You're in need of a new home and have a creative vision for acquiring one. You're convinced that constructing your own home is the right path for you. But you're not considering just any home; for various reasons, you're specifically interested in rebuilding a mobile home. Naturally, one critical question arises: What is the cost to rebuild a mobile home?
GOOD TO COUNT THE COST
It’s a legitimate question because, of course, you want to know what kind of expense you’re getting yourself into. You’re doing yourself a favor by thinking about this before diving in. If you simply jumped into rebuilding your mobile home without counting the cost, there are plenty of things that could go awry.
VERY VARIED
But before we go any further, there’s an important thing to mention. While it’s great to consider the question, “how much does it cost to rebuild a mobile home?” this is actually a difficult one to answer.
Why is that? Can’t we just tell you, “Oh, you’ll spend about X amount if you try to rebuild a mobile home?” Well, first of all, everyone’s location is different. Building supplies will likely cost different amounts depending on where you live.
Secondly, everyone’s needs and desires are different. Maybe you’re bound and determined to have the very best with top-quality, brand-new materials. Then, of course, you’re going to spend more than some others. Conversely, if you’re a dedicated DIY-er, and you happen to know where to get a lot of supplies deeply discounted or free, it’ll be a whole different picture.
Thirdly, the person who’s going to be doing the work will make a difference. Let’s say you know how to do most of this yourself. Then you’ll likely spend less out of pocket than someone who needs to hire labor. However, as a DIY’er, you’ll end up spending far more of your time (which is it’s own cost).
WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF YOU DON’T COUNT THE COST
Naturally, if you don’t plan, these problems tend to crop up:
Half-built home
Tied up resources with nothing usable to show for them
No money to finish and no place to live
SO HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO REBUILD A MOBILE HOME?
While we won’t give you a number to say how much it’s going to cost, we can share some things you need to consider. Here are the primary costs you’ll run into as you attempt to rebuild your mobile home.
PHASE 1 – PLANNING
In this phase, remember that when your house is done you’re going to want running water, electricity, and all those essentials. So figure out how much that will cost you and maybe even set aside money to make sure you’ve got enough.
REMEMBER IMPORTANT THINGS
True Built Home estimates that having “septic, power, and water at the site, and road improvements accomplished” could “be worth $20,000 to $30,000 worth of improvements.” If you already have these things, great! However, if not, know that you need to budget to make sure your home has septic, water, and everything else you need.
Also, you may need a building permit so be sure to check on that. Check what fees will be associated with rebuilding a mobile home legally in your locality.
PHASE 2 – BUILDING
Next, let’s talk a little about the meat of the project. According to hunker.com, “Costs of new materials fluctuate wildly, depending on the forces in the market.” Therefore, you might consider running the rebuilding idea by a builder in your area and asking for a rough estimate of how much you’d spend on materials.
Of course, you’ll be buying things like studs, floorboards, sheetrock, joint compound, nails, and maybe pre-made trusses. Additionally, don’t forget you’ll need to purchase doors and windows. And for the doors and windows, buying second-hand items is a great option to save yourself some cash.
HEADS UP
Note that it could be good to set aside extra money in case you run into unexpected obstacles. For instance, you may discover that the well is dry and need to dig another. Or, perhaps you find out that some building materials you purchased won’t be usable after all and that you can’t return them. While planning will save you from some of these headaches, even the best planning isn’t foolproof.
PHASE 3 – INTERIOR
Head to your local home improvement store and make some rough calculations for how much you’ll spend on paint, flooring, trim, and things like door handles. If you’re purchasing brand-new countertops, cabinets, toilets, tubs, and sinks, try to calculate the cost for those at the store too.
PHASE 4 – EXTERIOR
Finally, as you ask yourself how much does it cost to rebuild a mobile home, calculate how much you’ll likely spend on things like shutters and siding. Again, you can always run the question by a local builder who may be able to give you an approximation.
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