Mobile homes stand out because of the possibility that you can move them one day. They allow you this freedom.
Unfortunately, just because you can doesn’t mean it’s easy. The process involves deconstruction, permits, and finding appropriate transport among other things. However, there often comes a situation or time where you definitely need to relocate the property. It could even mean taking it across state borders.
This begs the question, how do you go about moving a manufactured house to another state?
BASICS OF MOVING A MOBILE HOME
The process of transporting a manufactured house has many moving parts to it – literally and figuratively. It’s not just a case of hooking it to a truck and hauling it away.
Before we get started with the details of the move, there are some essential aspects that you need to be aware of.
First off, you will probably not be allowed or be able to move it completely intact. The only ones that can be transported in one piece are homes that can perfectly fit onto licensed trailers. These will mostly be single-wide homes.
Most double-wides and larger houses will need to be deconstructed into separate pieces that will be moved piece-by-piece.
Secondly, the house needs to be able to stay intact throughout the journey. For this, it needs to still be in good condition. That is why many older homes cannot be moved. Professional movers will have inspectors who can assist you in assessing this.
COST OF RELOCATION
An essential thing to consider before you start the relocation process is the cost involved. It is crucial that you make these calculations beforehand to make sure you have your finances sorted.
In general, it can cost between $1,000 and $5,000 to move the mobile home a short distance. It can cost $15,000 or more if the journey is longer. To get a rough estimate of how much your move will cost, you can calculate the expenses at about $5 to $10 per mile.
But distance isn’t the only concern. The cost can vary depending on several factors.
The following are some aspects that can significantly impact the costs:
Size: The dimensions of the home will play a role. Larger homes will be more expensive to transport. If it is too wide, traffic might need to be redirected along the route. And if it needs to be taken in parts, you might need to pay for a trip for each.
Weight: What equipment needs to be used depends on how much the home weighs. So the expenses will change accordingly.
Route: Distance isn’t the only important factor of the journey. The more challenging the conditions, the more you will need to pay. Are there any narrow roads? Does the pathway include steep inclines or even mountain passes? Your mover will need to compensate for this.
Permits: You need to pay for several licenses that will be obtained for this process.
Repairs: Don’t forget that you might need to perform a few repairs before and especially after the move. You should factor these potential extra costs into your budget.
PREPARING THE HOME
There is a lot you need to take care of to get your home ready for the move. As we have said, your movers will be responsible for much of this process. They will help you to separate the pieces and lift the house off its foundations.
One thing that you need to do is to close any openings to the homes. You need to secure all the doors, windows and shutters so that they don’t fly open on the road.
Any skirtings and trim on the exterior can be damaged during the journey. So it’s better to remove them beforehand.
The movement will cause everything inside the home to fall around if it isn’t nailed securely to the floor. That’s why you need to remove any loose objects from the house including heavy furniture.
You should also remove objects that are breakable and fragile like toilet covers and glass cabinet doors.
Rather be safe than sorry, by removing anything that you are concerned about.
PREPARING THE NEW LOT:
Before you move the manufactured house you need to prepare the new site as well. Go visit it to see what you will need to change. It needs to be in perfect shape so that you can park the home there, as is.
These are possible things that you will need to address:
The lot: There needs to be enough space on the lot to place the manufactured house. The ground where you are going to put it has to be cleared. Cut down trees, move boulders and rocks, and any other obstacles that are in the way.
Ground level: You need to ensure that the ground is level enough to park the home here. This is necessary to maintain the structural integrity of the property. It might involve bringing in new soil to fill up gaps and so on.
Foundation: An essential aspect is to put a new foundation in place. The movers should be able to pick up the house from the trailer or truck and place it directly on the structure. Two main types are slabs and blocks. If you’re unsure about your options, here is more information on the different kinds of HUD-approved foundations.
Extras: An optional step is to do a little bit of extra work on the lot to make it more pleasant once you arrive. You could, for example, begin planting a garden and doing some landscaping.
Once the site is ready, you can proceed with the relocation process.
