is to try and use it as a negotiation tool with the Seller.
The reason for this is that generally speaking, the price of the home has already been agreed upon in writing by the Buyer and the Seller prior to the home inspector coming on-site to complete the inspection. Nowhere in the purchase agreement that we, at The Mobile Home Dealer, use states that the property price is contingent on the inspection report. The reason for this is that both the Buyer and the Seller are agreeing that the home is being sold for and purchased in as-is condition.
If you are really interested in a specific mobile home but are doubting the condition of the house, instead of paying for a costly inspector, ask the seller if they can give you details of the following basic but important concerns.
Random fresh paint
Before putting their home on the market, many mobile homeowners apply fresh coats of paint to the walls and ceiling. It’s easy to win by organizing the property and potentially increasing home value, and any buyer can appreciate a brighter, fresher space.
That said, beware of random patches of new paint or a single wall or ceiling sporting a fresh coat. These uneven paint jobs could hide anything from mold to cracks to water damage. It is important to address these concerns with the seller and your mobile home broker before signing any paperwork. If you see random fresh paint, make sure to ask for details from the seller.
Unexpected odors
Does the house smell like a big ashtray? Does it smell like a field of daisies? Both scents could be a red flag. While it’s obvious that a bad odor is a sign of an underlying problem, a pleasant smell can also point to a potential problem.
If you find candles and wall fixtures in every room, the homeowner may be trying to hide an underlying stench. Follow your intuition, and if you feel that something smells a little fishy, or unnatural, consult the owner or your mobile home broker.
Improperly installed ceilings
Roofing is a long-term investment with a significant impact on your mobile home. If a previous homeowner skimped or relied on an unreliable contractor, it could spell bad news for you. Extreme weather or just old age could make problems worse, leading to water damage and poor climate control.
It is important to pay attention to the exterior of a house. Problems like exposed nails are common red flags to watch out for.
Inadequate drainage
This red flag is not always easily detected. If it hasn’t rained recently, it can be difficult to tell if the water is collecting on your roof or on your lawn. Fortunately, even without rain, there are ways to tell if your home has a poor drainage system.
If you are looking at purchasing a mobile home and would like a professional home inspection done on your mobile home before sending in your final payment to purchase the home we feel this is a great idea and one that should certainly be used more often than what we currently see in the field at this time.
However, if you are looking at taking this home inspection and using it as a bargaining tool with the Seller then we would suggest not doing this as the home price is already agreed upon and the Buyer is buying the home from the Seller in as-is condition.
This is Mark Kaiser with The Mobile Home Dealer and we help mobile home Buyers and Sellers get to a better place in life.