When it comes to the mobile home lifestyle, one of the frequently asked questions is, “Can I negotiate on mobile homes?” It’s a good question, too. Is it even worth it to negotiate on a mobile home? It’s not like it’s real estate. Plus, what would negotiation even look like, and how can you go about it?
We’re going to answer all these questions in today’s post.
Can you negotiate on mobile homes?
The overall question we’re going to be tackling today – “Can you negotiate on mobile homes?” – has many applications. Depending on your circumstances and budget, you could be buying, selling, or renting. And your situation might involve a mobile home itself, or it could involve a lot or park. Negotiation is important to each of those situations.
As a buyer, you may have found the perfect mobile home for your family – only to realize the price is slightly above budget. Or, you may find yourself moving into a new mobile home park, but you’re concerned the price for renting a lot is unreasonably high.
Whatever the case may be, you need to know if and how negotiation is the right tool to use. Can you actually negotiate on mobile homes? The answer is: yes, mobile homes can be negotiated on, just like any other property. How to negotiate effectively is another question altogether.
Today we’ll be giving you a broad overview of what negotiation looks like in the situations we discussed above. So whether you’re buying, selling, or renting, buckle up and let’s go!
How to negotiate a mobile home price
Let’s first touch on how to negotiate a mobile home price when you’re either buying or selling.
Negotiating with a dealership
You’ve finally found a dealer that you trust, and you’re ready to buy a brand-new mobile home. The only problem is, the dealership seems to want a lot more money than you’re ready to part with. The question is, should you move on or do a bit of haggling? We suggest haggling.
Why? Because dealers want to get as much of a profit as they can. Sometimes they bump the price way up to do just that. It’s entirely possible to bring down the price with a little negotiation. Don’t be afraid to get into the nitty-gritty details with the sales representatives. Go to multiple dealerships until you can negotiate a price that you’re comfortable with.
Negotiating the details when buying used
When you’re buying a used mobile home, it’s not as clean-cut as purchasing a brand-new home. There are several things you need to be shrewd about that affect the overall price of the home.
If you come across any issues, either cosmetic or worse, what’s next? Sometimes the problems will be bad enough that you’ll have to move on. But let’s say the issue is fixable, and you believe the current price could be brought down to compensate for the time and money you’ll put in later to resolve the issue. Your next step is to negotiate the price just like you would if you were buying a stick-built home. It’s no different really!
Remember that you can also base your negotiations on things like location and local market trends, not just on the home’s condition. If you’re sure the seller is either overlooking something or trying to aim too high, that’s your chance to offer them what you believe is a more reasonable price.
Negotiate like a savvy seller
If you’re selling your own mobile home, or you sell mobile homes for a living, read the last few paragraphs again. See it from the buyer’s perspective. After you get an appraisal, you may decide to list your home above that appraised value. That’s completely fine, as long as you have a good reason for doing so.
But listen to the people who offer you a lower price. Are they seeing it a different way? Are there factors you’ve overlooked such as roofing issues, bad plumbing, or other expenses? These are the times that you need to seriously consider how much you’re willing to take off the price. Negotiate and don’t be afraid to compromise if it’s the right thing to do.
Renting a mobile home? Here’s how to negotiate terms with your landlord
Whether you’re thinking about renting a mobile home or you currently live in a rented mobile home, negotiation is important. Many renters don’t realize how valuable negotiation is. But the truth is, it can save you a lot of money.
The biggest tip we can give you is to offer your landlord or leasing office something in return for lower rent. Are you their ideal tenant? Don’t be afraid to do some self-advertising. Agree to sign a longer lease (such as a year rather than six months) in return for lower rent. Know exactly what you want and what to say to your landlord before approaching him.
Can you negotiate lot rent?
Similar to negotiating mobile home rent, you can negotiate on lot rent. Use the same tips and tactics that we discussed above. Dealing with a park owner is like dealing with a landlord. They want good lot renters in their parks, and they might be willing to compromise if it means they get to keep you!
Coming to terms
After you’ve successfully negotiated and come to a point of agreement with the other party, you can walk away satisfied. A situation that makes everyone happy is one worth haggling for.
All the details we delved into aside, the answer to your frequently asked question is, yes. You can negotiate on mobile homes. And don’t be intimidated when negotiating for the first time. If you follow the tips we talked about today, you’ll be able to successfully negotiate anything you buy and sell in the future.
We only had time today to talk briefly about selling your mobile home, but we have many great tips on the subject. For more, check out our 5 Possible Pitfalls Of Selling Your Mobile Home To The Wrong Buyer.
About EZ Homes Design Team
