Are Upgrades Worth Investing in When Buying a Mobile Home?

Are Upgrades Worth Investing in When Buying a Mobile Home?

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People often choose to purchase mobile homes because they are so affordable and can be placed just about anywhere they choose. When shopping for a mobile home, there are so many options available to you when it comes to upgrades. Some of the upgrades are worth investing in at the time of purchase, and some can wait for later. The following guide walks you through a few of the most common upgrades that are available for mobile homes and advice as to if they are worth investing in or not.

Insulated Skirting Around the Exterior of the Mobile Home

If you don’t plan to put your mobile home on a concrete foundation, the bottom of the home will be exposed to the elements. This can lead to pipes freezing during the cold winter months and animals being able to burrow into the house from the outside. An insulated skirting can be a great upgrade to invest in because it not only provides your home from protection from most animals but also insulates the underneath of the house to decrease the chances of your pipes freezing.

Upgraded Flooring Isn’t a Great Investment to Make at First

Many mobile homes come with laminate flooring or carpeting throughout them to keep the cost to a minimum. The dealer will give you the option to upgrade the flooring to tile, granite, or even hardwood flooring to give the home a more refined look. While the upgraded flooring may look great, it can add thousands to your final cost of the home unnecessarily. Flooring can be changed out at a later date to keep your costs low when you are first buying the home.

Invest in Energy Efficient Windows and Doors Throughout the House

Mobile homes are often known for not being as energy efficient as stick-built homes are. Having low-quality windows and doors on the exterior of the house can allow heat and cool air to escape from the home during the cold winter or hot summer months. Upgrading to energy-efficient windows and doors makes it easier for your home to maintain a constant temperature. This minimizes the heating and cooling costs you’ll ultimately have to pay.

Sheetrocked Walls Aren’t a Necessity

VOG walls, also known as Vinyl on Gypsum, are standard in most mobile homes. They are smooth, thin walls that create privacy, but aren’t soundproof. Some people choose to upgrade the walls in their homes to sheetrock because they feel that it creates a more finished look and makes painting the walls easier. Sheetrocking the walls will cost you thousands of dollars and ultimately won’t change the way that you can use the house.

Upgraded Lighting Isn’t as Important

Many dealers have multiple lighting options that you can add to the home. There are chandeliers, recessed lighting, and even globe lighting that can be added to make the home look higher end and provide more light within the rooms. The cost to have the lighting upgraded isn’t worth spending because you can simply add lamps throughout the home to boost the amount of light that’s in a room. You can have recessed lighting, chandeliers or any other lighting you want to be added to the house later on down the road when you can afford it.

The Cost of a Jet Tub Will Make Your Soak Less Relaxing

Many people want to unwind after a long day at work, and taking a soak in a comfortable tub can be a great way to do it. Dealers often have upgraded tubs that have jets in them available for you to add to your home. The tubs are often larger than traditional tubs so that you can fit in them comfortably. The only problem with these larger, jetted tubs is that the water heaters in the mobile homes aren’t large enough to provide enough hot water to fill the tubs.

You’ll be investing in something that you might not even be able to use. It’s best to wait to install a jetted tub until you know you can afford the large water heater and the high electricity costs that will come with using it.

Granite Countertops Aren’t a Sound Investment to Make

Having granite countertops in your kitchen will create a very elegant look. The granite can cost you triple or even quadruple what you would pay for the traditional laminate countertops that come in most mobile homes, though. The countertops work exactly the same way, and there are so many color options available when it comes to laminate countertops that you can still create the look you want without having to pay the high cost that comes with granite countertops.

High-End Appliances Cost More than They're Worth

Refrigerators, ovens, and even dishwashers are all designed to serve a specific purpose. There are many options available, and some will cost significantly more than others. Upgrading to stainless steel appliances will boost the amount you have to pay for your home significantly. Choose the basic appliance package and upgrade your appliances later when you have more disposable income to spend. You can often find high-end appliances on clearance or even at a scratch and dent store to get the most bang for your buck.

Solar Panels Cost More than They Save at First

Solar panels can sound very appealing to many people. They can help you to be more environmentally friendly and decrease your overall electrical costs each month. When you are first buying your home, the cost to have solar panels added to your mobile home will be quite high. If you consider how much the purchase and installation price is for the upgrades, you’ll quickly realize it’s an investment to consider at a later time.

