The beauty of spring can be hard to remember with all the crazy weather we experience just beforehand. But before you know it, everything will be bursting with new life. And the slush and snow of winter will be nothing but a memory.
It’s around this time of year that we start itching for a change. And for some people, that looks like picking up and moving to a new place.
While buying a new home can be an exciting and exhilarating process, selling the one you’re already in can be boring, deflating, or just a big, ol’ pain in the neck. But a little planning can help make your task more manageable. In this article, we will lay out some steps you can take to get your mobile home listing-ready and on the market.
5 things you must do before listing your mobile home for sale
Preparing your mobile home for sale is more than just putting on a fresh coat of paint. There’s a lot to consider. These five steps (plus one for those living in a mobile home park) will get you on your way.
1 – Put a fresh coat of paint on any surfaces that are looking shabby
You didn’t think we were going to skip that one, did you? Even though it’s pretty obvious, it’s worth mentioning that a fresh coat of paint goes a long way. It can help clean up a space, making it look bright and new. This is an easy first step you can take, even if you’re not sure yet who you will be listing with or other details.
2 – Fix as many things as you can
This is a big one. If you take a quick look around your mobile home, you may see many things that just need some simple fixes. To prospective homebuyers, these “projects” really add up. They can be a big turnoff for many people. To them, it is simply a big “to-do list” that will still need to be taken care of.
Bigger projects, like new linoleum or fresh carpets, can be hugely appealing to prospective buyers. These renovations are usually worth the money.
Replacing broken hardware, fixing closet doors, shampooing carpets, and the like are all good ways to tidy up your mobile home. It shows people that you care about your home. And it gives people more reason to be interested in purchasing it.
3 – Clean up the yard
If you own the property your mobile home is sitting on, make sure you present it at its best! Take the time to clean up the trash, trim the hedges, rake the leaves, and take care of anything else that might make your place look a little shoddy.
Honestly, even if you don’t own the lot, this would still be good to do. Remember, first impressions are everything! Putting a bit of time into tidying up will go a long way towards making people feel like it’s the kind of place they would enjoy living.
4 – Determine how much you can sell your mobile home for
This doesn’t have to be all that complicated. Start by taking a look at other similar mobile homes in your area that have sold recently, or are still on the market. As you compare your mobile home with these, make sure you consider size, condition, location, age, and improvements yours may have that theirs don’t.
You can also ask a real estate agent who has experience selling mobile homes in your area. As experts, hey should have a pretty good idea of the value of your home.
In addition to these options, you can also plug your info into an online guide for determining the value of mobile homes. While it may not take everything into consideration, it can give you a good starting number to build your calculations off of.
5 – Decide if you will use a real estate agent
There are pros and cons to selling a home yourself, as well as enlisting the help of an agent. On the one hand, you will definitely save some money by doing it yourself. However, you should consider that a real estate agent will put a lot of time into marketing your home to the right people, saving you a lot of time and effort.
Not sure about using a real estate agent? If you aren’t in a hurry to sell, you might want to go ahead and give a try selling it yourself! If you don’t get any bites you can always bring an agent on later.
If you decide to go solo and sell on your own, you’ll need to get the word out. Use sites such as Craigslist and Trulia. Good old fashioned yard signs and newspaper ads can also get you started.
Your agent should be able to help you with the next move finding the right loan and the right company in your state. Each state is unique and has its own experts. Michigan loan companies vary near us, but the right is just a phone call away.
Bonus step: Include your mobile home park owner
If you live in a mobile home park, you probably do not own the lot your mobile home is on. If this is the case, you need to include your park owner in the process of selling your mobile home.
In many cases, mobile home park owners legally have dibs on your mobile home. If they decide not to purchase it at the price you are asking, you can then list it for others to consider. Trying to go around this arrangement may land you in some legal trouble that it’s better to avoid.
Get excited about your new home!
These steps should get you well on your way to selling your mobile home and beginning your newest adventure.
If your mobile home is in a park, check out our guide to selling a mobile home without the land. It’s sure to answer more of your questions and give you the information you need to feel confident about selling your mobile home.
About Dan Paton
