Knowing how to sell a mobile home in Michigan can be a breeze if you know what you are doing. Nevertheless, it is a little different than putting a traditional house on the market.
Most real estate agents do not jump at the chance to sell a manufactured residence, for starters. The clear reason behind this is that mobile homes are affordable, which means commissions are lower. Moreover, there are a few things involved, like the house itself, the lot or homesite, and more.
That being said, it is not all gloom and doom either. Today’s market for manufactured housing is changing, and thanks to the tiny house movement, more and more people are looking for mobile homes for sale in Michigan.
As a result, you do not have to go at it alone; so, let’s go over a few pointers for selling a mobile home in Michigan.
How to Sell a Mobile Home in Michigan
Michigan has a few things going for it these days, like its thriving mobile home market and ever-expanding affordable luxury mobile home community. Thus, if you are looking to sell your mobile home here, then all you need to do is get your ducks in a row.
The easiest way to do so is to look for a real estate agent that specializes in selling mobile homes. Working with a specialist who knows your particular market will ensure your home gets the exposure it needs and increase the likelihood that your mobile residence will be sold quickly.
That said, there are a few tricks of the trade that you should absolutely implement into your selling strategy.
For starters, one of the most important things when it comes to selling a mobile home is the price. Therefore, it pays to know a thing or two about competitive market-based pricing. In essence, you are likely to sell your house faster if you based your listed/asking price on the condition of the market, at that particular moment, instead of how much time, energy, and money you have put into your manufactured house. Remember, the local market changes based on the overall availability, time of year, interest rate, the national economy, and population demographics.
Moreover, this is Michigan, and winter is more than a season here. Thus, even if you choose the optimal time to put your mobile home on the market, being able to show that your home is winter-ready no matter the season is another surefire way to interest local buyers. It is little things like this that can make a world of difference when you are trying to sell your home.
Agent
In addition to more exposure and a greater chance of selling your mobile home sooner, an agent can also negotiate with prospective buyers. Furthermore, having a real estate agent at your disposal means they can do what they do best, which is weed out the bad offers or people who are just window shopping.
What’s more, as briefly mentioned, there are strategies or tricks of the trade that only a professional can put into action. Thus, using an agent is a way to be business-savvy as well as practical.
Even if you have some prior experience in the real estate industry, there is a lot of prep work involved, which sellers typically cannot devote all their time to. A prime example of this is instead of having to schedule walk-throughs and meetings with anyone who wants one, you can let your agent take care of the particulars. This ultimately frees you up to do things like repairs, upgrades, and look for your own future home as well.
Note, finding a real estate agent to help you sell your home is an excellent idea, but remember there are other professionals you can reach out to in addition to an agent to help you move your house quickly, such as a mobile home broker or dealer.
Prep Work and Advertising
Speaking of sprucing up your residence, you know who has tips and ideas that are sure to work? That’s right, the professionals and real estate agents. Even if you choose to go at it alone, you still need to add a few finishing touches to the place to sell it. You also need to have a professional appraisal and a third-party inspection. If you do not know where to find such people, ask your local real estate agents, or try Datacomp.
Besides putting your home’s best foot forward, you need to have promotional materials too. This means having regularly updated listings, open house marketing brochures and flyers, and so much more.
If this sounds like a full-time job to you, you already know what to do. The preparation and advertising for mobile homes for sale in Michigan is serious business that can mean the difference between selling tomorrow or next month. Thus, if you do not think you will be up for the challenge, then hire the professionals.
Nevertheless, if you would like to do some of the heavy lifting yourself by handling some of the marketing, then make sure you target the right audience.
For instance, many first-time mobile home sellers often believe that the more exposure they get, the better; thus, they list their home nationally. The reality is that a seller will fare much better in the long run if he or she lists their property locally. Consequently, you should focus your marketing and advertising efforts in your home space. This means online, print listing, real estate signs, and even flyers.
Michigan Paperwork
Like most other states, Michigan has specific requirements that must be met to sell or transfer the title to your mobile home successfully. Furthermore, each state has its own rules and regulations that pertain to the sale of a mobile residence.
As the seller, you need to make sure your title is free from any liens or not encumbered by back taxes. Along those same lines, your name must be on the original title to prove you have the right to sell your particular residence. Also, if you currently have your mobile home in a park, then there is a separate set of rules and regulations you need to apprise yourself of.
Once you have familiarized yourself with both state and park laws regarding the selling of your home, then you need to secure documentation that proves you are up-to-date on all payments. Plus, your property manager can provide you with a list of park rules, future increases in rent, and potential improvement recommendations that you can pass along to the buyer.
Other important items needed are again a clear title, a bill of sale, and tax records. Note, you do not need a notary in the state of Michigan; however, there are some states that do require one for sale of mobile homes and houses.
Take Away
Ultimately, there is a lot of work and expertise involved in knowing how to sell a mobile home in Michigan; thus, it is beneficial to know what you are doing. Simply put, our best advice is to leave the work to the experts, while you can focus your attention on other important matters.
