All The Best Places To Find Mobile Homes On Social Media

Social media - Facebook app on mobile




When it comes to mobile homes, your experience may be limited to your own home (and maybe your neighbors’). However, there are a lot more manufactured home dwellers out there. More than twenty-two million in fact, according to the Manufactured Housing Institute. Obviously, that means there must be a lot of mobile homes, too. And if you think mobile homes are all hiding in obscurity—no one knowing or caring about them, think again.

Social media - Facebook app on mobile

Mobile homes aren’t just sitting on their plots on private land or in parks. They’re also taking their place in cyberspace—specifically on social media. Chances are you yourself live in a mobile home and sometimes spend time on social media. But do the two really intersect, and is social media relevant to mobile homes? Today, in honor of Social Media Day (June 30th), we’re going to take a look at how social media converges with the mobile home experience.

So many social media platforms

Social media is popular. Actually, Statista’s data indicates that 79% of Americans in the U.S. have a social media profile (in the most recent period). Chances are, you’ve already come into contact with some social media platforms. And you may even use several yourself. Let’s dig into some.

Facebook

Facebook is a social media that can help you stay abreast of the mobile home industry. If you’re still in the thinking-of-buying-a-mobile-home stage and you’re looking to learn, Facebook can help. And it’s there for those of you who are current mobile home owners, too. For instance, there’s the Manufactured Housing Institute—a knowledgeable and professional source. You’ll find information about manufactured home investment, manufactured home communities, and even financing.

Plus, you can also search for the Facebook pages of manufactured home associations in your own state. That could help you stay abreast of more locally-oriented mobile home information—perhaps including events and public policies. 

Facebook could also provide a way to network with your mobile home-owning neighbors or others in your wider area. A Facebook group for members of your mobile home park could provide a centralized place to share information. In addition, you could even organize a party for your neighborhood using the platform.

Twitter

Again, here’s a source of mobile home news. The Manufactured Housing Institute has a presence on this platform, too. And theirs isn’t the only feed where you might find a manufactured home. Case in point—Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Ben Carson

Or if it’s mobile home financing you want to keep abreast of, you’ll find that’s on Twitter, too. For instance, see Triad Financial Services talk about the mobile home financing industry. 

Even ROCusa promotes mobile home cooperatives via this social medium. Naturally, Realtor.com is on Twitter, also. Of course, they offer general guidance for homeowners or homebuyers. But, they even addressed manufactured homes specifically

WhatsApp

WhatsApp is a popular messaging app—and since it can support group messages, it could be a great way to communicate with neighbors. If you live in a mobile home park and you’re looking for a way to keep up with the residents around you, this could help. 

Various social media apps on mobile

If you have a WhatsApp group that includes your mobile home park neighbors, you’ll be able to reach out to many with a single message. For instance, if your electricity has unexpectedly gone out on you, you’ll be able to ask if anyone else is experiencing the same problem. Or, if you noticed maintenance workers at the entrance to the park, you can gauge the group to see if anyone knows what’s going on. 

Nextdoor

Here’s one social medium that’s designed to be location-specific. Unlike, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram which connect people across the globe, Nextdoor is designed to connect you with those living near you.  

Specific to your area, it gives you the chance to “meet” your neighbors. With it, you can send messages, post ads, and learn about relevant neighborhood occurrences. Plus, you can vote for favorite area restaurants and businesses. 

And you can ask your neighbors questions, too. For instance, if you’ve just moved into the area, you can ask for recommendations for best pizza places. Or you can see what auto mechanics your neighbors have had good experiences with. Plus, you can check if anyone knows of quality lawn care services or tree removal experts. And, after a major storm, you could even check whether neighbors need help clearing their lawns of debris. 

Pinterest

Next, we come to a social media platform where mobiles really find a home on the internet. Users can pin mobile home-related photos—from manufactured home models to before and after renovation photos. Plus, Pinterest can be a centralized place to curate a homeowner’s favorite decor or home design styles.

Whether the images are specific to mobile homes or not, Pinterest users can keep track of ideas & images they find inspiring. For instance, if you’ve always wanted to create a home with an interior reminiscent of the Tudor style, you can find related photos to give you ideas. Additionally, you can further refine your search by telling Pinterest to look for “Interiors” or “Paint Colors.” 

On the other hand, maybe you want to know how to cultivate a home with an art deco style (a topic we actually wrote about on the blog recently). Then, there’s also inspiration for beach homes. Most importantly, you can find pins geared especially to mobile homes. Maybe you’re in need of mobile home porch ideas. Or you could be looking for some thoughts to help you launch your own mobile home remodel.

Pinterest for planning

Pinterest could also be a resource if you’re brainstorming ideas to revamp your mobile home furniture. You can use it to search for particular items if you’re redesigning your bedroom, kitchen, living room, or really any room. Simply search for furniture items you’re considering. Then browse Pinterest’s wealth of visual inspiration to find looks you like. From there, you can purchase actual items if possible or find comparable items based on the visual you have.

As examples, you could search for:

  • Rocking chairs
  • Recliners
  • TV stands
  • Ottomans
  • Armchairs
  • Carpets
  • Rugs
  • Lamps
  • Dining sets
  • Dining chairs
  • Curtains
  • Valances

And as you search for these or other items, feel free to refine your search using Pinterest’s suggested terms. They appear at the top of your screen. 

