Buying a Mobile Home in Florida? 10 Things to Inspect Before You Close
Before you close on a Florida mobile or manufactured home, inspect these 10 critical areas — from tie-downs and roof to plumbing, electrical, and the understructure.
Buying a manufactured home in Florida can be a smart, affordable investment — but a mobile home has systems and vulnerabilities that differ from a site-built house. A mobile home inspection Florida buyers trust covers the components that most often drive repair bills after closing. Before you close, inspect these ten areas.
1. Tie-downs
The anchoring system is unique to manufactured housing and critical in a hurricane zone. Verify straps, anchors, and frame connections are present, sound, and meet Florida's mobile home anchoring requirements. Read our tie-down inspection guide for details.
2. Roof
Look for the roof's age, material, and condition. Check for leaks around penetrations, sagging, and missing or curling shingles. A drone roof survey can capture the full roof without ladders — included in many investor inspections.
3. Plumbing
Check supply lines, drains, and the water heater. In mobile homes, look for polybutylene or aging PVC, exposed runs under the home, and signs of leaks at fixtures.
4. Electrical
Verify the panel, breakers, grounding, and outlets — especially GFCI protection in wet areas. Mobile homes can have aluminum wiring or undersized panels that need upgrading.
5. HVAC
Test the system and measure the Delta-T (supply vs. return temperature). A reading below 18–22°F suggests the unit needs service. Record the unit's age — replacement is a major cost.
6. Foundation and supports
Manufactured homes rest on piers and supports. Check for settling, cracked or missing piers, and proper shimming. Uneven support causes frame stress and door alignment problems.
7. Water intrusion
Look for stains at windows, doors, roof penetrations, and the skirting line. A moisture scan can reveal hidden intrusion behind walls or under flooring.
8. Flooring
Soft spots — particularly near bathrooms and the exterior — signal subfloor damage, often from slow leaks. Walk every room and note any give.
9. Windows and doors
Check operation, seals, and weather stripping. Windows and doors that stick or won't seal can indicate frame movement or moisture-damaged framing.
10. Understructure
The belly wrap, insulation, and underside of the floor are often overlooked. Damage from animals, moisture, or aging insulation affects energy efficiency and can hide plumbing leaks.
Don't skip the inspection to save a few dollars
A complete manufactured home inspection typically pays for itself many times over by uncovering issues before they become your problem. This mobile home inspection checklist is a starting point — a professional inspection documents all ten areas with photographs and condition ratings you can use to negotiate or plan repairs.
Buying a mobile home on Florida's Nature Coast? Schedule a pre-purchase inspection or call (352) 835-6320.