13 Most Common Problems In Moving Older Mobile Homes

Older mobile homes can still be a great investment. However, they also carry inevitable risks when it comes to mobile home moving. If you’re in Colorado, then you’ll find good opportunities in buying older mobile homes. Some communities don’t want them anymore, so if you have land or a community that will take them, then there could be a cheap opportunity to take advandate of.

 

That said, if you are gearing towards moving an older manufactured home, you should know the risks first.  With our business model, we try to stay away from moving older homes for the following reasons. However, before you purchase an older home and decide to move it, you’ll want to speak with a local moving professional and make any decisions off of their recommendations. To make your initial due-dilligence easier, we’ve put together a list for you:

 

 13 of the Most Common Problems In Moving Older Mobile Homes

 

• Foundation

 

The first challenge when moving an older mobile lies in its foundation. Mobile home foundations are either permanent or non-permanent. Manufactured homes with a permanent foundation require the removal of the wheels and are usually built with one of these:

 

• Basement
• Concrete pits
• Pier and beam
• Crawl space

 

That simply means that it cannot be moved to a new location. People who opt to have their manufactured home have a permanent foundation often do so to broaden their financing options.  

 

On the other hand, a mobile home sitting on a non-permanent foundation means that it can be detached and moved when necessary. The manufactured home with a non-permanent foundation can be placed in a new location by simply reaffixing the axles, hinges, and wheels.

 

Older mobile homes tend to have a more fragile foundation whether permanent or non-permanent. Its foundation problems could be the most difficult and costly challenge when moving a mobile home.

 

• Skirting

 

Another common problem most mobile home transport companies experience when moving a manufactured home is having to deal with damaged skirting. Problems with the mobile home skirting can cause or add to the foundation issues.

 

The mobile home skirting is designed to help stabilize the home. It is attached to the bottom of the mobile home and plays a crucial role especially during winter, heavy rain, or windy days. And because it is often made with vinyl, wood panel, metal, and faux stone materials, they can easily get damaged and further destroy the foundation.

 

• Insulation

 

The flooring is one of the most overlooked parts of a mobile home. Some older mobile homes have subfloors that are made with low-grade plywood or MDF boards. 

 

When it comes to insulation, mobile homes typically have underbelly insulation which is often made from spray and injection foam. For older manufactured homes, the floor and underbelly insulation could become a costly problem. 

 

It is not safe to relocate any mobile home with a falling floor and underbelly insulation. You will have to put things back together before a mobile home moving company can transport them.

 

• Wiring

 

Another massive problem when moving an older mobile home is its wiring system. Previous owners could have added electrical outlets or lighting fixtures that were only tapped from the original panel.

 

Utilities such as electricity need to be disconnected before moving and reconnected again at the new location. Any irregularities with the electrical box could create problems when reconnecting the wires. With that said, try to find a Colorado mobile home moving company that can handle this aspect.

 

In most cases, moving companies only go as far as transporting a mobile home. But there are professional mobile home movers who are willing to go as far as taking care of disconnecting and reconnecting utility lines.

 

• Plumbing

 

Much like the wiring system, mobile home plumbing is a critical part of any manufactured home. Many older mobile homes use pipes that are notorious for bursting which is yet another problem you must deal with before moving the property. Depending on the quality of the water lines, you might have to spend hundreds of dollars for repair and maintenance.

 

• Ceilings

 

You might have seen manufactured homes with gypsum ceiling panels instead of the standard drywall. That is especially problematic since it can easily absorb leaks from the roof and deteriorate the whole ceiling. Plus, the material used, though easy to install, can easily sag as well. Damaged ceiling panels are also hard to replace. Most hardware stores don’t have an identicle matche in stock. Depending on the size of the damage, one easy work around would be to fix the damaged ceiling area with tile or drywall patching and then use decorative ceiling tiles that go over the repaird area and throughout the home. 

 

• Leaks

 

Water leakage is probably one of the most common problems mobile homeowners face. Older manufactured homes are especially prone to leaks around the sinks, showers, and toilers. The plumbing leaks underneath the floor could also potentially damage the mobile home and make it even harder to transport.

 

• HVAC

 

Although it is not that difficult to sort out any problems with the HVAC system, any features added to the mobile home to accommodate the HVAC system, such as wall holes, must be repaired before the move.

 

• Vents and Drains

 

Like any other house, manufactured homes are required to have proper mobile home vents and drains. When unmaintained, these two can spark problems to the foundation and ceiling of the mobile home. 

 

• Built-in Features

 

It is very common for homeowners to DIY their homes, whether that be adding a porch, extending the kitchen, or adding partition walls. These DIY built-in features can actually damage the roof and floors. 

 

• Doors and Windows

 

When the foundation and roof of the mobile home deteriorates, its doors and windows could misalign. As a result, the doors and windows are not going to latch properly.

 

Misaligned doors and windows are a common problem for older manufactured homes. Therefore, moving a mobile home is going to be complicated and might even further damage the property.

 

• Roof

 

A damaged or leaking roof not only reduces the value of the property, but it could also get in the way of transporting a mobile home. There is no way that you can get the essential permits for mobile homes moving with significant roof problems that might cause bigger issues during the relocation process.

 

• Permit

 

You need to apply and get approved for permits to transport your mobile home to a new location. Local regulations need to know that the property that is going to be hauled to a new place is intact, the utility systems are not going to trip and burst, and generally safe to move.

 

Mobile homes are a great investment. But keep in mind that older manufactured homes could have plenty of issues that will make it more of a struggle to relocate. That means you will spend more money doing maintenance issues before moving the property.

 

A good decision to take is to hire a professional Colorado mobile home moving company that has extensive experience in moving older mobile homes. A certified company will help you avoid the typical problems in moving older mobile homes. You are not only going to save on future repair costs, but the transportation experience will be less scary or dramatic because they know exactly how to move a mobile home.