There are plenty of best practices for selling a mobile home, but one of the most important is often overlooked: keeping your paperwork in order. If you want to sell a mobile home fast, it’s critical to make sure that your paperwork is spotless, from the title to the closing documents.
The number of required documents can seem overwhelming, so keep this checklist of paperwork handy during the process of selling your mobile home. By carefully keeping track of all the mobile home sale paperwork you need, you’ll ensure a smoother experience for both you and your buyer.
1. Home Title Transfer
A title is a government-issued certificate that establishes ownership of a piece of property. A manufactured home can be titled either as real estate (if it’s attached to a permanent foundation on land that the seller owns) or as a vehicle (if it’s on rented land without a permanent foundation). Either way, you’ll need to get a copy of the title and mobile home title transfer.
To find out more about how to transfer a title from a seller to a buyer, contact either your local Division of Motor Vehicles (for vehicle titles) or your county clerk’s office (for real estate titles) and ask about mobile home title transfers. Note that you’ll need to pay a title transfer fee and get the title notarized. If the title has a lien on it, you’ll need to pay off the lien before transferring the title.
2. Community Documentation
Sellers usually need permission from the management of a manufactured home community before selling a home in that community. Before you put up your listing on MHVillage, contact park management to notify them that you intend to sell your manufactured home and ask them to send you documentation certifying your right to sell it.
The official documentation process will differ for every manufactured home community, and you may be asked to make property improvements or to involve park management in vetting potential buyers. Your community documentation will establish permission for you to sell your home, codify the terms, and provide any additional rules you’ll need to follow during the process.
3. Tax Documentation
You’ll need documentation to prove that you’ve paid all appropriate taxes on your manufactured home before selling it. To do this, contact your county treasurer’s office and request a mobile home tax clearance letter. They’ll pull your tax records and send you a letter certifying that you’re paid up.
4. Mobile Home Appraisal and Inspection
Most buyers will request that a manufactured home be appraised and inspected by a professional before the buyer puts down any money. MHVillage offers all sellers a free mobile home appraisal from Datacomp, the industry leader for manufactured home appraisals. Datacomp’s market-based valuations and detailed point-by-point inspections give buyers and sellers a clear picture of a home’s value and condition so that all parties can feel more confident that they’re getting a fair deal.
5. Mobile Home Insurance Records
The insurance records for your manufactured home will help tell the story of the home and ensure that the buyer knows what they’re getting. Specifically, the buyer will need to know if you’ve ever filed a manufactured home insurance claim for damage from fire, floods, theft, or other adverse events. Your manufactured home insurance company will be able to provide these records upon request.
6. Seller’s Disclosure
A mobile home seller’s disclosure form establishes the condition of the manufactured home at the time of sale. You’ll need to list any structural or cosmetic issues that the home has, and the buyer will sign off to certify that each problem has been disclosed. Always err on the side of caution and disclose everything, even if it seems minor—failure to disclose can lead to legal problems further down the road.
7. Bill of Sale
When a buyer and seller are ready to strike a deal, it’s time to draw up a mobile home bill of sale. The bill of sale establishes exactly which property is being transferred, how much the buyer is paying, and any other conditions of the sale. You can find free mobile home bill of sale templates online. The bill of sale will also often be accompanied by a packet of closing paperwork that includes additional documents like occupancy certificates, fire inspection certificates, and a letter establishing the closing location.
8. Fees and Dues List
Providing a list of fees and dues isn’t usually a legal requirement, but it makes things a lot easier for the buyer and can help smooth the transition. The list will include any additional costs that the buyer must pay before taking possession, such as HOA costs, lot rent, and utility deposits.
MHVillage can help you sell a mobile home fast through our industry-leading mobile home marketplace. Our easy-to-use interface makes it easy to keep track of all the important details, and sellers on our site sold over 80,000 mobile homes last year alone! To get started, check out our Mobile Home Seller Resources for in-depth info from industry experts on selling your mobile home.
