Be Careful!
Not all Manufactured Home Dealers
are looking out for you
Yes, It's true! the BACKYARD HOME Phenom is real and spreading like a wind fanned fire and Manufactured Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) are no doubt rolling down the 
road to a backyard near you.
While a BACKYARD HOME can come in all shapes and sizes one of the most popular and affordable choices by far is the "off-site" aka "Factory Built" or "Manufactured" option. But they come with a certain
Cavaet Emptor.
In this gold rush of a very heated and exciting cottage industry, quickly becoming a major growth industry, many entrepreneurs, opportunists and fast talking, high pressure used car salesmen seem to be reinventing themselves and becoming instant experts and self proclaimed authorities on the subject almost overnight.
But don't be fooled and by all means don't become a victim by putting the cart before the horse. There is a smart. safe and proper way to ease your way into your buying experience without making premature decisions and spending a considerable sum of money way before its even necessary.
The fact is you may end up with a large structure sitting in a storage yard with the money meter ticking while you have the privilege of paying dearly for daily storage fees. Add to 
that having to deal with all the unnecessary weather and environmentally induced damage
that could ensue from your manufactured home sagging, warping, cracking, breaking and even attracting a dose of mildew or worse mold while it's waiting to be securely installed on its properly prepared site.
A prudent manufactured home dealer that has your interest at heart will not try to stuff you into a home before he's assisted you through the entire development precess. If he doesn't have the time or inclination to help you pull your permits, prepare your site, install your utilities and be there to meet the inspector for your final inspection he's not the dealer you want to purchase you manufactured home from.
Why To Choose Us?
John DL Arenden, Broker
TAG Real Estate Sales & Investments
TAG (The Arendsen Group) Real Estate Sales & Investments is a full service, one-stop, turnkey, family owned and operated real estate brokerage, General Contractor, Manufactured Home Contractor, Developer, Investor, Property Manager, Interior Design, Engineering, architectural, Landscape design, Expert Witness, Consulting, Curative Title and Troubleshooting company with over 100 years of combined experience in the San Diego real estate sales, construction, design & development arena.
Hi John,
I love and appreciate your passion for this sector of housing. I only see this niche growing and those looking to take advantage of high demand will be coming out of the woodwork. I hope buyers heed your warnings:
There is a smart, safe and proper way to ease your way into your buying experience without making premature decisions and spending a considerable sum of money way before its even necessary.
This sector of housing is becoming increasingly prominent. Your warnings are a testament to the importance of doing your research before buying.
And this applies to anyone purchasing a manufactured home for any reason Myrl Jeffcoat Not just ADU's. Thanks for your feedback.
Hi John - your manufactured home expertise continues to impress me. Another well-written post. Good job.
Thank you Michael Jacobs we've been having some issues with unethical dealers slamming folks into these homes and leaving them to their own decvices. Not cool.
It's a good idea for buyers to do their investigation on dealers and new homes. I can see how a buyer could wind up with big issues if they select the wrong ones.
Not to mention high levels of indoor toxins that can be a health hazard to already compromised individuals. Thanks for continuing to share your vast ADU knowledge.
No doubt about that Kat Palmiotti can't tell you how many calls we get weekly from folks who took delivery without having a permit. Worse yet no contractor. Most businesses like ours won't do any installations on anything but our own homes.
Toxins not so much nowadays as most manufacturers no longer use them. Some still use some formaldihyde though. But the bigger concern is black mold issues from long exposure to moisture due to the home not being buttoned up Debb Janes EcoBroker and Bernie Stea JD But thanks for that astute info.
Thanks for this great info! I must say I avoid this segment of the market anyway possible
Excellent advice John! So many people foolish dive right into making a decison on a 'small' home in back for parents ( or what/who ever) only to find that the city may not permit it. Chose wisely who's giving advice and knowledge when buying a 'small' home.
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Great information and advice here, John. You are the one in the know for this housing niche!! I certainly know who to call if I have questions!
Jeff
Don't just wait for that reason to call Jeff Dowler, CRS We need to just plain get toghether again.
Thank you for a helpful post on buyer beware in reference to manufactured or modular homes.
John - this is really, really, really good information! Thanks!
Hope it helps Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP Thanks for the positive response.
No problem Michelle Cherie CarrCrowe Just Call...408-252-8900 , however, do remember that it's not about the homes themselves. It's about the dealers who are selling them before folks are really ready to receive them.
I believe the affordable housing challenge could be solved by using ADU's on properties that are adequate for its use. Cities and counties could enact laws and regulate the ADU's that would certainly aid in the reduction of affordable housing and assist in increasing our economy too.
Spot on Kimo Jarrett and that's exactly why the State is enacting all this new legislation. 8 new laws coming out this January.