Moving a Manufactured Home: 4 Laws You Need to Know

It’s estimated that 22 million people live in manufactured homes. There are many benefits to living in a manufactured home, including reduced purchase and maintenance costs and environmental friendliness. There’s also another big reason that people invest in a manufactured home: convenience. Manufactured homes can often be hitched on the back of a truck and relocated. It’s important to know the specifics of moving manufactured homes and the laws that dictate when, how, and if a manufactured property can be moved. Here are four laws you need to know about moving a manufactured home and some other tips to help you with the process.

Law #1: You’ll need to get a moving permit to relocate your manufactured home.

You can’t just pick up and leave with your manufactured home when you feel like it. While the exact process of obtaining a moving permit for a manufactured home depends on the state and county in which you are currently living, you will likely be required to provide a couple of key items: https://www.themoveme.com

• A certificate from the county treasurer stating that there are no unpaid and/or overdue taxes on the property
• A certificate of title for the property or a copy of the certificate of title. Some counties will also accept a copy of the application for a certificate of title that you have submitted to your state’s department of motor vehicles

As you would any time you deal with your local municipal government, give yourself plenty of time to get your permit in order before your move—you don’t want slow paperwork or approvals to mess up your moving day.

Law #2: You’ll need a manufactured home mover.

There’s no such thing as a DIY move when relocating with a manufactured home. That’s because the laws on moving a manufactured home require that you work with a licensed, bonded, and insured professional moving company. Use our free online list of movers to search for reputable moving companies in your area. Next, reach out to them directly to get a quote. Ask if they have the experience, equipment, and trucks necessary to move your manufactured home.

Not all moving companies are up to the task, so similar to getting your permit, give yourself plenty of time to do your research here. That will help ensure that you get a good moversdubai company to help you out, but you’ll also be able to shop around for quotes so that you know you’re getting the best deal possible on your manufactured home move.

Law #3: You’ll need your manufactured home to be up to code.

Those HUD codes we mentioned before aren’t just suggestions for manufactured homes. They are legal requirements for placing any manufactured home on the map, including ones built before the codes went into place.

So what does this mean for your move? If your manufactured home was built before the HUD codes were enacted in 1976, you’re probably not going to be allowed to move it. And most municipalities bolster this law with their own age limits and strict local requirements around modern-day building standards for the home and its internal systems. With those standards in place, a manufactured home built in the ’70s, ’80s, or even ’90s might not get the pass.

Law #4: You’ll need to check the legal requirements of your new city/town.

The city/town where you’re relocating may have stricter laws regarding building standards and property age than your current town. You will almost certainly have special zoning restrictions that you’ll have to abide by.

If your manufactured home is more than 10 or 15 years old, expect to go through a bit of legwork providing accurate proof of the integrity of its structure and systems. Modern-day building standards are in place for a reason, and there’s no getting around these laws if your property isn’t meeting the bar.

Where to Start when you want to relocate your manufactured home

Don’t let the laws on moving a manufactured home deter you from starting the process. Many people successfully move their manufactured homes every year. Give yourself enough time. It doesn’t have to be a stressful process. As for what to do first, follow these steps for making sure you dot your i’s and cross your t’s when it comes to the laws on moving a manufactured home. https://www.allieddubaimovers.com

1. Contact the building commissioner in your new town.

   They’ll be able to fill you in on any requirements around age and building codes, and any zoning issues. Unfortunately, if you can’t get past the legal requirements of this step, you’re not going to be able to move your home. If you do, however, move on to step two.

2. Get your title certificate and county treasurer certificate in order.

   These are the documents that prove (a) you own the property and (b) there are no taxes due on it. If there are any taxes due, you’ll need to pay those before you will be legally allowed to move the structure. Both of these documents are required for obtaining your moving permit.

3. Hire a moving company that specializes in moving manufactured homes.

   Most moving companies won’t allow you to book service until you have your moving permit. While you should be doing your moving company research before this step, now is when you’ll want to choose a company and hire them for your move.

   As for the cost of moving a manufactured home, for relocations within 50 miles, you should anticipate spending somewhere between $5,000 and $8,000 for acquiring permits, moving your home, and hooking up utilities for a single-wide manufactured home. For a double-wide, that amount increases to about $10,000 to $13,000. This number goes up for further moves. And while it’s not cheap, it’s still a lot more affordable than buying a brand new house.

4. Notify your current park manager.

   If you live in a manufactured home park, you’ll need to let your current park manager know that you are moving. Start by reviewing your manufactured home lot rental agreement to see how much notice you must provide and by what means. Usually, you’ll be required to give written notice of your intent to relocate at least 30 days before your move. The manufactured home lot rental agreement should also provide information about your security deposit, factors that influence how much you receive back, and how long the park has to return what you’re owed. By reviewing this information in advance, you may have enough time to make any necessary repairs to the property necessary to get the deposit back in full.

How to prepare your manufactured home for the move

Before the moving company loads your manufactured home on the trailer, you’ll need to ensure it’s ready to go. Since some tasks should be completed well in advance, you’ll want to get started as soon as possible.

• Disconnect utilities.

  Up to two months before your move, notify utility companies that you will be moving. Let them know your move date and when you’d like your utilities disconnected. In some cases, failure to let them know at least two weeks in advance could result in a fine.

  Your manufactured home will need to be physically disconnected from the systems that deliver your utilities. If you hire a moving company for a full-service move, the crew will disconnect your manufactured home and reconnect it at the new site. However, if you hire a company for a transport-only move, you’ll have to hire professionals, like plumbers, to disconnect the manufactured home at your current location. Unless you are moving within the same area, you’ll need to find another set of professionals at your new location to physically reconnect utilities to your manufactured home. https://servicebasketuae.com

• Remove manufactured home skirting.

  Skirting closes off the open space underneath a manufactured home. It helps with keeping critters out, helping to retain heat, and promoting airflow so mold and mildew can’t grow underneath. This needs to be removed before the manufactured home can be moved. You can remove this yourself as long as it is secured by screws or a simple slide-and-click mechanism. However, if the skirting is secured by bolts, it’s better to let the moving company do the job.

• Deal with any additions.

  Your moving company may or may not be able to move a porch, addition, or storage area. Ask before you hire them. If they can’t, you may need to remove these yourself. Next, you’ll have to decide whether you want to find another way to move them or get rid of them. You’ll also have to remove any air conditioner units or swamp coolers before the move.

• Pack your belongings.

  Although you’re moving your manufactured home, you’ll still need to pack and move your belongings in a separate van. Too much weight in a manufactured home can damage the trailer’s axle. Not to mention, loose items can jostle during the move, causing damage to the home’s interior. Treat a manufactured home move just as you would a move from a fixed home. When in doubt about items that should be moved out, ask your moving company.

• Secure loose items.

  Once you’ve packed your belongings, go through the manufactured home removing any items that could come loose during the move. This includes glass panels, light fixtures, glass cabinet drawers, and toilet tank lids. Wrap the items in bubble wrap or moving blankets, and pack in boxes if they’ll fit. Load these in your moving truck.

  Next, secure all cabinets, so they don’t fly open while on the road. Do the same with shower doors. (If the shower doors are glass, consider removing them and packing them away.) If you choose to leave a large piece of furniture or an appliance in the home, make sure they can’t fall, slide, or tip over.

Planning to move a manufactured home?

Whether you need help moving your manufactured home, personal belongings, or both, our extensive network of reputable and reliable movers can get the job done. All relocation companies in our network are licensed and insured. Plus, if you need to store your belongings, we can help with that, too. Moving.com can connect you to trustworthy and affordable self-storage facilities in your area.