An inspection before you buy a moved home.
A structural look at a moved home before you commit to it.
Request this service
Should you inspect a moved manufactured home before buying?
Yes, and before the lender asks. An engineer's inspection tells you how the home came through the move and how it is set up now, while you can still negotiate or walk away.
Issued in: Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Indiana.
When you need it
- The listing says the home was relocated, or nobody is sure
- You are under contract and inside an inspection period
- The seller cannot document the move or the installation
- You plan to finance the home now or refinance it later
What the engineer looks at
- The frame, and the connections between sections
- Supports, anchors, and tie-downs at the current site
- Floors, walls, and the roof line for signs the home was racked in transit
- Whether the HUD labels and the data plate are present
What you get
- A written report on what is sound and what needs correction
- Corrections described well enough to get a contractor's bid
- A phone call to walk through the findings if you want one
- A clear note of what a lender may still ask for separately
Common questions
Can this report also go to my lender?
It may, if its scope matches what the lender asks for. Tell us the lender and the loan type up front so the report is written with that in mind.
How do I know whether the home was moved?
The seller's records, the title history, and the installation itself all give clues. The engineer notes what the site shows.
What if the HUD labels are missing?
Tell us early. An engineer's report does not replace a missing label, and a lender may need a separate records request.
Read first
Buying a moved manufactured home: a checklistA buyer's checklist for records, lender questions, and inspection before buying a moved home.
How to tell if a manufactured home was movedRecords, not appearance, are the best way to learn whether a manufactured home was moved.
What moving does to a manufactured homeThe frame, the section connections, and the supports are what an engineer checks after a move.