Selling your modular home is a huge decision and opportunity for homeowners. When it comes to modular home appraisals, potential buyers often ask us how the process differs from appraising a site-built home. The truth is that modular and site-built homes are appraised in the exact same way!
Here’s everything you need to know about modular home appraisals.
We sat down with our real estate subject matter expert, Chuck Pocock, Owner of Manitou Realty & Auction, Inc., to discuss the appraisal process for modular homes. Chuck stated that modular homes are held to the same exact appraisal standards and process as a site-built home. This is because modular homes are constructed to meet the same HUD codes as site-built homes. Therefore, appraisers will evaluate and assign value in the same way.
If you’re thinking of buying a house, selling a house, or just refinancing your current house, an appraisal is a crucial part of the process.
An appraisal is an unbiased professional opinion on a home’s value. They determine whether a home’s contract price is appropriate and comparable to other homes. When refinancing your home, an appraisal assures the lender that they are giving the borrower the right amount of money based on the house’s worth.
When you’re ready to sell your modular home, an appraiser will come to assess your property. An appraiser is an unbiased professional who will evaluate and determine the value of a home or property. This licensed position requires regular continued education to keep up their certification and training in the ever-evolving real estate appraisal regulations.
A variety of people can hire an appraiser for different purposes. A bank may hire an appraiser to ensure they are giving a potential buyer the appropriate loan. Appraisers may also work with homeowners who are selling their own homes.
An appraiser will look at your modular home's interior and exterior to determine its value.
Externally, they will evaluate:
When looking inside the home, the appraiser takes the following factors into account:
If you are building a house, an appraiser will initiate the appraisal process by using the empty lot and the builder’s blueprints and plans. They will then create a hypothetical value based on the plans provided. Throughout the building process, they will revisit the site to ensure builders stay on deadline and adhere to the original plans.
According to Pocock, if you’re looking to boost your home’s value through various improvements, you may be surprised that projects don’t always yield a dollar-for-dollar investment. When it comes to increasing your home’s appraisal value, it’s important to consider that the increased value you receive may not exceed or even equate to the money you poured into the project.
For example, a $20,000 roof renovation might not necessarily translate into a $20,000 appraisal increase. If you replace your roof, chances are that you need a new roof and that would have come out in the appraisal of the home anyway.
If you’re looking to increase your home’s appraisal value, information from a certified appraiser is going to be your best bet. Personal property or improvements that are unusual for your neighborhood likely won’t deliver the return you expect.
Our advice? Getting the most value from your home means customizing your modular home to fit your ideal lifestyle. Keeping up with basic updates such as maintenance and consistent landscaping will prevent any major damage that could decrease your home’s value.
Since 1972, Rochester Homes has been upping the ante when it comes to modular homes. Contact us today to discuss how you can build your dream home with peace of mind that, down the road, it will keep its value.