PO Box 314  Hwy 2 and 3rd Ave.  -  Devils Lake, ND 58301

HOW TO BUY A MANUFACTURED HOME

• INSTALLATION - (ANOTHER IMPORTANT FACTOR)
  Manufacturers must provide instructions for proper home installation. Usually, we will install your home or use a contractor. Typically, the price of your home includes installation. You will get a written explanation of the installation services from us. Be sure to read your contract before you sign. If installation isn't included, you may have to hire a professional.

  Follow these guidelines listed below. They will help you understand what you're paying for and how to check that the work has been done properly. You'll also better understand your warranty protections.

  • Get written proof of the installer's qualifications. This may be required by state law.
  • Ask the contractor to explain the installation process, or ask for the Installation Manual for the home you purchased.

  Follow these six steps for easy delivery and installation.

  1. Transporting Your Home
  The manufacturer is usually responsible for transporting the home from the factory to our sales center. Greater Dakota Homes or its transporter is usually responsible for delivering the home to your site. However, if roads are inadequate or obstacles make delivery difficult, we may not be able to accept responsibility for delivery. Have the transporter check out the route beforehand to avoid problems.

  2. Building a Foundation
  Your home must have a foundation. In addition to following the manufacturer's instructions and complying with local codes, ask the institution financing your home or your rental community if they have special requirements. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Veterans Administration (VA), and the Rural Housing Service (RHS) also have special foundation requirements for homes they finance. Make sure you tell us the type of financing you're using so that all applicable requirements will be met. If you place your home on your own property, you can choose from a number of foundation types: concrete block; frost piers; a concrete slab; a crawlspace; or a full basement. Property Owners are required to obtain building permits and inspections.  FROST PIER EXAMPLES

  3. Leveling Your Home
  It's critical that your home be leveled to meet the manufacturer's installation instructions. Otherwise, your home's weight will be unevenly distributed. This can cause floors and walls to buckle and prevent doors and windows from opening and closing smoothly. While the manufacturer's warranty won't cover repairs resulting from improper leveling or settling due to earth movement.
  Insist on a walk-through before the installer leaves. Check for signs that your home may not be level.
  Because some foundation supports may settle unevenly, it's important to periodically check that your home stays level. The first check should be done 60 to 90 days after installation, and then once every year.

  4. Securing Your Home to the Foundation
  To help minimize damage from high winds, climate, and earthquakes, your home should be anchored to the ground or concrete footers. Anchoring must comply with the manufacturer's instructions or as required by local codes. This is not a "do-it-yourself" project.

  5. Finishing Your Home
  Your home may need finishing work, such as an enclosure around the crawl space. The enclosure must provide adequate ventilation openings at all four corners of the home. If you have a multi-section home, finishing work may include molding and joining carpet on the interior, and siding and roofing work on the exterior.

  6. Connecting Utilities
  Installation does not include connections to water, electricity, gas, and sewer. If connections aren't included in the installation price, you'll have to contract for them separately. Greater Dakota Homes will help you with the arrangements, or you can contact local authorities for more information.

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• TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Introduction

• Selecting a Home

• Buying a Home

• The Manufacturers Warranty

• Implied Warranties

• Retailers Warranty

• Appliance Warranties

• Placement of Home

• Personal Real Estate

• Rental Communities

• Buying a Home On-Site

• Site Preparation

• Delivery

• Installation

• Additions and Alterations

• Home Inspection

• More Information

CONTACT INFO | SINGLE-SECTION | MULTI-SECTION | MODULAR
BUILDING LOTS | USED HOMES | SPECIALS | LINKS | EMAIL
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This page was last updated 09/21/01.
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