What does it cost to move a mobile home?

About 17.7 million Americans live in mobile homes in the US. That accounts for 5.6 percent of the US population. Mobile homes have become a popular option in the US because they range from affordable to high end and everything in between. The country experienced an upsurge in sales of manufactured homes in the 1980s when there was a slash in affordable housing by the American federal government. Since then, mobile homes have become an affordable and popular alternative to homeownership.

It’s important to keep in mind that just because it is called a mobile home doesn't necessarily mean that the house is able to move around freely. Mobile homes can also be called manufactured homes, which, once installed, cannot be moved or shifted around. However, for those homes that are able to move, the logistics, cost and sometimes legal requirements of moving a mobile home can prove to be quite a challenge. In fact, those are usually the most significant challenges that mobile homeowners face when considering moving to another location.

One of the most significant benefits that a mobile home has to offer its owners is that it can be moved to nearly any place that it can legally reside. At the same time, one of the biggest drawbacks for mobile homeowners is having to consider the cost and logistics of moving the home to another location.

Thinking of moving your mobile home? Learn what costs and requirements you should anticipate for, using our guide below.

Related: Different Types of Mobile Homes

How to Much does it Cost to Move the Home

Moving a mobile home can cost between $1000 to $5000 for a basic move and upwards of $10,000 for a move with additional perks like dismantling and reassembling the house.

Prices vary based on the company, the size of the mobile home, the distance to your new location, and more.

Reasons for wanting to move a mobile home can vary from one owner to another. One reason might be that the mobile home has grown old and needs to be vacated from the property in order to clear space for a new one. As a result, most owners opt to sell the older mobile home as a way to make some cash and make room for their new mobile home. Whether you are the buyer or the seller, the task of transporting the mobile home is inevitable.

Other reasons that people have to need to move their mobile home include job changes, family life events, financial reasons, and generally just wanting to move. Whether it is a fortunate thing or not, the cost of moving a mobile home doesn’t depend on the reason you need it to be moved.

Well, at least not in all cases. There are seemingly countless occasions where companies have offered to move a new employee out to the location of the job. In other words, a person could use their allocated relocation fees from a new post to cover the costs of moving their mobile home to the new location.

Another moving option can be to simply move your mobile home to a nearby relative or friend’s home or if one simply wants to move the home from their property, storing the structure in a storage facility is also an option to consider. However, it is important to keep in mind that storing something this size, will come with additional expenses of storage fees for the duration that the home will be stored there.

Unfortunately, if the home has to be moved for longer distances paying for the cost of transportation is something that can’t be avoided.  Ultimately if one decides to move their mobile home, these factors will determine the cost of moving a mobile home: 

1.Distance

The cost of moving a mobile home within a state and across state borders will vary significantly. Moving a mobile home within the state can be estimated to a cost of between $ 4000 for a single wide mobile home and about $ 7000 for a double wide home. 

These prices are often for a distance of 50 miles or less. Depending on the distance to be covered, the moving company has to factor in the amount of gas they anticipate to use. For long-distance travel, other contingencies, such as permits to cover the journey safely and legally are additional factors that drive up the cost of moving. You can expect to pay as little as $6 per mile over a long distance to $14 a mile for a short haul. This also depends on whether you contact a Mobile Home Toter / Hauler independently or are paying a premium through a manufactured home dealer.

2. Size of the home

Mobile homes come with either a single or double section. This will undoubtedly affect the cost, as mentioned above. In the case of larger than usual mobile homes that take up more than one lane, police escort or temporary road closure may be necessary to ensure safe transportation. Even without a police escort, a mobile home is considered a wide load and will require a pilot car that drives in front of the truck. This is always handled by the trucking company you decide to hire.

Related: How large can a mobile home be?

3. Tools and equipment for the move

The materials and tools required for the move may drive the price up significantly. The quotation may include tires and tow hitches, among other necessary equipment tailored to the needs of moving a large haul. It is also important to note that tying the home down is equally as important as transportation. Make sure you look at our guide on how to tie down a mobile home and see how you can properly hitch a mobile home.

4. Set up fees

Previously moving meant simply loading the mobile home and moving from one location to another. But currently, in addition to transportation, moving companies offer additional services that attract separate charges. Such services include:

• Taking the mobile home apart

• Set up of the home once at the destination

• Disconnecting and reconnecting utilities

• Removing and installing external features such as porches

• Removing and installing interior features

Such additional service can cost anywhere between $1000 to $5000. Where dismantling and setting of the mobile is concerned, the age of the home can affect the service cost. Older homes may need a few new materials installed to facilitate transportation or set up at the destination.

This fact has the potential to make your costs add up quickly and considerably. In addition to the value of the additional parts and materials that would be required, there are also labor costs that will be associated with the process, so keep that in mind when budgeting out the prices for moving your mobile home.

The other alternative is for the homeowner to prepared to carry out these extra tasks and save some money. But if one is pressed for time, then getting the same moving company to do the additional chores at a separate fee seems like the best option. Besides, unless one is an expert at such tasks, it's better for the safety of all involved to let the professionals do the work.

