Increase The Value Of Your Mobile Home

Mobile homes are used as long-term residences, campers, and remote offices, but every owner should consider the value of these assets.  You can undergo mobile home remodeling and repairs over years of ownership in order to protect the value of your mobile home.

Ideal Groups For Mobile Home Remodeling

Long-term mobile home owners are frequently looking to repair and remodel their mobile homes.  Mobile home owners put up thousands of dollars in collateral, mortgage payments, and repairs to protect their residence.  The narrow margin between financial safety and insecurity means that owners have to find affordable ways to fix up their mobile homes.  Families, couples, and individuals have to keep their eyes on budgets when undergoing mobile home remodels and repairs. 

Resellers and dealers of mobile homes must also find affordable remodeling and repair options.  Mobile home resellers have to turn used trailers and double-wides into like-new units for budget-conscious buyers.  New home dealers can spruce up older units and used mobile homes by investing in new lights, AC units, and windows.  While the initial investment may be costly for resellers and dealers, mobile home remodeling can yield higher sales by making units more attractive. 

Landlords and property owners of mobile home parks must also consider remodeling their units after years of ownership.  The monthly rent paid on each unit can be devoted to mobile home remodeling that covers basics like doorways, sanitation, and exterior paneling.  In addition to the safety and health of tenants, landlords have to remodel their mobile homes to sell vacancies to prospective renters.  Mobile home remodeling and repairs can help landlords keep their units filled while ensuring a positive living environment for renters. 

Considerations For Mobile Home Repairs

The right contractor is essential to the success of any mobile home remodeling project.  A contractor should possess a valid contractor’s license from your home state as well as experience in mobile home remodeling before offering his services.  You have a right as a consumer to interview contractors, request references, and conduct due diligence before picking a remodeling expert.  Your ideal contractor will offer an affordable project price, a clear vision of the project ahead, and an understanding of the unique nature of mobile homes.

Mobile home owners may start their search for contractors by looking at traditional contractors and home builders.  While it can be difficult to find remodelers with mobile home experience, contractors with experiences in traditional homes may not know how to remodel mobile units.  The mobile home remodeling process is done in tighter quarters than homes and condos, requiring contractors who can get their work done quickly.  Your remodeler should be comfortable with axle repair, mobile home plumbing, and other unique features of mobile homes. 

The bottom line for mobile home owners looking at remodeling projects is overall cost.  First-time remodelers may fail to factor permits, labor, and parts into their calculations of project budgets.  A mobile home remodeling project can cost thousands of dollars if there are newly found repairs and structural problems with the unit.  As your search for remodelers reaches the final stages, ask for detailed estimates to determine if your contractor fits within your financial limits. 

High-Impact Mobile Home Remodeling Projects

Your mobile home remodeling project does not need to involve tearing down exterior paneling and interior wallpaper to have an impact.  Mobile home owners should look at high-impact, low-cost remodeling projects that increase unit value without hurting household budgets.  The simplest way to improve the value of a mobile home is to replace pre-installed furniture, walling, and carpeting with updated features.  A contractor can help you install couches, tables, and cabinets in your mobile home to withstand sharp turns when you are on the move.  If you plan on selling your mobile home, an updated interior design will appeal to skeptical buyers with negative attitudes about single and double-wide units.

Another cost-effective remodeling project is to decrease energy usage during fall and winter months.  Remodelers should use winter sealing kits on sliding and stationary windows in your mobile home to keep heat from escaping into the cold.  Your front door may be a culprit in rising energy costs throughout the winter because of worn stoppers and broken latches.  Most contractors can complete these repairs for less than $100 with parts and save hundreds of dollars in energy costs over the life of the mobile home. 

Mobile home owners should look at one-time investments like air conditioning units to improve the values of their residences.  Many mobile homes come with small, single-room AC units that make one room cold and leave the rest of the rooms hot in the summer.  A central AC unit affixed to the parking spot or land outside the mobile home can improve living quality for your residents.  While lugging a central AC unit may be problematic for frequent travelers, these units can boost home values significantly when it comes time to sell.


Online Resources For Mobile Home Remodeling

Mobile home owners and renters can find it difficult to get help with remodeling projects even on the Internet.  BobVilla.com© (http://www.bobvilla.com) imparts the wisdom of home expert Bob Villa as well as his legion of fans about everything from traditional homes to mobile units.  BobVilla.com© has an online forum about mobile home repairs and remodeling that gets owners in touch with fellow owners and renters to discuss contractors, parts, and good experiences.  Once you have exhausted the forum at BobVilla.com©, you can check out MobileHomeRepair.com© (http://www.mobilehomerepair.com) to learn more about mobile home remodeling and repair. 

The Internet is a great place to vet prospective remodelers for your mobile home project.  California-based Filian Contracting© (http://www.filiancontracting.com) is one of a handful of mobile home remodelers with an updated website.  Filian Contracting© has been working with mobile home owners for the past three decades to handle remodeling projects of all difficulty levels.  Even if you do not live in California, you can use the Filian Contracting© website as a starting point for home remodeling research.