Complete Guide to Moving Your Mobile Home - Page 3
HOW TO CHOOSE A MOBILE HOME TRANSPORTER
To have a successful move, the right transporter is essential. If your transporter is the wrong choice, there is no limit to the problems you will have, and the costs you will incur.
Let’s review some of the essential qualities of the right transporter.
EXPERIENCED
You do not really want to use a mover who is just starting out. Experience is key to having a successful move. Make sure that the mover has done some moves before yours. You might want to ask for some references, and hope that one is a big dealer who moves homes all the time. Clearly, a larger “feel”, such as a receptionist or yellow page ad, may add to your comfort ability.
You can ask the guy if he has done a lot of moves but, obviously, he’ll tell “sure I have”, particularly if he is just starting out and desperately needs work – so you’ll need more evidence than that!
LICENSED
Most states require that mobile home movers and installers need to be licensed and bonded. Don’t hire the off duty truck driver that is not licensed to move mobile homes. The mover should have his/her license number on the contract and it is worth taking the time checking that the license number is valid and is in the correct name of the person or company that is moving your home.
INSURED
You are taking on a lot of liability moving that big home down the highway. At any given moment there could be an accident that produces fatalities, or the home could be destroyed. Make sure that the mover has evidence of insurance, and show it to YOUR insurance agent to make sure it’s acceptable. And the limits need to be large; you are not going to kill someone and get away with a $100,000 settlement.
ACCEPTABLE TIME SCHEDULE
Make sure that everyone is in agreement on the exact date of the move, or a range of dates. Don’t commit to anyone who simply says “I’ll get to it when I can”. If they don’t like working around deadlines, then you won’t like working around them. Every day that passes from your target days you will have no utilities, therefore no place to live, and will start accruing new lot rent. The target date is very serious, and you need someone who appreciates the necessity of time.
WORKS IN A WORLD OF WRITTEN CONTRACTS
The price for the move should be given up front and in writing. Never use a mover who will not commit to a final price, or a mover who will not put it in writing. And you better carefully review the contract he does submit to make sure it is acceptable. Use an attorney to review it if it concerns you, or you are uncertain about reading contracts.
HAS AN ACCEPTABLE PRICE
Moving a home is very costly. If you do not negotiate wisely, you may end up paying a lot more for the move than you have to. It is a good idea to get three written bids from movers who meet all of your criteria except for price, and see who the winner is. The price they bid should be turn-key, do not leave open for adjustments.
These adjustments and add-on’s will include delays caused by you, rental of hitches, tires, axles and wheels. Some movers will charge you $100.00 or more to rent their axles or may charge $25.00 for every flat tire they encounter. I would rather pay up front for 1 or 2 flat tires rather than leave it open ended and have to pay for 7-8 flat tires that you cannot ever verify.
Remember that moving a home is, for the most part, labor. And since it is based on labor, the price can be very negotiable. One mover might be 100% higher than the low bidder.
HAS A ‘CAN-DO’ ATTITUDE
Particularly if you have an older home or difficult property access, it is important that your mover have a positive attitude about the move. There are many obstacles that can come up, sometimes suddenly, when you move the home, and you want somebody who can overcome these obstacles, not someone who threatens to walk off the job.
For example, if the axle breaks off the home while out on the highway, you don’t want a mover who says “this home is a piece of junk” and leaves it on the side of the road and drives off – that happens more than you think! We’ve found that you want a mover who has a sense of humor and fair play, and who you trust to get over any hurdles.
TAKES AND RETURNS CALLS PROMPTLY
There is nothing worse than the mover who doesn’t show up on the promised day and then won’t take or return your call for several days and leaves you hanging without any possible explanation. Someone who does not practice returning phone calls promptly won’t be timely on the move either. Get the mover’s cell number and, if he doesn’t have a cell phone, you may want to re-consider your choice. It is important, for you sanity, that you maintain the ability to reach the mover at all times.
You will notice that we did not put the best price first or last in the list, because it is only one ingredient of the decision, and should not be the controlling factor. Often, the low bidder is the low bidder for a reason. Either he has no work due to a bad reputation, or he just started in business a week ago. Or maybe he has no insurance. Whatever the case may be, you only want to talk money once all the other factors have been satisfied. The low bidder will not be cheap if he wrecks your house!