Some upgrades are totally worth the investment when purchasing a mobile home, and some are not. You need to think long and hard about what you really need in a home and what you want in your home. It’s important to budget and agrees to purchase the home for an amount that you can afford to pay off as quickly as possible. You can then use the money you were spending on the loan to make any upgrades you choose once you are established and no longer paying for the house.

8 Features to Consider for Your Mobile Home

8 Features to Consider for Your Mobile Home

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A mobile home can be a great investment to make when you are first starting out as an adult. They are very affordable and can be customized to suit your needs. Many people make the mistake of assuming that the show homes they see on the dealer’s lots are the only options available to them. This isn’t the case, though. There are many different features that you can have added to your home to make it fit your style or work well for your family. The following guide provides insight about some features you may want to add to your mobile home before making a final purchase.

Upgrade the Insulation in the Home

Most mobile homes have thin exterior and interior walls. Thin walls allow air to escape, which can make it difficult to maintain a constant temperature within the house. This can create electrical costs that are higher than they need to be. You can upgrade the insulation within the home to make sure that it is more energy-efficient. Insulation can be added to the exterior walls, the interior walls, beneath the roofing on the home, and even under the flooring to ensure that insulation is as great as it can be.

A Pitched Roof Can Increase Resale Value

If you know that you want to sell the house in the future and that it isn’t your forever home, you need to choose upgrades that are going to make it easier to sell later on down the road. A pitched roof is an affordable change you can make to the home that adds more curb appeal to it. Many mobile homes have flat roofs that can make the house look unfinished. A pitched roof makes the home look more like a stick-built home and can provide additional storage space, at the same time.

Hardwood Floors Add Character to the Home

You can have the flooring in the home upgraded to hardwood floors. Most homes come with carpeting in them because it is the cheapest flooring option available. The carpeting will become dirty over time and having to place it when you are ready to sell the house could be a hassle. Hardwood flooring can stand up to a lot of wear and tear and is very easy to clean so that you can rest assured it will look great for years to come

Add Sheetrock to the Walls

The vinyl on gypsum walls that are in most mobile homes can look a bit unsightly. They often have a textured feel to them, as well. Many mobile home purchasers choose to upgrade the walls in the home to sheetrock. The sheetrock creates a finished look and can diminish the noise that travels throughout the house. Sheetrocked walls can also easily be painted so that you can customize the house any way you choose in the future.

Upgraded Cabinetry Makes a Home Far More Valuable

The kitchen is the place where most people congregate in a home. Having a great kitchen can make your home feel warm and inviting while also creating a great place to create amazing meals for your family to enjoy. The cabinetry that comes with mobile homes traditionally is often very thin and lightweight. It doesn’t have much carpentry details added to it to give it character. Upgrading the cabinetry to higher-end options allows you to create a very sophisticated look in the kitchen. You can choose the layout for the cabinetry, the style you want to use, and even the color of the cabinets so that you can create your dream kitchen from the start. A finished kitchen with ornate cabinetry will make a home more valuable when you want to sell it, too.

Insulated Skirting Could Save You from Costly Repairs

Mobile homes typically do not have a lot of insulation beneath them. An insulated skirt can be a great investment to make because it not only keeps critters from taking up residency under the home but also keeps the space warmer during the cold winter. This helps to keep pipes from accidentally freezing when the temperature drops, while also creating a finished look to the home because it appears as though it is on a foundation. The skirting will add curb appeal to the home, which also boosts the ease of selling the house when you’re ready to sell it.

Engineered Wood Siding Looks Great and Helps with Insulation

Vinyl siding is often found on the exterior of mobile homes. It can deteriorate over time and leave you with an eyesore when people come to buy your home. Engineered wood siding is a great upgrade to consider for your mobile home because it has the look of wood siding without the high cost or difficult upkeep. The exterior of your home will be protected from the elements, look great, and stand the test of time with the engineered wood siding on it. The siding is available in a variety of colors so that you can create the exact look you want. You don’t have to worry about painting the siding later because it is designed to keep its color and just need to be pressured washed from time to time to knock any dirt or dust-free.

Being able to purchase a house that you know will still have a lot of value in a few years isn’t always easy to do. A mobile home that has a few of the upgraded options in it will be easier to sell and stand up to the wear and tear that you put it through for the years you live in it.

Most of the upgrades are very affordable, and some mobile home dealers even provide a discount if you choose more than one upgrade to make to the house. Once the house is built, it can be delivered to your property, and it will be ready for you to move in within a very short period of time. When you are ready to sell it, you’ll be able to walk away knowing that you were able to live comfortably and still get back some of the money you invested in the house with ease.