Have you been thinking about downsizing, upgrading, or a location change? Whatever your plans might be, if you’re looking to make a transition then chances are you’ve considered selling your mobile home. If you aren’t exactly sure how to go about the whole selling process, there is no need to worry. You are not alone on this journey. In this article, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about how to sell your mobile home.
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Planning to Sell a Mobile Home
Several points make it difficult to sell a home on your own. Those are setting the accurate price, preparing the home for sale, dealing with buying and selling mobile home paperwork, helping buyers with financing, marketing the house, and attracting potential buyers. Therefore, the first step in planning to sell your manufactured home is hiring a reputable real estate agent who will guide you.
Thoughtfully making a plan to sell your mobile home is important. When you know what to expect and when to expect it, you can anticipate challenges as they come. Being prepared will not only make the entire selling process go smoother, but it’s likely to bring you a greater financial return.
Initial Questions You May Have About Selling
How long does it take to sell a mobile home?
Well, it depends. And it depends on quite a few different factors. Some examples include the location of the home, characteristics of the home, current demand in the mobile home selling market, and the overall goal of a seller. All of these can impact how quickly a mobile home will sell.
As an example, let’s consider the following scenario:
There are two sellers looking to put their home up for sale. One seller’s home is in Des Moines, IA and the other’s is in Miami, FL. Which one will go faster?
Well, perhaps the Des Moines mobile home will sell faster because there are fewer homes for buyers to consider. But, maybe the mobile home in Miami is newer and near the water on an attractive lot. It can also depend on what the goal is for each individual seller. One might be aiming to get the highest possible offer price, while the other is more interested in closing as soon as possible.
You get the idea, there are many variables that can impact the outcome.
Who wants to buy my mobile home?
One of the most important factors in selling anything is to know your audience. Are you selling a mobile home in a community, or selling a pet-friendly home? There are many benefits to knowing your audience and it’s ideal to think through these details during the planning phase.
As we will discuss in more detail later, a knowledgeable and experience professional will be able to assist you with the following:
- Figuring out the best time to sell your mobile home
- How to sell a mobile home with a mortgage
- Selling a mobile home during winter.
A good agent will explain the difference between selling a mobile home and a single-family home, as well as show you that you can sell a mobile home without land. Depending on your individual circumstance, an agent will provide you with tailor-made solutions and advice. Also, along with getting all the necessary information in order to plan a successful and fast sale, house appraisal, and inspection must be included in the process.
How to Improve Your Mobile Home Value
As in any other sale, you will want to get the best possible price for your mobile home. To do so, you can take some steps to improve your home value. However, discuss with your agent whether your investment will be worth your while. For example, if you plan to carry out major renovations, it’s essential to determine if that investment will return.
There are many things you can do to improve your home’s value, like conducting minor repairs, painting your home and fixing the floors and windows.
Of course, there are things you can do that will surely increase your mobile home value. For instance, a fresh coat of paint is always a good idea. It will make a much better impression on potential buyers, as your home will look polished and well-maintained. Similarly, replace all the broken elements, such as doorknobs, and carry out all minor repairs, such as leaking faucets, etc.
Moreover, if you decide that a more significant investment will pay off, consider making your home more energy-efficient and installing smart solutions. These are the things buyers will appreciate. Also, do your best to improve your home’s curb appeal, as that is the first thing interested parties will notice.
However, to prepare your mobile home for sale, before you start working on any repairs and upgrades, make sure you organize a home inspection and appraisal from a qualified inspector. It will help you estimate your home’s value and point you in the right direction regarding what needs fixing.
How to Price a Mobile Home
There are many factors that you will need to consider when pricing your mobile home. If you have had it appraised and inspected, you are already on the right track. It will have provided you with your home’s value, but that is not all. Location, the home’s condition, land and title, and the home model are also significant factors that will indicate the right price.
There are many factors to consider when setting the price for your mobile home
Location is a huge pricing factor. Naturally, a home in a desirable area will have more value. Moreover, the market condition of your location is vital. You need to be aware of whether your local market is more buyer or seller-oriented. Thankfully, a reliable real estate agent will help you understand your mobile home value and determine the accurate price.
How to Market Your Mobile Home
Now that you have put some time and effort into planning the sale, preparing the home for sale, and pricing it correctly, it’s time to focus on attracting attention to your home. This step involves showing potential buyers how great your home is. Therefore, if you want to see favorable results, that is, a quick and successful sale, you will need to implement an effective marketing strategy for your mobile home.
First things first, if you haven’t already, this is the time to choose the right partner to list your home, ensuring cost-effective and tangible results. They will show you the best tried-and-true practices for optimizing your listing. It implies:
- Staging your home – when you organize an open house, you need to make sure your home is spotlessly clean, tidy, and neat. Also, remember that first impressions matter, so don’t forget the garden: trim the hedges, powerwash your home exterior, add some flowers, etc. Finally, make your interior look homey and cozy, but allow the visitors to imagine themselves in that space. Therefore, it might be a good idea to remove your family photos and anything too personal.
Implementing the right strategies to market your home is essential, and including high-quality photographs is a must.
- Taking professional photos – excellent quality is imperative, but also make sure there are a lot of photographs, showcasing all the important areas of the house. That includes the kitchen, living/dining area, master bedroom, bathroom, an exterior shot showing the street view, etc.
- Providing quality information for buyers – writing compelling descriptions with detailed information, including multiple pieces of contact information so potential buyers can easily communicate with you without an issue.
How to Close on Your Mobile Home
Now you have reached the last step of the selling process – closing the deal. To ensure all goes smoothly, you need to get your paperwork in order. Here is a list of all the paperwork you will need during the process of selling a mobile home:
- Home title transfer – a home title is a government-issued document that states the ownership of a property. Remember that you’ll need to pay a title transfer fee and have the title notarized.
- Community documentation – if you want to sell your mobile home, you will likely need permission from the management of a manufactured home community.
- Tax documentation – you will need proof that you have paid all the necessary taxes on your manufactured home before you can sell it.
- Mobile home appraisal and inspection – most buyers will request that the mobile home has been inspected and appraised by a qualified inspector.
- Mobile home insurance records – these will tell your buyer what they are getting as they show the complete history of your mobile home. It will contain information if you have ever needed an insurance claim for any damages.
- Seller’s disclosure – this document states the condition of the mobile home at the time of sale.
- Bill of sale – after the deal has been made, it’s time to draw up a bill of sale. This document contains information about what property is being transferred, how much the buyer is paying, and other sale conditions.
- Fees and dues list – This list includes all the additional costs the buyer must pay before officially taking possession of the mobile home. Although the law doesn’t require this list, it will make things easier for the buyer.
Conclusion
Selling a mobile home may seem daunting initially, but with the right information and the right help, it is manageable. If you are moving to a far-away location, you will want to leave the state stress-free. And you can ensure that by making the sale of your manufactured home smooth sailing. All you need to do is take our advice regarding preparing and marketing your home and following the steps mentioned above.