5. Permits

Permits may be necessary for every state that you transport the mobile home through. Setting up permits and inspections may be required if moving from one state to another. 

6. Manufactured home weight

The weight of the mobile home may impact the final price you pay to move a home. The average weight for older homes is estimated at 40 to 35 pounds per square foot, while newer homes weigh about 50 to 45 pounds per square foot. Homes with drywall are often much, much heavier than those without.

When calculating the square feet that the entire home covers, it can add up to a tidy sum. One should also bear in mind that the heavier the mobile home is, the more tools and equipment will be needed to get the job done. Generally, movers will NOT adjust the price to move a home based on the weight of the home. They simply will need more equipment to get the job done, which theoretically may take longer.

Related: Installing and Setting Up Mobile Homes: The Complete Buyer’s Guide

7. Location

Moving costs are also affected by where your mobile home is located. If you live in a more expensive state like California, you’ll pay more to move it. Movers will charge additional fees for mobile home in a remote locations with poor road access.

8. Escorts

The escort vehicles that transport your mobile home will also influence the price. You’ll be charged for each escort vehicle needed and the type of vehicle. Obviously, you’re going to need more escorts for a triple-wide mobile home than a single-wide mobile home.

9. Home Condition

Your mobile home’s condition will affect the price of the move. Homes that need several repairs to make them road-worthy may add costs you didn’t originally anticipate. Wear and tear on your home and the age of your home will determine how ready your home is to travel.

10. Utilities

To disconnect your mobile home utilities, the mover must hire a subcontractor to ensure the disconnection is safely done and follows all regulations. You’ll also need someone to reconnect your home to the utilities once you reach your new location.

11. Extra Services

You may have to pay additional costs for detaching and moving any extra features like:

• Air conditioning

• Patio

• Deck

• Awnings

• Sheds

• Garage

• Sunroom

Your moving company should handle these extra features when they move the home, but they will most certainly charge you for it. So plan on it.

Cost to Move a Mobile Home By Type

Here are the averages for using a moving company to move a mobile home within 100 miles by home type:

• Single-wide Mobile Home: $5,000-$8,000

• Double-wide Mobile Home: $10,000-$20,000

• Triple-wide Mobile Home: $25,000-$30,000

Using a mover will be more expensive. Doing most of the move yourself minus the transportation can help you save costs, but it can get expensive too. Research both options extensively to determine the best moving method for your home.

What is the Oldest Mobile Home That Can Be Moved?

HUD regulations state that mobile homes older than 1976 do not pass the safety standards and are not allowed to be moved, not even a short distance. Homes made previously to 1976 did not have building regulations like they do now. So there is no way to guarantee the structural safety of these older mobile homes once they’re moved.

At Home Nation, we offer an extensive inventory of high-quality new and pre-owned mobile homes. If you need to move and can’t move your mobile home because of its age, you may want to see what we have available. We offer a wide variety of mobile homes across the US.

Can I Move a Mobile Home Myself?

No. You can’t move a mobile home by yourself. The complexity and legal restrictions make it prohibitive to do yourself. You can opt to use a transport vs. a full-service mobile home mover. With a transport, you must manage and do everything associated with the move except for transporting, delivering, and hooking up the home.

Can’t move your mobile home? Contact us to learn more about our Home Nation new and pre-owned mobile homes available across the US.

Ways to Lower your Moving Costs

1. Make sure to take care of all of the packing responsibilities by yourself! Hiring a moving service can be extremely tempting, and it can also be extremely costly. Moving time is a fabulous occasion to call in all of those IOU favors from friends and family. It will help you save significant amounts of money. You can usually get second-hand boxes by asking your local stores if they have extra or taking your search to the internet. Many people find success in doing things that way.

2. Be the one to drive the moving truck. Just to clarify, you’re not actually allowed to be the person who drives your mobile home during the transport; however, you can be the one to drive the moving truck that will be holding all of the rest of your personal belongings.

Conclusion

One could be forgiven for assuming that moving a manufactured home from one location to another is an easy feat. Whereas it is not impossible to accomplish, moving a mobile home is not as easy as most think it is.

 While it is absolutely possible, wise, and highly encouraged to begin planning all aspects of your move way ahead of time, including and especially moving costs, it’s essential to keep in mind that speculation can genuinely only get us so far. Pick up the phone or open your email inbox to begin reaching out to professionals who specialize in this specific service.

Learn how they base their fees, what is included in the cost, and estimate the move for your specific situation. Many people find success with contacting and getting quotes from multiple companies, not always just to price shop, but to make sure you understand all of your options.

With all the logistical, legal, and technical issues involved, hiring a professional mobile home mover may be the way to go in the event that one wants to move a manufactures home safely. The homeowner can work in tandem with a moving company in coming up with a cost that is tailored to their moving needs.

To learn more about mobile homes from selecting the options, organizing the shipping, building the foundation and general questions visit our homepage.