Ready to buy your first mobile home in Texas?
Owning a mobile home is like owning any other type of home. If you care for it, you can live in it for years to come. When you look at Texas and Oklahoma mobile homes for sale, you’ll notice they’re made from many of the same materials as stick-built homes. While they have some unique features that require care specific to a manufactured home, in general, mobile homeowners can apply the same TLC to their homes that other homeowners use. Take a minute and read our tips to increase the longevity of your mobile home.
Read the Manual
Keep the manual for your home in a safe place. While it’s not the most exciting bedtime reading material, it should contain helpful information about your home’s systems and troubleshooting tips to help if you have any issues. You may even find a checklist in the manual for routine maintenance. If you’ve already discarded the manual, check with the manufacturer about the possibility of getting a copy. New and used mobile homes should come with a manual, so make sure you get one when if you’re in the process of buying a new home.
Keep Things Level
Like stick-built homes, after years of sitting in the same place, mobile homes can settle. Settling is caused by a range of issues. Damaged shims or loose wedges are both common reasons for settling. Unlike stick-built homes, you can easily re-level a mobile home. Re-leveling allows for even weight distribution, which keeps your home’s structure properly aligned. An unlevel home may develop cracks in the walls and leaks. If settling is caused by loose wedges, you may be able to re-level your home without assistance. If you have leaning piers, you’ll need to call a professional.
Routine Roof Inspections
Inspect your roof at least twice a year. While Texas mobile homeowners aren’t usually concerned about damage from heavy snow or ice accumulation, the hot sun and hailstorms can cause roof problems over time. The roof inspection should check for leaks, soft spots or cracked caulk, condition of flashing, and the gutters. Mobile home roofs also need resealing or re-coating on a regular basis. Your owner’s manual should address how often.
Check for Cracks
Inspect the foundation and skirting. Most mobile homes rest on a slab foundation supported by piers. Skirting covers the area between the home and its foundation. Check for cracks in the foundation. Also inspect skirting and make any necessary repairs. If you’re looking for mobile homes in Texas, pay attention to noticeable cracks in the foundation and skirting. These are areas you’ll need to repair before moving in.
Make a Cleaning Checklist
Keeping a mobile home clean goes a long way toward extending its lifetime. Clean the vinyl walls with a mild detergent and make note of any mold or mildew you find. Mold usually needs a more intense cleaning, but you’ll also want to find out why it’s there in the first place. Deep clean appliances, drains, and dryer vents.
This isn’t a comprehensive list of ways you can extend the life of your mobile home, but it’s a start. Your mobile home specialists at Hench’s Country Liv’n Homes can help you create your own checklist when you buy your new home. Contact us today and let’s find your forever home!
