Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Manufactured home in the raw...

Our manufactured house in the raw!

It wasn't much to look at, but it had good bones... 


I have to say, I was a little shocked at people's attitudes towards a manufactured house... When I called to get insurance quotes I had one insurance agent call it a trailer.. I told him no, it's not a trailer, it's a manufactured home.. He snorted and said "same thing"... 

Maybe I'm wrong, but doesnt' a trailer have wheels and can be moved? Our house has no wheels anywhere and is permanently sitting on it's foundation...

Now, I don't think there is anything wrong with a trailer. I've seen some amazing pictures of the inside of people's trailers redone beautifully.... A home is a home, it doesn't matter where or how it's built or how much money you spend on it.. It's the love you put in it and how you live your life there that makes a house a home.. 

But I did feel very offended by this man's attitude.. And quite frankly, I think that was the point of his attitude.. Needless to say, we didn't go with that insurance company. 

It didn't stop with that insurance salesman, though.. We've heard plenty of negative remarks about manufactured homes, but honestly, I don't get it. They are an affordable option and in a case like ours, it's like getting a blank slate and being able to do whatever you want with it, all without breaking the bank...

For us, we're glad we purchased this home in preparation for my husbands retirement, because a little less than 4 years after buying it, my husband lost his job as an automotive supervisor when the economy took a nose dive.. Two months later, he ended up in the hospital with sugar levels over 1000 and suffered a mild heart attack..His doctors told him it was obviously brought on by the stress of loosing his job.. One year later, he suffered another heart attack.. He is now officially retired, doing incredibly well and if it hadn't been for our affordable house payment, we would still be struggling to pay off hospital and doctor bills..

How about you? Why did you buy your manufactured home? What are your plans for it? Have you heard any negative remarks about them? Do the remarks make you just roll your eyes too? Have you made it into the home of your dreams?





8 comments:

  1. I'm so glad I found your blog! I have a question.. Did you remove the wall strips and then paint anywhere? We have been in our manufactured home for a year, and finally getting around to doing some cosmetic stuff.. I want to take those strips down, but I'm not sure what to do.

    Also, we are in the process of putting down the same flooring as you. After reading through a lot of negativity, I was about to give up. I found your blog and it's going down today. Thanks again!

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    1. Hi Tiffany,
      I removed the strips and painted the den, kitchen and bedrooms.. I pulled the strips down, used drywall mud and tape, and sanded them down after it was dry, just like you would with drywall.. I've since wallpapered a couple of those rooms, but 3 of the rooms are still painted and we haven't had any problems with cracking at those seams or anything like that...
      Good luck with your flooring! It's been months now, and we are still very glad we laid ours.. Looks so much better than the ugly carpet that was here...

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  2. I am wondering where there are manufactured homes in Vancouver, WA I really want to see one. Thank you for the info.

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    1. Sorry, Jayden.. I don't know.. I live in Northern Michigan...

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  3. I love my manufactured home! I got A LOT more important quality details than I could have afforded otherwise: vinyl double paned windows, FA heating, ceiling fan, square footage. And, a very nice large corner lot with apple trees, grapes (which are difficult to produce here on the Oregon Coast), an exotic Monkey Puzzle Tree in the front yard, double car garage, and a cherry tree. The house is solid and perfect for me. I was able to purchase as a single parent, and have been here three years! I have plans for a lifetime now, although it is challenging to find people who are not a bit (lot) snobby about the whole manufactured thing. Why? They are energy efficient, have nice details, and great floor plans.

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    1. I totally agree with you... Why some people act the way they do about these homes is beyond me. My husband and I have also owned a number of stick built homes in our lifetimes, and the difference's are not that big.. Actually, Manufactured homes seem a little safer to me. They're built inside, our of the elements, unlike stick built homes that get rain and snow on the inner parts before they're completed.. Plus they have to stick to codes concerning wiring and such.. People who snub them don't know the benefits they're missing, starting with the price! It sounds like you have a wonderful home sitting on a beautiful property.. Enjoy :o)

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  4. I Love your blog, I have been searching everywhere for ideas to redo the inside of our home, so thank you for yours!  5 days after a back surgery in Philadelphia, my grandpa died in South Carolina, and while at his bedside we got news the day before he died that my husband would be a casualty Of Obama's war on coal, and along with the 111 mines that shut down, he was given a 60 day notice. We moved 4 states away (to the dismay of our three high school kids) to be next to my mother after her loss and bought our first ever home last month! It's a manufactured home, and It has so much potential! I was one of "those people" who swore I'd never live in a "trailer" lol look at me now ;) we found an 09 4 bdrm 2 bth on permanent brick foundation, with a beautiful built on cement front porch with a roof and railings and brick steps and a nice back deck, all in a fenced in acre of land. My pintrest is so full of ideas! My mind is even more full lol! This will be our forever home, and I'm thrilled with it! Thanks for showing us it can be done, and look great too!

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    1. Hi Raegan,
      I just found your post! So sorry I didn't reply sooner... First, I'm so sorry for your loss and all you went through at that time... I hope you are still enjoying your forever home and have gotten started on some of those Pinterest ideas!! Don't you just love pinterest?? So many great ideas! I'd love to hear what all you've done to your new home :o)
      Have a great day....

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