As with most things in life, getting to the bottom of how much it will cost to move a mobile home depends on a series of factors. If you haven’t moved a manufactured home before, then you are likely to be surprised at not only the cost, but also the array of things that go into a mobile home move. Aside from the actual costs of having someone hook up to your mobile home and move it to your desired location, you will likely also have costs associated with prepping the home before the move, permits, insurance, setup at the new location, new skirting, new utility setup, and more.
How Much Does It Cost to Move a Mobile Home
We know that there are many that landed here due to starting some research and are just looking for an approximate estimate for how much it will cost to move their mobile home. In general terms, you can expect to pay between $2,000 and $6,000 to move a manufactured home. If you plan to move a mobile home more than 100 miles you can expect the moving costs to go as high as $15,000 or more. Some may pay more while others will pay less. But, like we said, it all depends on the distance, the condition of the home, the condition of the new location, and even your geographic location. To get a better idea of the costs, read on as we break down the different aspects of mobile home moving that may pertain to your situation.
First, lets consider your specific situation. It will have a large impact on the actual cost of moving your manufactured home.
Factors that Affect How Much It Will Cost to Move a Mobile Home
- Distance – Perhaps one of the largest factors in the cost of a mobile home move is the distance. The longer the distance, the larger the charge for the move. If you are moving your mobile home more than 75-100 miles, you can expect to pay between $5-12 a mile more than “average” costs depending on the size and weight of the mobile home being moved.
- Weight – The actual weight of the mobile home will also play a role in the costs. A small single wide mobile home requires less costly equipment to move, while large doublewide may require a specialty truck equipped to move that kind of weight.
- Size – Similar to the weight, the actual dimensions of your manufactured home will affect the price. A double-wide home may require special accommodations along the way such as guide cards, diverting traffic, specialized routes, and other considerations.
- Age – How old is your mobile home? Older homes tend to have parts that must be replaced/serviced before moving such as tires or axles. Mobile home wheels/tires will cost around $50 to repair, while axles will approximately $150-200 to repair. You are also much more likely to have damage during the trip such as lost shingles or damaged siding.
- Foundation – Does the mobile home you wish to move sit on a foundation? Is it a slab or a block foundation? Slab foundations are generally cheaper as they allow for quicker prep-work before transport.
- Permits – The transport company will likely handle this, but the more municipalities and states that the home travels through, the more costs associated with permits. Permits are not always granted if the mobile home to be moved is in poor condition or deemed a potential hazard to other drivers on the road.
Common Types of Mobile Home Moves
Transit-Only
This type of move is one where the homeowner coordinates all the pre-move preparation work so that all that is needed from the movers is to show up, hook up and go. This is the simplest type of move to schedule, but a quote should still include all necessary permitting, insurance, guides (lead and chase cars), hookup, transport to the new location, and unhooking at the new site. In this arrangement all skirting, decks, sheds, and personal belongings will have been removed from the home and utilities disconnected before transport can begin.
In this arrangement, the mobile home is attached to a towing vehicle and transported to the new site. Once it arrives, it will simply disconnect the mobile home and leave it sitting on the lot. All setup work will be left to the homeowner. For a single wide you can expect the cost to run between $800-1000 for a local move, while a double wide will be $2,000-2,800, and a triple wide will range from $2,700-3,600. For longer distances you can expect these charges to a starting point with a surcharge for mileage above the standard amount given by the moving company (typically 60-100 miles).
Full Service
As the name implies this is the “everything included” plan. A full service mobile home move will include disconnecting utilities, removing skirting from your mobile home, removal of connected structures, preparation of the tires/axles, and all of the permits, insurance, and guide cars as with a transit only move. Full service may also be made to include setup of all utility connects and securing the mobile home to the foundation at the new site as well. The cost for full service will start around $3,000-$6,000 for a single wide mobile home, $4,000-$9,000 for a double wide mobile home, and $10,000-$15,000 for a tripe wide mobile home.
Custom Move
There are times when you need more than a transit-only move but less than a full service move. Most mobile home moving companies are flexible in this regard and will offer “a la carte” pricing (pay for what you need only) which is helpful if there are certain aspects of the move you are comfortable doing yourself. Some home owners choose to disconnect/reconnect the utilities, remove/install their own skirting, and remove/install carports and decks. This can save you a significant amount of money but will require some know-how, tools, and time.
3 Parts to a Mobile Home Move
Though there are dozens of considerations during a mobile home relocation, there are 3 main line items to consider for estimating the cost of moving your manufactured home.
Mobile Home Pre-Move Preparation Costs
This pertains to everything that must be done before the transport company can hook up to your mobile home and actually move it. The prep work is often overlooked when trying to figure out the cost of a manufactured home move. The prep work may include any or all of the following items below.