Pinterest search in browser

Instagram

Here’s another social media platform chock full of visual inspiration. Maybe you want inspiration tailored to mobile homes—like seeing what the inside of mobile homes can look like. Thanks to mobile home manufacturers and retailers on Instagram, you can do just that. 

Check out these beautiful interiors by Palm Harbor Homes. Or get inspired by what you see on J & R Homes.  And there’s plenty of beauty to be found at Meadows Homes, too. 

Alternatively, you can simply mine Instagram for general design ideas then co-opt them for your mobile home. Instagram is home to a lot of talented people. And many of them are sharing their gorgeous home interiors. Which means, you can learn from their photos—see what furniture, flooring, paint colors and more they’re using to create lovely spaces. Whether they live in a mobile home or not, if you do, you can put these ideas to work for your place. 

With that in mind, there are so many ways to go when searching for home inspiration. And it depends a lot on what style (or styles) you like. Beautiful homes come in all shapes, sizes, and styles (interior & exterior). 

When it comes to lovely spaces on Instagram, there’s Sarah Gibson whose Room for Tuesday shares home design & renovation. You’ll come away excited about natural light, white, and the classiness of black, blue, and brown. Love that white, but looking for a farmhouse aesthetic? See if you don’t find White Flower Farmhouse inspiring. Or could be you want something more on the vintage & cottage side—like Deacon_Cottage

Reddit

Maybe you’re not a very visual learner. If you’d rather read about mobile homes than see relevant information, Reddit might be more attuned to your needs. Call this the DIY-er’s social media. 

Reddit provides the opportunity to ask and answer questions. And if you’re a mobile homeowner looking to improve your home, you could find that useful. Additionally, you can ask the Reddit community about the affordability of mobile homes. And you can hear from people who live in them.

Reddit users might talk about whether purchasing a mobile home is a good investment. Or they might compare and contrast purchasing a mobile home vs. an apartment. Additionally, they might discuss buying a mobile home with or without land. And they might also look at the cost of mobile homes and how the cost of living varies around the country. 

[Helpful side note: as with much of social media, Reddit consists of interactions between individuals. So, you’re limited by the manners and morals of those you’re interacting with. That said, Reddit users are not guaranteed to answer questions politely and appropriately. Generally, that’s true with other social media, too. So, it’s wise to tread carefully.]

YouTube

Likely, we don’t have to introduce you to YouTube. Home to an astronomical amount of video, you’ve probably been here before. But did you know that YouTube can help you and your mobile home, whether you’re an owner or a wannabe?

For those of you who wouldn’t dream of hiring someone to do a job you can do yourself, YouTube can be a source of how-to videos. Maybe you need help installing a sink or replacing a mobile home door. On the other hand, maybe you want to put down a new floor to replace your snagged and scuffed version.

Additionally, you’ll be able to find help for building a porch or deck. And there are even a few crazy mobile home videos thrown in for good measure, like this one which is about how to stack mobile homes. Don’t try this at home. And for the record, here’s some friendly advice—whether it’s a true mobile home or just a misnamed motorhome, we don’t recommend using it to evade police.  

Even more mobile home knowledge

On top of these videos, YouTube is also home to helpful resources for those of us who want to know how things work. Like how exactly does one move a large structure like a mobile home once it’s dropped off on location? Or how are mobile homes manufactured? When you need to know “what it looks like in action,” YouTube might just be your mobile home’s biggest friend.

Some video creators may even be responsive to questions and comments. So if you have questions after watching the video, you might be able to get an answer from the video’s maker. Even major mobile home manufacturers are on YouTube, sharing videos. Check out videos from Champion Home Builders. Then, head to what Clayton Homes has to offer. 

Blogs

Another resource for you and your mobile home is the blogosphere. Blogs can offer a little more written explanation than a video would. Here you can find stories of real people living in real mobile homes. And if you’re still deciding whether to take the mobile home plunge, this could help you learn what it’s like to live in one. 

A couple of blogs where mobile homes star or appear: 

Plus, many of them help overcome the lie mobile homes are defacto outdated and less-than. In fact, they may help you realize the potential of this housing option. And maybe they’ll even get you charged up to start in on your own mobile home renovation.

As you can see, mobile homes have made inroads in one of America’s popular pastimes—social media. They’ve also made an impact on your own life, and on the lives of others. Need more mobile home inspiration? Check out In The News: Mobile Homes Helping People In The Wake Of Disaster. And be inspired by Real-Life Mobile Home Heroes: Helping A Neighbor In Need 

Mobile homes serving

Check out other ways mobile homes can be or have been active in the community. Start with How Your Mobile Home Community Can Help Fight Cancer. Then, it’s on to How To Build A “Mobile” Library In Your Mobile Home Park. Don’t forget to check out Taking Care Of Senior Residents In Mobile Home Communities, too. And top it all off with our take on Ben Carson’s recent mobile home comments

About Dan Leighton

Dan Leighton has been working in the mobile home industry for over a decade. His focus has been on sales and customer relations - making sure each person in the transaction is comfortable and fully transparent. He has a wife and one son. Dan continues to look for innovative ways to help both sellers and parks get the most bang for their buck.





Written by Dan Leighton

Dan Leighton has been working in the mobile home industry for over a decade. His focus has been on sales and customer relations - making sure each person in the transaction is comfortable and fully transparent. He has a wife and one son. Dan continues to look for innovative ways to help both sellers and parks get the most bang for their buck.

June 28, 2019

 

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