Summer is here and with the sunshine comes your list of honey-dos which may differ in project size and budget. Among your summer projects, you’re looking to add on to your mobile home’s layout. A guest room, porch, or back deck may seem like a nice idea, don’t you think?
But before you get those materials ordered, please take a moment to read this important rundown of things. You should consider these before adding onto a mobile home.
Things you should consider if you’re adding onto a mobile home
When it comes to adding onto a mobile home, you need to carefully consider the following information. Do with it what you will. But we only hope that it makes the way clearer and spares you from unpleasant surprises. Going into a project with the right knowledge under your belt will mitigate much drama.
Your mobile home addition must not be attached to the main construction
Let’s begin with the thing that will affect all your addition-related decisions for your mobile home.
Because of HUD and local regulations that are in place to protect homeowners, you cannot build the addition attached to your mobile home.
The addition must be separate from your home. You may “attach” it by building it flush next to the mobile home unit. After building it, you may add a seal so that it is in a sense “connected” to your home. This seal isn’t really attaching it, it’s merely keeping leaks away; otherwise, your home would lose its energy efficiency.
Failing to make the addition a separate unit could void your home’s HUD certificate
If you choose to shrug off this warning and build an addition attached to your mobile home unit, prepare to face the consequences. A home inspection would also lead to not passing and the HUD certification for your mobile home is void. This certificate only approves the work of the factory. Once a change is made to the home, this certificate is no longer valid.
In the unfortunate case that a certificate is void, the mobile home owner will not be able to sell his or her home. And it may be impossible to become HUD compliant again.
State and local regulations vary in different areas
If you’re adding onto a mobile home, you need to take state and local regulations into consideration. The last thing you want to do is get far into your addition project, both with time and finances, only to have someone tell you that you need to tear it down.
Contact your state and local housing department for information on what permits and laws would affect your project. You may find that the requirements are little to nothing. Or that there are requirements for you to purchase a permit and invite an inspector to check on key points along the way.
There is much planning involved in adding onto a mobile home
Now that you’ve discussed the hurdles that take place with state and local regulations, let’s discuss a completely different but more challenging thing to consider.
Undoubtedly, adding onto a mobile home is quite the engineering feet. This is due to the fact that you cannot have your addition attached to the home.
So you’ll need to know what you’re doing. If you want a large entrance way to your addition from your home’s main structure, then it’s going to require some serious technical planning. An opening the size of a doorway won’t be as difficult, that is for sure.
Your mobile home may lose resale value
For a potential buyer, if you want to sell your home down the road, this addition may run the risk of lowering the resale value. There’s no way for a buyer to assess your construction quality. And that may hurt when it comes time to sell.
Moving your mobile home
Whether you want to move it yourself or if it’s a buyer who wants to move the home, you’re going to be in a tough spot to get a good value on your home’s sale.
This is because the addition will need to be unattached and torn down. It’s not on wheels, it can’t move with the mobile home.
Of course, this affects a variety of things: making the outside of the mobile home, dealing with wiring and plumbing that went into the addition, and more money being spent.
Consider everything before making the big decision
In closing, we wanted to clarify something – it may seem like we’re trying to talk you out of adding onto a mobile home. No, that’s up to you. As a matter of fact, we have some tips and tricks on adding onto a mobile home. We’re just here to help you make an informed decision on whether that’s the best decision for your home situation. Count the cost before you make a decision, and you’ll be better for it.
About Dan Paton
