Moving into a new mobile home on land can be an extremely cost-effective and rewarding decision. For a couple or family looking for a new place to live its a great idea. Mobile homes are typically a lower-cost option. But just how much does it cost to prepare land for a mobile home?
Cost to Install a Manufactured Home
Compared to having a stick-built custom build home or other traditional new homes they can save you a lot. They usually cost less per square foot than other conventional options. You can get more square footage for your money and that in itself is amazing.
Mobile homes are also very flexible because they are often semi-permanent. This means they can be more easily removed in the future if you decide you want to move locations.
One other additional advantage mobile homes provide is that they are often constructed in controlled environments. Many times weather can be potentially delaying and interfering which is likely to slow the progress of your home’s completion.
Site Preparation for a Mobile Home
While these advantages are rightfully very exciting. You must prepare the land on which your mobile home will live before placing the home there. While the total cost of a mobile home is a hard-to-beat value compared to other traditional housing options, it’s a good idea to consider all the financial costs associated with the process, especially land preparation, which can be easy to overlook. Here we will consider several factors to consider when estimating how much it costs to prepare land for a new mobile home.
Consider the Moving Costs of the Mobile Home
Before you go all-in with your new mobile home purchase, it’s essential to consider the cost of moving the mobile home. Surprisingly, this cost will probably be one of your most expensive costs associated with the entire process.
Also, keep in mind that single-wide mobile homes will cost less to move. Doublewides have 2 parts so they will cost nearly double the cost of a singlewide to move.
Moving a mobile home requires permits and an experienced licensed mover. Be sure to hire someone who has experience and has been recommended by someone you trust.
Manufactured Home Setup Cost Foundation
Another very important factor to consider is which type of foundation you plan on putting the mobile home on.
There are several options to think about when thinking about mobile home foundations . These options include skirting with the home setting on piers, a brick cinder block foundation or a poured wall foundation with a possible basement. If you plan on skirting with piers, keep in mind this foundation typically doesn’t fare well with intense weather.
One disadvantage to either a cinder block foundation or a poured wall foundation is the expense. Poured walls and concrete blocks can cost much more than just skirting. In this case, you pay for the quality you receive.
Cost of Setting Up a Mobile Home
If you can afford to spend a little more, it may benefit you down the road. It will make your home and property worth more money. It will give you space to store items and if a dangerous storm passes through your area you can seek shelter here.
Another thing to consider with a mobile home foundation is how to keep your area underneath your mobile home dry. You can read more about this topic at our article Crawl Space Vapor Barrier.
How to Setup a Mobile Home on Land with Permits
Unfortunately, even with a mobile home you will still need to pull permits.
Depending on what county or legal jurisdiction you live in, additional legal costs, such as permits, go to the government in your area. Even though your mobile home will technically already be constructed before it arrives on your land, you often still need to pull permits for your local county offices.
There are a wide variety of permits you may be required to obtain. Some include electrical permits, septic permits, well permits, driveway permits (if there is not already a driveway built there and you wish to construct one, mechanical permits, and other kinds of permits depending on where you live.
Hopefully, these fees won’t be excessive, but they can certainly add up fast. Be proactive in calculating these costs and including them in your pre-planning budgets, so they don’t sneak up on you by surprise.
Septic System Cost For Mobile Homes
Septic fields, also known as septic drain fields or leach fields, are essential. They are an unavoidable cost to consider when preparing your land for a new mobile home.
These systems are wastewater disposal fields that filter the contaminants. These contaminants come from your septic tank in your mobile home. The septic fields are very important to maintaining the health of the land you live on.
They can cost a lot of money to build and maintain, especially if you have to use filtered sand. Be sure to check with your health department before you start to build your septic field.
If you contact the health department, they will often give you hints and rough ideas on your land. They may very well help save you from as much as a possible $30,000 price tag. Price tags like this can be a shocking setback to preparing your mobile home for land. This kind of unexpected cost will hurt but it could derail other essential and exciting plans. There is a lot of planning that goes into your new mobile home and the land you’ll be living on.
Read more on our article: Mobile Home Septic Tank Requirements: A Comprehensive Guide
Lot Preparation and Size
Sometimes it’s easy to underestimate how much land one needs, in reality, to properly build a mobile home while still meeting all the specifications that are required.
Before building on your lot, make sure you actually have enough space to build on your lot. It’s very common for new mobile homeowners to assume they have enough land when they actually do not. Many times the lot is too small or won’t perk – this can lead to an inevitable disaster if you pay to move a new mobile home to a lot before checking only to find out you can’t even use it.
Mobile Home Delivery and Setup Cost
Remember moving your mobile home will probably be your highest cost, so do everything you can to avoid this costly mistake. It might end up costing so much to move the mobile home to your lot and then move it somewhere else that you could no longer afford the home itself. Nobody wants a situation like this, so please consider the size of your lot before you make any costly mistakes.
Check with your Local Building Department
If you see a reoccurring theme here, you are exactly right. It’s ALWAYS better safe than sorry to check with all your local governmental organizations, building codes, and mobile homeowning regulations. Being proactive now will save you money, peace of mind, and emotional turmoil for years down the road.
This is no exception when it comes to checking with your local building department. Before you begin spending precious money, please be sure to check with your local building dept to confirm that you can put a mobile home in the area of your land.
It is very typical for many local ordinances to require exclusively stick-built homes (A stick-built home is merely any home that is built on-site using a wooden frame or sticks.) Another factor to consider is what year the mobile home was built in. Some local building department offices explicitly state that you can only add mobile homes built in 1987 and more recently. Considering these technicalities is especially important if you’re bringing a mobile home you’ve already lived in into a new location.
Consider Potential Future Remodeling Costs
With all the many various costs associated with building and moving your new mobile home, it’s all too easy to overlook the potential future remodeling costs that will inevitably pop up once you begin living in your mobile home by yourself or with your family—owning any type of home requires constant maintenance, upkeep, remodeling, and replacing. No one wants to spend their hard-earned money on beautiful new appliances only to watch them decay without the possibility of replacement due to poor planning and budgeting. Make sure to factor in future costs for remodeling, new carpeting, paint, appliances, cleaning materials, and much more.
You might also be interested in reading our article How Much Is My Mobile Home Worth?
How Much Does It Cost to Prepare a Mobile Home For Land: Conclusion
No matter what your vision is for your mobile home, be sure to be proactive and thoughtful in considering all the costs associated with preparing land for a mobile home. Trust us; you’ll be happy you did!
FAQ’s: How Much Does It Cost to Prepare a Mobile Home For Land
How do you prepare ground for a mobile home?
Preparing the ground for a mobile home involves leveling the site, installing a gravel pad or concrete foundation, ensuring proper drainage, and meeting local building codes and regulations to ensure a stable and safe foundation for the home.
Can I put a mobile home on my property?
Yes, you can typically place a mobile home on your property, but you need to comply with local zoning and land use regulations. It’s essential to check with your local government or zoning department to understand the specific requirements and permitting processes for placing a mobile home on your land.
How much does it cost to put a modular home on land?
The cost of placing a modular home on land can vary widely depending on factors such as the home’s size, design, location, and site preparation needs. On average, you can expect to pay anywhere from $100,000 to $300,000 or more for the entire process, including site preparation and installation.
How much is a manufactured home?
The cost of a manufactured home varies based on factors like size, features, and location. On average, a new manufactured home can range from $40,000 to $100,000 or more, while used homes may be available at a lower cost, depending on their age and condition.