i have a double wide..problem # 1..all the fixtures in mobile homes are NON standard, which means if you need plumbing repair, and elec repair, you have to get replacement parts from a mobile home supply store, make sure there is one close by that isn't outrageously priced as you WILL need repairs eventually.
our first year it was plumbing, bathroom showers, tub drains are notorious for leaking under the home as they aren't properly supported..so get walk in showers instead of one piece or 2 piece tubs if you can.
make sure the windows are what you want, we ordered top and bottom tilt in to clean and they came with only bottom tilt in's i was livid.

if it is drywall inside it will crack, so save lots of touch up paint to match.

otherwise i love our house

so if the drywall cracks all you need to do is paint it? not replace it? and this is a 2009, should I expect the same problems as you in a year?

There are good deals and not so good. When I was looking for a home, I was prepared to buy new (already had the land) and I lucked out getting a home apx 5 years old - bigger and better floorplan - from a manuf. home park that was undergoing renovations. I saved 2/3's off of new price. I've run into others that were able to get deals from parks closing etc.

The previous poster is correct. NOTHING in a MH is standard and usually lower quality at mh supply store. Not even the bathroom sink or tub, kitchen cabinets, counter, plumbing (stay away from grey funny pipe). It's a pain and usually cheaper to do a little remolding to fit standard home supply store stuff when the time comes.

The most important things to pay attention to are the sub-flooring and ducts/ventilation. It's not uncommon for ductwork underneath to not be connected properly - holes=$. Homes are usually shy of vents, which builds humidity = not good. SubFloors are susceptible to humidity problems since it's pressboard (they have fancy names. It's still pressboard).

The park you pick is a factor too. Not all are run well, nor are you covered if management changes. The homes are not mobile. It's best you if can get a piece of land that you own. There's also been a trend towards co-ops. I think there's a fairly active group of mh owners in Florida.

shower heads, no,
outdoor lights, no,
most plumbing, no,

ronbre - are you saying those things are NOT non standard? or no you don't have to buy at a mobile home sply place?

i'm in a 72 trailer. haven't bought anything at mobile home supply (that I know about). bf and electrician/plumber just buy at HD or local hdw store.

i'll be replacing the kitchen sink in my newer mfg home (to be... about a 2000 I think) and am planning on a cast iron one - unless there's a reason I shouldn't. will probably buy at HD. saw one there for about 200.00. haven't checked lowe's yet tho. but that's about my limit - I'm not running around to lots of stores looking for stuff.
too much to do...too little time AND energy. lol!

most likely i'll eventually be replacing the fixtures in mstr bath - and maybe the sink in the main bath. not buying plastic to put in either!

you know I wish I knew where you wanted to live, as my brother and sister in law have just purchased a new home and they are completely remodeling their double wide in a beautiful park in Temperance Michigan and they are going to sell it really cheap ..just to get out from under the cost to maintain it..it is a lovely large double wide with a storage shed in a gorgeous park, just a block or so North of the Toledo, Ohio/ Michigan state line in Temperance..they are sacrificing this home at a whopping good deal !!

We've lived in our 1997 single wide (16x80) for 7 years. For the first couple we were in a mobile home park and then moved it to our own property.

Within the last couple of years we have done some remodeling work.

We had to replace the walk-in shower in the master bath and had to go to a Mobile Home Supply store for that (fortunately my nephew is the owner and we were able to get his pricing).

The rest of the items we've replaced have been standard from Lowe's or Home Depot:

-replaced the plastic sink and faucet in master bath with ceramic sink and stainless faucet
-replaced plastic sink in kitchen with single bowl stainless, replaced the faucet & added an under counter water filter (just a week ago!)
-replaced all light fixtures and ceiling fans with standard fixtures/fans
-replaced some of the light switches with standard ones
-replaced almost all of the door knobs (inside doors and outside doors) with standard brushed nickel one

We have added beadboard in both baths, the back door hallway and as a backsplash in the kitchen. We've textured and painted. Changed all cabinet hinges and pulls in kitchen and both baths.

So far in two years, we haven't had any problems with cracking walls. We are working now on the living room and hall - texturing and painting.

We've replaced bathroom flooring with vinyl and just a few weeks ago, put Allure Trafficmaster wood look vinyl in the kitchen.

Everyone who walks in (we use the back door mostly) comments on how it doesn't even look like a mobile home (I call it my cottage - my really long, shotgun cottage - lol)

We plan on being here a very long time and are very pleased with the quality of our home.

I've added a link to see some of the pictures of what we've done. I don't have pictures of my new kitchen sink yet.

I hope you enjoy your home.

lalynn - did you put in a tiled shower? or a 1 piece one? I might have to replace mine in a yr or so. I don't really know yet - that part was closed off with plastic... i've been in it before, just don't remember the condition of the shower.

I don't see a link to your remodeled home???

the one i'm getting is about 24 x 50 something. dbf and i don't agree on the width or length of it...lol! it's his (he buys up these things on a regular basis) and it's been sitting empty on a piece of his property about 40 miles from here for a few yrs. it's pretty solid inside and with some changes will be a very good home for me and my 2 dogs. I think we did figure it was at least 1400 sq ft. 4 bdrooms, 2 baths, kitchen, laundry and LR/DR (LR/DR is the full width of the home and about 14'wide).

It also needs a super good cleaning. double super good! and this next yr i want to redo the kitchen - after i've lived in it for several months. After the kitchen is done i'll work on the mstr bathroom.

Desertsteph, I had to put in a 2 piece, the pan and the walls. My entry door into the bathroom wasn't big enough to get a one-piece through, much to my dismay!! But, it's fine. It's a stall shower - small. We had the big garden tub and then the stall shower. My brother took out the garden tub - made for a nice big bathroom.

We have a single wide, 16x80. Before we moved it to our property I found a wonderful double wide that I fell in love with. And, we almost bought it, but this one was paid for and I was only a couple years from retirement, so decided to keep this one. I'm retired now and am glad we made that decision.

So far we've remodeled both bathrooms, the kitchen and the back entry hall (every one comes to the back door - here in the south!! lol). We've started working on the living room and when we're done I'll post some pictures.

Since these pictures were taken, I've put in a stainless single bowl sink (which I love) and have done a bit of redecorating (which I do on a daily basis!!!)

I forgot to post the link before - here it is.

I LOVE seeing pictures of remodels on mobile homes. I love looking at the beautiful kitchens, dens, etc. on the other forums, but I could never do enough to make my home look that way.....so, I wish I could see more remodel pictures on this forum. So.......anyone - please post pictures!!

Lynn

Here is a link that might be useful: Remodel