Modular Homes

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1

Originally Posted By: tshields
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Anyone have any experience inspecting house trailers? Ive got my first one coming up and was looking for some advice. How and what are they constructed of? What to look for etc. I appreciate your help!


Ted

2

Originally Posted By: mbartels
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No offense intended, but you should know these things before accepting the job.

3

Originally Posted By: Guest
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One more thing…there’s a big difference between modular homes and house trailers.

4

Originally Posted By: mbartels
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My thoughts exactly icon_lol.gif

5

Originally Posted By: tshields
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Gee thanks for your help, youve both gone out of your way to be helpful. I just hope I can return the favor someday. Chad for someone who is admittedly new to the business I would think you would want to know, obviously you seem to know already.


BTW there is little construction differences in the two except for rigidity of cross frame.

6

Originally Posted By: Guest
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Ted,


I was in a hurry when I posted today and it seemed abrupt.
There's a huge difference between trailers and modulars. Modulars are essentially factory built homes, using traditional materials and delivered in chunks to the site where the chunks are then assembled on a real foundation. They are not "double wides."
I own some rentals that are modular. They're very well built homes that should last a hundred years.

Now, double wides and house trailers,...they're similar.

7

Originally Posted By: dedwards
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Ted,


If you go to Google, type in “inspecting mobile homes” you should get all kinds of places to start. I do modular home, mobile homes or whatever the realtors are calling them today. There are too many subtle differences to list in any kind of thread. It would be too easy to omit something so the best advice I can offer is do your homework very carefully and take your time. Do not let anyone rush you if you aren’t alone. Remember that modular homes often have to stuff thing into closets, corners and behind panels and sometimes requires a special screwdriver bit that you only find on mobile homes. You may want to visit a mobile home parts house and ask questions if you have one in your area. Tie downs, support columns, skirting and alot of other things you won’t find on a typical home. Hope this helps some. First and foremost, if you don’t know something say so…it is better to be frank and candid than to try and tap dance around something. Oh yeah, I often find only one set of steps / stairs while one exit door is about 4 feet off the ground with no steps. Write it up and take lots of pictures…

8

Originally Posted By: tshields
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Thanks for your help, not too many calls for either where I live. Too hilly here in Kentucky!


Thanks Ted

9

Originally Posted By: rcloyd
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Ted:


Their are very big differences in modular and mobile homes. First off the terminology has evolved from mobile to manufactured housing.

Simply put, a modular home's sub-assemblies (halves) are constructed in a factory and inspected during assembly to a uniform code such as IRC etc. The halves are then delivered to a job site that already has a code compliant foundation waiting to receive the dwelling. The halves are mated together and this process should be inspected by the local building official to insure the approved plans are followed.

A manufactured (mobile) home is constructed in a factory to comply with HUD standards and leaves the factory with an attached label to indicate the same. No national uniform code is involved in the construction of these type structures. The sections of these homes are delivered to the job site and usually set up on footing pads or slabs. If these units are not placed on a permanent foundation i.e. footings below the local frostline
they tend to depreciate in value rather quickly not unlike an automobile.
However, if they are constucted on a permanent foundation like a site built or modular home their value can appreciate over time.

You will find that inspecting a modular home is very much like inspecting
a site or stick built home. A manufactured home is quite different and you will need to be familar with the HUD guidelines in order to perform an effective inspection.

Hope this helps,

P.S. Manufactured housing is 40% of the new housing market here in the Commonwealth of Kentucky

--
Russell G. Cloyd
Intra-Spec Home Inspections
& Code Consulting, LLC
859-586-4591
www.intra-spechomeinspections.com

10

Originally Posted By: tshields
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TY Russell for your help. You see a lot in your part of the state? Its flatter there than here!


Ted

11

Originally Posted By: Dennis DiVito
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I have inspected many mobile homes and have found three interesting items unique to this type of construction.


The steel frame under the home is the structural frame and is supported by piers, usually made with concrete block that is not mortared and rests on poured footings. The house is held down by tie-down straps. The perimeter "foundation" is cosmetic and only encloses the underfloor area.