- Disconnect Utilities – Plumbing, Electrical, Gas, Cable, etc. Fees may be assessed for disconnects from the utility companies.
- Is the Mobile Home Road Worthy – If your mobile home has been sitting for a while, you will likely need new tires and service to the axles. If your home has had them previously removed, then the moving company may install axles/tires or place it on a flat bed trailer and tow it as-is for an additional cost.
- Remove All Unnecessary Add-Ons – Most mobile home movers are not responsible for removing skirting, decks, car ports, steps, or landscaping. If you need those removed and/or moved, expect and additional charge.
- Window & Doors – These items must be secured shut and covered so that they don’t cause unnecessary damage during the transport.
When the pre-move items are completed, you should expect additional costs of $1,000 or more before the move every begins.
Mobile Home Transport Costs
The actual costs of moving your mobile home from point A to point B is the glamorous part of the overall move, but it tends to be the most predictable. Most mobile home movers have a minimum move charge that starts around $1,000 whether its 2 miles or 20 for a small single wide mobile home. That charge will generally be available for any local move under a certain amount of miles set by the moving company. We find that to be 50-75 miles total. It is important to understand that factors such as the size of your mobile home, the weight, and the additional services needed either before or after the move may change this charge significantly. If your move will exceed the standard distance limit set by the manufactured home moving company, you can expect to pay a surcharge of $4-6 per mile for the towing vehicle and an additional $1.50-2.00 per mile for each needed guide (pilot) car.
Mobile Home Set-Up Costs
Getting your mobile home setting on the right plot of land may seem like the end of the move, but you are just getting started. Once your mobile home arrives at its new spot, you will have several things to attend to before you can use it.
- Utility Reconnect of All Services – Are your electrical, plumbing, sewer, gas, cable, internet all prepped for your arrival? It is unlikely that all are ready without some site work. Skilled trades such as electricians, plumbers, etc will generally charge $300-500 a day for any work needed. You should budget between $800-1600 for all the work required to get everything connected and running to your mobile home.
- Site Grading and Clearing – Is the site where your new mobile home will be located level and clear of large rocks, high-grass, and trees?
- Foundation – Is the new site ready for your mobile home? Have blocks been set or a slab poured? It is common for the site to not be totally ready for what may be a larger or smaller home than previously sat on that plot. You can expect to need the services of a specialized contractor or the moving company if they offer those services. It may cost anywhere from $200 for a simple site clear to more than $3,000 if trees need to be taken down or a slab poured.
- Securing the Mobile Home – You will need to ensure that your mobile home is permanently secured to the foundation or ground. This is a process best left to experienced professionals and often is a service of the moving company for an additional charge.
Find a Mobile Home Mover
It takes special equipment and expertise to move a manufactured home. You should take special care in selecting your mobile home mover and focus not only on price, but on a company that will do the job right.
- Make sure your chosen mobile home moving vendor is insured to move large freight across municipal and state lines.
- Make sure your mover is familiar with the permits that are necessary to move a mobile home.
- Make sure your moving company has the infrastructure to move your home within the guidelines of the road. Aside from the tow vehicle, there will need to be a lead car and a chase car at a minimum to comply with most driving laws.
- Make sure your moving company has the expertise to prepare your mobile home for transport and also to setup your mobile home on the new site. Even if you do not need this service, it may come in handy if something goes wrong.
- The price you are quoted for your move should include everything you need and not leave you open for any surprises. This means that every quote should include permits, driver fees, insurance, and roadside assistance.
- Be sure to contact several companies regarding your mobile home move. We often see variations of thousands of dollars between similar moving companies.
There is a great list of manufactured home movers available at this resource to start your vetting process.
Mobile Home Moving Tips
- If you are moving a mobile home in or out of a park then be sure to see if there are any credits available from the new or old park. Often they may offer some of the services at a reduced or no cost instead of being forced to pay the moving company. They also may have preferred rates with local moving companies.
- Most mobile homes are subject to the building codes specific for the general region where they were built. Due to the diverse climates across North America, it is important to consider this if you plan to move your mobile home to a new climate. The data plate on a manufactured home will name the units “home region.”
- If you have not yet purchased the mobile home you intend to move, make it a point to negotiate the move and setup into your purchase when possible. Eager dealers usually can offer these services as a bargaining chip to get a deal done and have preferred relationships and pricing that you may not have access to.
- Consider the value of your mobile home when making a decision to move. In some cases long distances and or large homes can make a new mobile home purchase more cost effective than moving an existing one.
One of our forum members (Jim from Canada) posted a video of a mobile home being moved in to his park which shows the equipment and some of the process for those interested!