What’s The Lifespan Of A Mobile Home? + Tips To Extend It

Whether you’re already living in your mobile home or you’re still considering making a move to one, you may be wondering about the lifespan of a mobile home. Those of you currently living in one may want tips for keeping your home in good shape. And those of you still looking and thinking about taking the plunge may want to get an idea so you can weigh whether it’s a good investment for you.

It depends

Perhaps it would seem handy if each home came straight from the manufacturer with an expiration date stamped on it. That way, you’d know how to do your calculations to figure out if a mobile home is a good idea for you. But like many items, there’s no one simple answer to “how long will a mobile home last?” Different homes will survive to different ages. And different homes will be affected by different factors.

Numbers are tricky

Actually, it’s difficult to assign numbers to this question because there’s variety when it comes to opinion on the lifespan of a mobile home. Possibilities can range from the 20’s to the 50’s and higher when it comes to counting the years a home could last. And there could be estimations both higher and lower than that.

There may not be one simple answer. However, even if you can’t know exactly how long your mobile home will last, that doesn’t prevent you from taking steps to prolong its life!

Factors that could affect the lifespan of a mobile home

Since we know that the lifespan of a mobile home can vary, what are some factors that could affect it? While this is not an exhaustive list, when it comes to a mobile home’s longevity, consider:

• Level of care
• Water/drainage issues in its immediate vicinity
• Date it was manufactured (current HUD code didn’t apply in the early days of mobile homes)
• Location (what kind of weather has the home experienced?)

Take care of your mobile home

Obviously, if you want something to last a long time, you should take good care of it. That principle is not a surprising one. And we can encounter it from childhood into old age. Maybe you took meticulous care of your first bike as a child. And as an adult, perhaps it was your first car that merited that kind of attention.

Of course, a mobile home is no different. If you want to keep it in good shape, you should work to keep it in good shape.

Tackle problems as they arise

First off, adequately respond to unexpected events at the time they occur. Whether it’s water leakage, a torn roof, a newly developed soft spot in your floor, or the smell of mildew, don’t leave the issue. If your home has been compromised in some way, respond quickly. Note that this isn’t just to keep your home and family safe in the present. It’s also a way of investing in the future.

If you’re not an expert, get someone who is

Yes, there may be some problems you can tackle on your own. But if you run up against something that’s out of your league, get assistance. Let’s say you have no clue where to start even evaluating your mobile home for problems. Then, find someone who can look over your home with knowledge of common problem areas. Also, it may be helpful if they’re able to advise you how to proceed if their search turns up anything concerning.

Abide by the rules

There are housing codes that vary by locality. Be sure you’re keeping up with yours. As an example, the depth to which you’re supposed to place your mobile home footers is different from location to location. Thus, be sure you know and abide by these frost line rules to avoid the headache of having your mobile home shift over time. Plus, be sure your home is in the proper wind zone.

Know your own home

Also, try to understand sufficiently how your particular mobile home was engineered if you’re going to make any changes to it. For instance, where are the load bearing walls?

Be wary when it comes to water

Generally speaking, water is a great thing — essential for life, in fact. However, water in the wrong place isn’t so great. Whether it’s coming through the roof, leaking in around windows, pooling under your mobile home, or dripping from broken pipes, there are some places you don’t want this vital liquid.

Keep an eye out, and an ear out, and even a nose out for water where it shouldn’t be. And when you do find it, take the proper steps to fix the issue, and to try to prevent it from happening again.

Check the exterior of your mobile home

If your current roof is leaving your home at risk of damage, consider beefing up this topmost part of your house. As we said when talking about expanding your mobile home, a roof-over is something thing you could consider. Additionally, the roof is not the only place to check. Also, see if there are any cracks in your siding that could be letting the outside in.

Retire and replace

Once you’re at the end of a lifespan of a mobile home and you’re ready to “retire” it and look for a new one, check out our list of nicest mobile homes on the market. Then, get your wheels turning about how to find and buy your dream mobile home.