The underside is covered with a plastic membrane and all penetrations should be sealed with the recommended sealant or tape. HUD regulates the manufacture and installation process and this is their requirement.

All outside additions, ie. decks, should be freestanding and not fastened to the mobile home.

You will not get to inspect many of the plumbing and electrical systems in the underfloor area due to the plastic wrap. Some mobile homes have cathedral homes and so you will not inspect any attic area. Also the electrical main disconnest will be an exterior panel so the interior panel should be inspected as a subpanel.

12

Originally Posted By: Dennis DiVito
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I have inspected many mobile homes and have found three interesting items unique to this type of construction.


The steel frame under the home is the structural frame and is supported by piers, usually made with concrete block that is not mortared and rests on poured footings. The house is held down by tie-down straps. The perimeter "foundation" is cosmetic and only encloses the underfloor area.

The underside is covered with a plastic membrane and all penetrations should be sealed with the recommended sealant or tape. HUD regulates the manufacture and installation process and this is their requirement.

All outside additions, ie. decks, should be freestanding and not fastened to the mobile home.

You will not get to inspect many of the plumbing and electrical systems in the underfloor area due to the plastic wrap. Some mobile homes have cathedral homes and so you will not inspect any attic area. Also the electrical main disconnest will be an exterior panel so the interior panel should be inspected as a subpanel.[color=black][/color]

13

Originally Posted By: tallen
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Welcome to the show Dennis. icon_biggrin.gif

–
I have put the past behind me,


where , however, it now sits, making rude remarks.


www.whiteglovehomeinspections.net

30 Oct 2003-- 29 Nov2005
14

Originally Posted By: dharris
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There is a Fix It Mobile Home Guide , by foremost insurance that is helpful, for apx 25.00, it has a fold out in it showing the “blueprint” of a mfg home describing how the home is built from the frame up, in addition to fix it descriptions that will also help show how the home is constructed


Dennis covered a few good items, a couple more include, Most of the homes use partcle wood flooring check around toilets for floor damage,
Look for water stains at bottom of wood paneling or drywall especially on homes with pb piping,
The crawl space is almost a must to enter and thourgly inspect, Elec and plumbing Cross over lines, duct work insulation torn not supported off ground , torn or missing under carrage insulation, bonding btwn 2 units on dbl wides, heat tapes on exposed water service lines in the cold county , hitch is required to remain with home,[you will often find the serial # painted on the hitch[s] sewer lines properly suported to drain properly, wood stored under home, water entry and erosion and a lot more , Yes they are built to HUD requirments but I found like on site built homes homes If it doesn't look rite its probley not right,
Be careful walking on older homes with metal roofs, A lot of them use 2X2 trusses with cardboard gussets, if you dont't break the trusses you can loosen the ceiling with the movement, ceilings are not cheap to repalce and the patterns and styles are hard to match often after 5plus years.
Don't try to determine costs or what is involved in correction unless you are real familure with the construction, It is different in many ways
I always refer repairs to a qualifed mfg home repair contractor opposed to a site built home contractor, around here most non mfg home contractors don't have a clue how to make proper corrections or won't repair mfg homes

I worked on the darn POSs [some times ] for 20 plus years and I have a Mfg Home check list report form that I made up apx 10 yrs ago
If it would help send me a email with your address and I'll mail you a copy

15

Originally Posted By: ecrofutt
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Ted,


Try these links for a bunch more information to educate yourself on mobile, manufactured & modular homes.

http://www.realtor.org/libweb.nsf/pages/fg321

No website found but also check with the KENTUCKY MANUFACTURED HOME INSTITUTE, 2170 US HWY 127 SOUTH, FRANKFORT, KY 40601 502-223-0490 E-mail: kmhi@dcr.net

Or search for "kentucky manufactured home institute" for a whole bunch of links on the topic.

--
Erby Crofutt
B4U Close Home Inspections
Georgetown, Kentucky
www.b4uclose.com

16

Originally Posted By: Blaine Wiley
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good info. It won’t tell you everything you need to know, but it’s a start.


http://www.inspect-ny.com/mobileinspections.htm

17

Originally Posted By: tshields
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Thanks for all your help guys, I do appreciate it!!!


Ted