UTILITIES
Before you plan on moving a mobile home, you need to have all your utilities disconnected. This includes water, power, plumbing, sewage and gas lines. It is also necessary to disconnect any phone lines. All of these will need to be connected once again when the home arrives at the new site.
Both aspects need to be handled by a professional. Many moving companies include disconnecting and installing as part of their transportation package. But this isn’t always the case. If they don’t provide the service, you will need to hire electricians, plumbers and/or pay the utility company to come out.
Professionals will have the right permits and should be able to handle this safely. Hiring a service to help you will incur additional costs.
Research utility companies in the state you’re relocating to. Contact them in advance so that you can immediately connect your utilities once the house is in place.
MOVING COMPANIES
Remember that you need to hire a professional moving company to transport your mobile home. The company needs to have a license from the state to haul manufactured houses legally.
These experts are trained in all the ins and outs of relocating the home. They should offer services to prepare and move the property and also help to set up in the new location.
Most will be able to help you with deconstruction. If you are inexperienced, we recommend that you hire a company to help with this as well to avoid any unnecessary damage.
STEPS TO HIRING A MOVING COMPANY
Choosing a professional moving company can be tricky. You need to weed out the bad from the good.
Here are some essential steps to take when it comes to hiring the right mover.
1- LIST OF OPTIONS
Make a list of licensed companies in your area. A pro tip is to ask local mobile home dealerships and parks for the information of authorized businesses that they have experience with. The internet is always a brilliant resource to use.
2- QUOTES
Don’t just go with the first company that you find. An excellent place to start is to ask different movers for quotes. Carefully check what services are included in this price to make sure you aren’t stuck with hidden costs later on.
3- REFERRALS
Ask the movers for referrals from previous customers to find out more about their services. This will help you to make sure that they are professional and won’t damage your property or let you down.
If the company has a license from the Department of Transportation, you will be able to find about their driving and accident history.
You can always check for online reviews too just to give you some extra reassurance.
4- INSURANCE
A lot can go wrong during this process. So how should you prepare for potential issues?
Enquire about the business’ insurance policies. They need to have adequate coverage to protect the company and yourself if anything goes wrong.
Even if they have it, you should probably check your own policies too. Ask your provider whether the house is covered while it’s being moved.
LAWS AND ZONING REGULATIONS
As you can already tell, there are plenty of administrative and legal requirements that you need to pay attention to.
It is a great idea to phone the zoning department in the area of the new lot. Ask them whether there are any laws or restrictions in the state regarding moving new homes. For example, there could be rules about how new used dwellings need to be for you to transport them.
Besides this, the HUD has divided the country into three zones based on their climate. It is divided into wind zones, roof load zones, and thermal zones. They have set out standards that homes need to meet in these areas. These are meant to make sure that the houses will be able to stand weather conditions in the region.
PERMITS
There are several different permits that you need to get before you move your mobile home to another state.
The first one is to establish that the house is in a safe condition to be transported.
Second, you will need to obtain permits whenever you move a mobile home across state lines. It’s necessary to get one for every state border that it crosses.
Luckily, most professional movers get the permits for you or can at least assist you with this. They should be able to advise you about any additional documents that you need to apply for.
PARK RULES
Individual mobile home parks have specific rules that govern that space. Some of these could affect your relocation process. For example, just as in traditional real estate complexes there are often rules about when trucks and moving trailers can enter. There might also be rules about how the process can be done.
The same counts for the new park where you are going to park. Besides moving, they typically have rules about the manufactured houses, their appearance, condition and so on that are allowed to be placed there. You should check this when you decide on the new site.
Don’t leave your courtesy at the door when you exit the park. You need to clean up the lot after the home has been removed. Take away any refuse or debris and all your personal property.
Depending on the rules, the park can hold you responsible for any mess you leave behind. Therefore, enquire whether the moving company will clear up afterward or whether you need to do this yourself.
MAKE THE MOVE
The best way to do this is to take the whole process step-by-step. It can help to make moving your mobile home to another state much more manageable.
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