5 Ways Your Manufactured / Mobile Home Policy is Different from a Standard Homeowners Policy

Buying a property is a significant achievement and a long-held goal for many of us whether it is a mobile or modular home because in order to purchase a home, much saving and preparations are required. However, you must get insurance to make sure that the house you have worked so hard for is protected against unanticipated catastrophes.

Although the phrases “mobile” and “manufactured” are sometimes used interchangeably, there is a significant difference. A manufactured home that was built in a factory before June 15, 1976 is referred to as a mobile home by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), while homes built after that date are referred to as manufactured homes. Despite this, the term “mobile home insurance” is still often used in the insurance sector.

The minimum construction and safety criteria for mobile and manufactured homes have been enforced by federal building laws since 1976.  The eligibility requirements and underwriting standards for manufactured/mobile home insurance are also quite different.

Manufactured and mobile home insurance is not always available from property insurance firms. Indeed, the majority don’t. Your best bet is to check with independent agents first, as many of the national firms we often consider do not even have a policy they can provide you. Your manufactured or mobile home may have been insured by these firms in the past, but they most likely do not do so any longer. They might not be able to assist you even if you already have other insurance policies with them, such as auto or life insurance.

Below are 5-tips you should be aware of to make insuring your manufactured / mobile home as easy and comprehensive as possible.

• Different Pricing is applied – As a manufactured or mobile homeowner, you should anticipate to pay more than you previously thought for your insurance. You might have to pay a higher premium than a friend or relative who lives in a 2500-square-foot single-family home. The fundamental reason is that insurance companies base premiums on different “risks,” and claims for policies covering pre-fabricated and mobile homes are different in terms of both type and frequency. Expect to pay a little bit more.
• Locality matters – Your area and surrounding locality matter a lot when applying for insurance. Depending on where your house is, your premium can be drastically different. The premium for manufactured or mobile homes situated in parks or communities is often lower than the premium for homes situated on private property. Additionally, the pricing may vary depending on the size of your lot or its acres. If it surpasses three to five acres, several companies won’t even issue coverage.
• How old is your home? – Your manufactured or mobile home’s age is important. Some businesses who provide this kind of insurance “cap” at the oldest age will provide insurance however, depending on the state and the provider, some won’t give coverage to a prefabricated or mobile home if it is more than 30 years old. A reasonable assumption is that the fresher your structure is, the lower your rate is. This information is useful even if you’re considering buying a manufactured or mobile home.
• Type of home – It also matters how you “anchor” or “tie-down” a constructed or mobile house. When it comes to buying insurance, manufactured or mobile homes that are anchored to the ground, permanently attached to a foundation or slab, or fastened to it have better availability and affordability. Regarding eligibility and premium savings, handrails on the stairs leading up to the entrance also matter.
• Structure Value – When it comes to building coverage, a manufactured or mobile home is frequently valued differently from a typical single-family residence kind of house. When determining replacement cost estimates for a house, townhouse, or condo, the coverage for your manufactured or mobile home will frequently be determined based on your overall purchase price and whether it is single-wide or double-wide. This is in contrast to the cost-per-square-foot method that most of us imagine.

Benefits of a Mobile home Insurance

• Protection from Natural Calamities – Your home may sustain significant damage from a natural calamity like an earthquake or flood. Managing the costs of restoring a property destroyed by such occurrences may be quite difficult. One of the main benefits of having home insurance is that it protects you from financial damages brought on by such unforeseen circumstances. Especially when it comes to Mobile homes it gets riskier and the damages can be greater than do fix or a modular house.
• Insurance against theft – Robbery is yet another important worry for homeowners. Fortunately, house insurance also protects you from damages brought on by theft or burglary. Some insurance policies also include coverage for burglary when it comes to the belongings of your housekeepers.
• Cost-effective security – Home insurance may first appear to be an unnecessary cost. However, purchasing a house insurance coverage might be beneficial when you most need it. Home insurance coverage is now available from several insurers at affordable prices.
• Liability protection –  If a third party, such as domestic employees, suffers an accident that results in death or property damage, your house insurance policy will also protect you against any claims that may result from those events.

One of the most important advantages of having house insurance is that it grants you some precious peace of mind and a safe and secure lifestyle.