Lst’s face it, if your looking to sell a trailer in Killen or Copperas Cove you probably want to get it done quickly and as painlessly as possible. And you’ll want to get the best price possible without having to have it on the market for a long time. In our latest post, we offer some tips to do just that!
Selling a mobile home can be a bit different then selling a traditional single-family home. You may not always have as many interested buyers and the mobile home market doesn’t always perform in the same ways other housing options do. Be aware, that buyers often don’t have money to make the purchase outright and there aren’t financing options comparable to a traditional house. Below, we offer some advice to help you get the best price possible for your manufactured home in Killeen.
Sell It Directly
In most situations this is going to be your best or only option. You will need to find either an individual buyer or a company like Liberty Home Buyers. Listing with an agent isn’t an option *unless* the trailer is attached to land and has been converted to real property. Normally trailers in parks or on any type of rented land are considered chattel property, similar to a car. This is also what makes it hard to find financing so a buyer will need to either bring all cash or you might be willing to finance it yourself.
Make Repairs
If you decide to try and sell your mobile home directly to a new owner who plans to live in it, you’ll want to make the needed repairs before advertising the property for sale. Or you can just charge a lower price and leave it up to the new owners to do the repairs. This is what most people choose to do. The good thing about selling to us is that we are used to buying properties that need work and it’s easy for us to assess what needs to be done and make a fast, fair offer. Some things you might consider addressing include:
- All outlets and switches need to be working correctly with no known issues.
- Plumbing should be free of leaks and the water heater should be able to keep up with the demand.
- Make sure the skirting is properly sealed and insulated to avoid heat loss and the intrusion of pests.
- Seal the windows and doors to avoid drafts and heat loss
- Make sure there are no soft spots or holes in the flooring
- Check the siding to make sure everything is sealed and secure
- Tend to any other needed repairs that may be a problem for potential buyers
Choose Inexpensive Upgrades
If you do choose to make improvements to the home, don’t find yourself getting carried away. Major additions and remodels can cost thousands, without adding much in the way of value. Instead, make several smaller improvements. There are a number of small changes you can make that will have a large effect. Replacing old fixtures, upgrading the appliances, adding a coat of paint, cleaning up the yard, and replacing the carpet can all have a huge impact.
Send The Right Message
When marketing your mobile home for sale in Killeen, you will want to make sure your efforts aren’t going to waste. Do your homework to find out who is buying, where they want to be, and how much they are willing to pay. Find out how long manufactured homes in Killeen are staying on the market so you can gauge demand. I can tell you from personal experience that it’s harder to sell a trailer than a house because the pool of buyers typically doesn’t have the cash to complete the transaction so you should be prepared to field a ton of calls, show the home quite a bit and be open to some creative funding options. True story, I once traded a 1996 Ford Ranger for a trailer… a good deal for everybody involved!
Price It Correctly
Do you know how much your mobile home is currently worth? How much of that value is dependent on your mobile home’s location? Before trying to sell, make sure you have an accurate picture of how much your mobile home is worth. And this is actually really tough! Mobile home values vary widely but unfortunately they operate like cars and start losing value as soon as you “drive it off the lot”… or tow it in this case! Homes in parks are also usually significantly lower value as the lot rent has to be figured in to the cost of ownership.
