Buying a manufactured home in a community can be one of the best ways to find a home that meets your exact needs. When you shop around for the perfect community, chances are you’ll have questions you can’t always find looking the community up online.
If you’re unable to find the answer to a question about a community you’re looking at, then take a look at this list of the most common questions for a community manager or owner. These can be asked either when you’re touring homes in that community, or via phone/email through their publicly available contact info.
In some cases, a community’s webpage may not have details about which utilities are included in the lot rent. So, asking park staff as you’re touring the community can be a good idea.
Some communities may include water, trash pickup, and even Wi-Fi as part of your monthly lot rent. Imagine having fewer monthly bills in your new home, thanks to your community!
Some communities may have a central location for keyed mailboxes, while others will have individual mailboxes at each home. If you have a preference, it may be helpful to clarify this with the community you’re interested in. That way, you’ll know whether your Amazon packages are dropped off at a keyed mailbox or at your front door.
Gated security is a big draw for many community residents-to-be, offering an environment with increased peace of mind. If a community doesn’t advertise itself as gated, it’s worth asking the community owner for more information.
Apart from the utilities mentioned above, by paying your lot rent you can also access many amenities provided by the community. Most communities advertise their amenities, but double-check with community staff which exact ones are available.
Many communities will have a number to call for resident concerns, including maintenance. Make sure you ask community staff about this so that you know exactly who to call when something goes wrong.
If you find yourself needing to file a noise or pet complaint, your community may have a separate phone number for this. Make sure you have this phone number in your back pocket for if you need it in the future.
This is another big one that many homebuyers don’t think about. If you want to sell your home down the road, it can be helpful to know now if there are any rules or guidelines that will impact how you sell your home. This way, you know what to expect if or when you decide to move.
This is one of the most common questions that many community residents have when they first move in. If you want to upgrade your home’s siding, paint it a new color, or redo your landscaping, definitely ask community staff which upgrades are allowed.
Odds are, your community will have some kind of online portal available for you to pay your monthly lot rent. Make sure you receive the correct information from community staff on how to pay online. If you prefer to pay via a different method, you should check to see which alternate methods are accepted.
Each community will have their own process for breaking a lease before it is finished. If you think you may do this in the future, check with a community you’re interested in on their early lease-end policy. This way, you’ll know what to expect before moving there.
Now, you’re prepared to go into your community search with the questions you’ll need to decide which one is best for you. We hope you find the perfect home for you!