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Older Mobile Homes: Fix, or Move?
Ma Williams has been in the manufactured home business since 1969, and we still have contact with some of the customers who purchased homes back in the early days of the company.
Many of them, along with those who bought homes in the 1980s and early 1990s, may now be facing a decision: their homes still look good after all these years, but there are areas where work should be done. Is it better to invest in fixing it, or to buy a new manufactured home?
Obviously there is no one right answer. But as this is a predicament that thousands of manufactured home residents consider every year, here are some questions that may help those in this situation to make the right choice.
Have your needs changed?
Perhaps you were raising a family when you purchased your current home. But now the kids are grown and living elsewhere, and you have a lot of extra space you don’t use. Many empty nesters opt for a new, smaller home.
Is your home also an investment?
You could spend a considerable amount of money to restore a 20- or 25-year old home, but if you eventually choose to sell it, you may not recoup that additional investment, as the home will still be appraised primarily based on the year in which it was built. But if this is where you wish to live forever, fix it up.
Location
Are you still happy in the city or manufactured home community where your home resides? Or is it time for new surroundings?
Budget
Depending on the extent of the renovations, sometimes it is actually cheaper to buy than to repair. Also keep in mind that some renovations may require permits and add additional time to the project.
Stress
At Ma Williams we do our best to take the stress out of the home buying process. But we understand that it may still seem daunting to some customers, who then opt for repairs instead. But renovations can cause dust, noise and disruption for weeks. You new kitchen may look amazing when it’s finished, but living without a stove for a month can be stressful as well.
If you have any additional questions on this topic, please contact us
