How to Move Your Mobile Home: The Move + Home Installation

THE MOVE 

The transporter will proceed with the home at a fairly low rate of speed for two reasons.  First, it is dangerous hauling something this big, and he wants to keep control of this load.  Secondly although he will probable have a truck behind him to warn other drivers of his enormous girth, he is equally concerned about areas of road that are too narrow to accommodate him, or two low to clear, such as a bridge.  If he goes slow, he has more time to assess the situation and potentially pull over and stop.  The final reason is that the home could sustain damage at a high rate of speed if the wind peels back the exterior material or breaks windows, not to mention what can be broken on the inside.  If you are going to drive behind or in front of the load yourself, you will probably go nuts traveling at 50mph in a 70mph zone. 

HOME INSTALLATION 

Once the home has arrived at its destination, there are many steps needed to complete the move.  These include getting the home into position on the lot, leveling it, anchoring it, removing the tongue, wheels and axles, re-connecting all utilities, re-skirting the home, and installing the stairs and/or deck.  Of all the items in the move, this is where the most work and expense comes in.  And it cannot be done overnight.  If you are planning to sleep in the house the day it is delivered, you better plan otherwise. While this process sounds easy and sane, it is prone to problems and disappointments-some of which can be cripplingly expensive-so let’s now examine how to do it the right way. 

By Frank Rolfe 

Frank Rolfe is a mobile home park investor and owns over 100 parks with his partner Dave Reynolds. Frank also leads regular Mobile Home Park Investing Bootcamps through the MobileHomeUniversity.com.