Manufactured Homes
By Jim Palmer Jr.

Manufactured homes have been around for many years but sometimes receive an undeserved negative reputation. Since they came to the property with wheels attached, they were initially labeled mobile homes. There have been some famous redneck jokes that highlight this feature.  Even though such jokes may be entertaining to most of us, such teasing may unfairly characterize owners of such properties.

While it is a true that stick framed homes generally hold their value better than a manufactured home, many manufactured homes are extremely high quality and offer wonderful floor plans with top-of-the-line amenities. Since a manufactured home offers relatively quick setup, this type of product has been a viable choice that has allowed many folks the enjoyment of a rural location.

Since manufactured homes do not fit under the International Building Code (previously Uniform Building Code), the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) has been tasked with the initial factory inspection and given the stewardship for policing and permitting any subsequent alterations or additions.

I once viewed a property which had a quality manufactured home in a wonderful setting. The massive rear deck and impressive covered front deck immediately attracted my attention. I asked if an L&I permit had been obtained when this construction project had been done and the owner assured me that it was built by a licensed contractor, “so it must have had the proper permitting.” In this case the contractor had applied for the proper county permits, yet had failed to obtain a permit and inspection from the Department of Labor and Industries. This example highlights the fact that most home owners and many good contractors are simply unaware of this requirement!

Most of the time when a purchaser considers buying a property, one deciding factor is to consider what favorable resale ability the property will have when they decide to move on.  When purchasing a manufactured home, a buyer should understand that any alterations done prior to or during their ownership, could have legal ramifications for them, unless such L&I inspections have been completed. Since most people do not find out about this requirement until the 11th hour during a sales transaction, the corrective action required can be irritating and costly, especially if major deficiencies are discovered.

If you own a manufactured home or are planning to do so in the near future, remember this tidbit of information so you can have peace of mind, knowing that your remodel contractor has complied with local and state permitting requirements.

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