Q&A: Mailbag

(Note: I've received many questions from people about mobile home and/or real estate investing. From time to time, I will post the ones I find interesting/relevant. If you have a question, feel free to send it in. Thanks!)

Q: Is it necessary to hire an inspector to inspect a mobile home? What are the major areas of a mobile home that should be inspected?

A: Inspecting mobile homes are usually just like inspecting single family homes. I just inspect everything from top to bottom including the roof (is it leaking?), major systems - electric, water, gas, etc., the carpet (look for soft spots), the outside - check the roof outside, the siding (usually wood or aluminum), the skirting, etc.

Usually, I just go in and inspect just like I would be buying as a regular homeowner. I think what types of things I would be concerned with if I were buying as a homeowner. I turn on the lights - make sure they work, run the a/c, run the water, etc.

If you feel more comfortable having an inspector do an inspection, that's an option. For me personally, it's not necessary. If you go this route, you can get a sense for what an inspector looks for and use it as a guide for future inspections.

For more info about how I conduct my own mobile home inspections, feel free to check out my article on inspecting mobile homes.