The fall edition
The winter edition
The spring edition
The summer edition
Straight answers for life in a manufactured home.
How to fix it, what it should cost, and what the fine print means. Plain guides from people who work in manufactured housing, free to read.
What's going on at your place?
- Winter's coming Keep pipes from freezing under the home
- Something needs fixing Skirting, anchoring, doors that stick
- My bills are too high Lot rent, hidden fees, and the power bill
- I'm moving The free moving kit, with checklists and a budget
- I'm buying or selling a home Approval, title, inspection, and financing
- What does that word mean? Lot rent, HUD code, chattel loan, and more
The home, annotated
Most of what goes wrong starts under the floor.
Six parts of a manufactured home that are worth knowing by name. Each one has its own guide.
- Skirting Closes in the space under the home and keeps cold air and animals out.
- Tie-downs and anchors Steel straps and ground anchors that hold the home when the wind picks up.
- Piers and leveling Sticking doors and cracks over doorways can mean the home has settled.
- The water line Where it comes up from the ground is where heat tape matters most.
- Windows and doors Where most drafts get in. Weatherstrip and caulk cost little.
- The lot line What lot rent usually pays for, and what you pay separately.
This season
Fall jobs, before you need them
- Test heat tape and the outlet it plugs into
- Close gaps in the skirting
- Change the furnace filter
- Disconnect garden hoses
This season
Winter jobs, before you need them
- Keep skirting vents clear of snow
- Test carbon monoxide alarms
- Know where your water shutoff is
- Keep space heaters 3 feet from anything that burns
This season
Spring jobs, before you need them
- Look over anchoring straps before storm season
- Check doors and floors for settling
- Clean gutters
- Find your nearest storm shelter
This season
Summer jobs, before you need them
- Change air conditioner filters
- Shade sun-facing windows
- Check deck and step railings
- Wash skirting gently
How to winterize a manufactured home and keep pipes from freezing
Heat tape, pipe insulation, skirting, and drafts: the fall checklist that keeps water lines under your home from freezing, and what to do if one does. Read the guide- Costs and budgeting
10 hidden costs to budget for before you move in
The fees and bills that surprise new residents: screening fees, deposits, submeter minimums, pet and parking fees, insurance, and more. And what to ask about each one. - Buying and selling
Buying a home that's already in a community
How buying a home in place works: community approval, the title, the data plate, an inspection, and the costs to plan for. Step by step. - Everyday living
Home safety basics: smoke alarms, carbon monoxide, fire, and storms
Where to put smoke and CO alarms, how often to test them, fire extinguishers, space heaters, and a severe weather plan for a manufactured home. - Financing
How financing a manufactured home works
Chattel loans, mortgages, and government-backed programs, in plain English. What changes when the home sits on a rented lot, and the questions to ask any lender. - Costs and budgeting
How to lower utility bills in a manufactured home
Drafts, the underbelly, ductwork, lighting, and cooling. The fixes that make the biggest difference in a manufactured home, starting with the cheap ones.
We only list things we'd tell a neighbor to buy, and every item links back to a guide on using it.
The newsletter
One useful email, every week or two
A seasonal to-do before you need it, one guide worth reading, and the occasional tool we'd actually buy. Written for the people who live in the homes.
A note from us
Who's behind this
MHCP USA is run by people who own and operate manufactured home communities. We see the same questions every week: frozen pipes, confusing leases, surprise fees, and how to buy or sell a home on a rented lot.
This site is where we answer them for everyone, wherever you live.