Complete Guide to Moving Your Mobile Home - Page 5
WHAT CAN GO WRONG WITH MOVING A MOBILE HOME?
These are the most common events that can happen to ruin your move.
- Paying the Transporter
This is the most common problem we have seen in the past. Here is the typical scenario. You call up a transporter and agree on a price. They tell you they will put you on the schedule as soon as you send in the payment or ½ of the payment for the move. You are in a hurry so you agree to send it in. Once you send in the payment, you are expecting to have the home moved on or before a certain day. However, that day approaches and the mover has not contacted you and does not return you calls. In the usual case, the mover just keeps bumping you to the back of the list since he has already been paid for the job. In the extreme case, the mover is not really a mover and you won’t ever be able to reach him again. He just scammed you. Don’t ever let this happen to you! I don’t care how big of a hurry you are in. I would never send a mover a payment before they are at the home preparing it for the move. If they insist on payment in advance, move on to the next mover. If this is your only choice, make sure to get reliable references from local mobile home dealers and check that they are licensed and make sure you have a written contract.
When I have a home moved, and I have several moved every month in different states, I require a contract with their license number on the contract so that I can check that they are legit. I will have my manager meet them at the home on the day of the move with 3 checks. One for the tear down. One for the move. One for the setup. They do not get a penny until each step is completed to my (or my manager’s) satisfaction.
- Poor Selection of a Transporter
If you choose the wrong mover, then the whole process will be awful, and you will be lucky to not lose substantial time and money, and gain a lot of aggravation. Don’t just choose based on the lowest cost. Price should just be part of your consideration and it is really the overall package that counts.
- Not Preparing the Mobile Home for Transport
There is nothing sadder than seeing someone open the door to their home and find the carpet is covered in broken glass or stained by a bottle of bleach that came open. Things can come crashing to the floor during the move and if you do not secure these items, they will get broken. Nothing can withstand the abuse of bumping along for hundreds of miles.
- Not Making Proper Arrangements to Move
Losing your deposit for not notifying your landlord is just plain stupid. Additionally, having your move postponed because you did not pay the property tax is equally dumb. Both can be easily avoided if you take the time and effort in advance.
- Ripping the Utilities Out of the Ground when the Home is Leaving
How many times have we seen a mobile home not have its utilities disconnected prior to the move and, with a poor selection of a mover, seen the water and sewer lines ripped out of the ground as the home is pulled out. Too many times.
- Putting the Home on the Wrong Spot
The home is delivered to the right lot, but in the wrong position. The owner did not want to bother being there when it was delivered. Now they have to choose whether to pay big bucks to move it, or leave it in the position they are unhappy with. Either way they lose.
- Not Taking the Skirting with the Home
Skirting is a reusable item. It is not designed to be disposable. How many times have people run back to the old location to try and get it, only to find it is gone? Too many to mention. Take the skirting with you and, if it does not work at the new location, throw it away or sell it.
- Not using the Approved Professional to Reinstall Utilities
If you don’t ask the requirements in the town you are in, you may have to do this twice. Remember Franklin’s “waste not, want not”.
- Moving a Home Without Having a Clue What You Are Doing
At least that’s not you, because you read this book! A lot of people wish they had.