How To Move Mobile Homes From Parks (5 Mistakes Investors Must Avoid)

We’ve sold hundreds of mobile homes and a lot of them had to be moved out of the community. So we’ve learned over the years that there are a few things that you want to be aware of to not violate any state laws and to not make enemies with the mobile home community.

And when we’re talking about moving mobile homes and mobile home parks, we’re talking about the laws pertaining to our state of Arizona. So, it might be helpful for you to check the laws pertaining to your particular state.

Mistake #1 Violating first right of refusal

So first of refusal is a clause in most homeowners’ lease agreements that states if a buyer wants to move a home out of the community they have to give the park the first right to purchase the home.

So this is an agreement between the homeowner and the park. And you’re basically just giving the park the opportunity to match your offer before allowing you to move the home out of the community.

Most mobile home parks do not like moving homes out of the community because the parks look at these mobile homes as their assets. So whenever their lots are filled with mobile homes that’s an opportunity for them to generate income and generate Lot Rent each and every month.

Whenever a home is moved out of the community, that’s an empty space. That means no money is being brought in every month. That means they’re going to have to go and spend thousands of dollars just to replace that home and spend a lot of time doing that process.

Mistake #2 Not receiving a clearance letter from the mobile home community

In order to successfully move this home out of the park, you’re going to need a clearance letter from the park management saying that all of the past due Lot Rent is paid up.

By moving the home out of the community without this clearance letter you’re technically trespassing, which, could lead to you being escorted out of the park by police or even escorted to jail.

Make sure you talk to the park manager and make sure everything is paid up to date before you talk to your buyer about moving the home out of the community.

Mistake #3 Not receiving a tax clearance letter from the county treasurer

So this clearance letter is actually going to verify that all taxes have been paid up to date. You’re going to be able to verify this with the park manager as well as where the mobile home is being moved to.

It’s usually pretty simple. You’re going to go to the county treasurer, let them know all the taxes have been paid up to date, and they’ll issue you this tax clearance letter. And you’re going to want to show it to the park manager.

Most of the time they’re going to want to see it before they give you a clearance letter. And if you don’t get this tax clearance letter you can also be fined by the county. So make sure you get it.

Mistake #4 Not verifying your buyer’s mover

Whoever has the lease agreement with the park is technically still responsible for the Lot Rent until the mobile home is moved.

Movers can be backed up for weeks at a time. You want to make sure that you verify that the buyer’s mover has you in their schedule and that they’re licensed and insured.

You want to make sure they’re licensed because getting a permit just to move the home requires that the mover is licensed. You’re also going to want to make sure that the mover is insured just in case there’s any type of damage that happens. You want to be able to go back to the insurance company to handle any of those fees associated with those damages.

Mistake #5 Not getting clean up fees agreed to in writing

Typically, whenever we’re selling a home, we make sure to have it in writing that our buyer knows that he or she is responsible for all cleanup fees associated with the move from that particular lot. Even laying a new cement slab on some parts makes it a requirement.

Now you want to make sure you get this in writing because your homeowner is the one that has that agreement with the park. So they could be held liable for any fees associated with the cleanup.

And for Ground Set Homes it could even be more expensive because when the home is removed, you’re going to have to fill up that hole and possibly put a cement slab on top of that. So those fees can range anywhere from $1000 to $4,000 just to do that. Before you transfer the title, you want to make sure you have it in writing who is responsible for those fees.

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