I agree that finding mobile homes for rent when needed is always a tough job. However, it is not impossible to find one. Due to the high demand, finding a mobile home in a nice neighbourhood isn’t easy. Therefore, a lot of patience and continuous searching are mandatory. In addition, people search for cheaper options when finding a home.
This article will discuss the possibilities and ways of finding cheap mobile homes for rent. Various factors and requirements come into play when looking for a home. For example, it must be in a good neighbourhood, closer to daily life facilities, and closer to a hospital, grocery shops, parks, playgrounds, schools, churches, e.t.c. You will find a detailed analysis below on finding homes for rent.
What are the easy ways to find cheap mobile homes for rent?
Some essential prechecks must be exercised before renting a home, such as checking nearby amenities, security, and daily life facilities. Most cheap rental homes lack these amenities, but many affordable home parks offer them.
1. Real Estate Websites:
Online resources sometimes help you get good deals on Real Estate units, including mobile homes. However, in most cases, clarity and transparency are absent; you must always visit the property before making any final decision. Despite this, it educates you about the local market before visiting in person. Therefore, you should always research real estate websites as a first step in renting or buying a home.
In online real estate research, there are multiple benefits. Firstly, you get an idea and information about a neighbourhood from the pictures, associated facilities with that neighbourhood, and nearby landmarks. Secondly, you can estimate and finalise your current spending limit by getting pricing ideas. Thirdly, you can easily explore nearby areas offering portable homes for rent, including mobile home parks and gated communities.
Zillow.com (for mobile homes for rent)
Generally speaking, Zillow.com provides a lot of convenience while searching for a mobile home. They have multiple filters and features to meet your search requirements. You can even book a real estate agent to find the right mobile home unit. However, spending extra on the agent’s commission will be costly, and you must avoid it.
The best feature of Zillow.com is checking the price history of the desired unit, which will give you an idea of the price increase ratio or depreciation percentage in rental units. As a result, you can avoid overspending.
Another good feature is that you can book a visit to the property you might consider renting. Visiting in person is always good because you can see the unit’s current physical condition and the surrounding areas accordingly.
You can easily use the filter to get the lowest prices according to your needs. This will allow you to find the rental units capped at the lowest price first.
2. Visiting Mobile Home Parks:
Investors and Real Estate companies contribute to building mobile home parks with all the necessary facilities. So, to rent a mobile home, you will need to visit the official park office. Direct approach to the park office will provide more transparency, lower prices without commissions, and better mobile home units.
Dealing directly with the management will result in many benefits. For example, prices will differ from those of local real estate agencies, and you might get extra benefits that aren’t included while dealing with realtors or agencies. Also, you get to explore more than one property at a time. On the other hand, realtors will try to trick you into renting the home unit they represent.
Your trust builds up when you meet the main boss, and nothing hides behind the curtain for you. You get the written agreements instead of verbal contracts.
3. Renting Land and Buying Pre-Built Mobile Home:
Another good option is to rent or lease private land from direct owners with a long-term agreement and settle a pre-built mobile home. Although it’s a long-term investment, it will save you much money in the long run. In addition, you have full rights over your mobile home. Therefore, you don’t need permission from homeowners to do property works and modifications anymore.
Mobile homes are not fixed on permanent locations. They are temporarily stationed at one place and might be moved to a different mobile location when needed. On the contrary, if you face any legal issues regarding the municipality or the land owner, you can move from one location to another since many mobile home movers are available, making your job easy.
You must lease the land in a mobile home-permitted society or a mobile home park. These days, HUD has implemented strict laws to enforce the safety and security of mobile home parks.
4. Family, Friends, and People of common interest:
It’s always good to keep in touch with people of common interest, especially with friends and family. Social connections are always helpful when approaching something that might be hard for you to find individually. Therefore, asking friends, family, or people you know who have recently moved to a new property might get you a good deal on renting a home.
Sometimes, friends of your friends are landlords of properties of interest to you, and by discussing your concerns with your friends, you will learn about the possibilities of renting their properties. Because they are friends of your friends, you can get special financial deals on renting that property. However, having a written agreement on both sides is always good and mandatory, even if you know someone in person.
Trust is crucial during your search for mobile homes for rent. Renting from friends and family will build your trust as a tenant, and they will gain your confidence as landlords.
5. Staying in touch with nearby landmarks and shops:
Direct owners sometimes drop their contact details or a small poster looking for good tenants for their mobile homes. It is convenient to ask local grocery stores, gas stations, barber shops, pet stores, and liquor stores. This approach gives you a clue about possible rental mobile homes and lets you meet the direct owner.
It is best to avoid any third-party involvement while renting a mobile home. A slight miscommunication can result in inconvenience, waste of money, and waste of time. Therefore, speaking to the property owner directly and bargaining a good deal on the rental price is much better. Additionally, you will avoid third-party charges, which might not be affordable sometimes, e.g., broker fees or realtor’s commissions, e.t.c.
Tenant’s guide on mobile homes for rent:
Indeed, finding mobile homes for rent is not easy. Especially when you lack experience finding mobile homes, or it is your first time. Certain risk factors are present when you are renting a property. Therefore, a checklist of dos and don’ts is given below to always keep in mind when renting a property.
Do’s:
- Always make sure to check the ownership of the property that you are wishing to rent.
- If possible, always inspect the property. What is shown in digital communications isn’t always right, so a personal visit is essential.
- You must rent a home in a busy area where all the daily life commodities are present, and you do not have to drive far to access any of the facilities.
- Please do not rely on verbal agreements; instead, try to get them documented. This will give you extra protection of your rights and limits as a tenant.
- Read your agreement properly and add all mutually agreed-upon clauses in the document.
- Renovations and modifications within the property are not included in most rental agreements. Make sure that your landlord agrees to pay for it.
- Do not rent a property that is too old. If you do rent it, ensure you do not agree to pay for any damage or renovations. Landlords have the upper hand when vacating the property; they might get you to pay for the damages you never caused.
- During handover, you must video document your activity and send the video to the landlord as evidence. It will provide you with extra security during your eviction and handover.
- Ensure you obtain ownership of all necessary paid installations and modifications within the property. For example, you install an AC or solar system on the property that wasn’t present when you moved in. You must document this clause when you sign the agreement.
Dont’s
- Never pay your landlord in cash; Always pay by cheque or bank transfer. This process will keep a record of your payment for future issues.
- Never pay for any damage caused to the property; try to get it fixed before handing over to the landlord. Most landlords hire third-party maintenance companies, which overcharge the landlords, and landlords overcharge the tenants most of the time. Therefore, try to get the damages fixed in your presence.
- Always check if the property has the necessary government permissions and there isn’t any eviction risk.
- Never vacate the property without the landlord’s permission. Make a video of the property in the landlord’s presence.
- Never let your landlord keep your deposit when the property is vacant. Always collect it on the spot.
Conclusion on Mobile homes for rent:
In this article, we discussed mobile homes for rent and summarized simple ways to find them conveniently. I believe the best solution is to rent land from a private owner, a Mobile home park owner, or any other individual offering rental or land on lease to install a mobile home long-term. Later, you can buy a used mobile home at a lower price and install it on that land. This will save a lot of money in the long run, and you can recover your cash anytime by re-renting the mobile home or selling it.
I hope this article has reached your expected outcome and will help you find your dream home easily.