You’ve signed the lease or obtained the deed to your new mobile home and you’re ready to get the moving process underway. Congratulations! Unfortunately, there’s still a mountain that needs to be climbed: moving. Approximately 35.1 million Americans move every year, but many of those who move into modular or mobile homes in particular underestimate the challenges that come with this unique type of move. But we’re here to make it as simple as possible — here are just a few tips to help you have a smooth move into your modular or mobile home.
Start Downsizing Early
To be quite honest, it’s ideal to start the downsizing process as soon as you’ve made the final decision to move into a mobile or modular home. There’s not much you can do if it was a last-minute or unexpected choice, but otherwise, take control of the situation instead of letting it take control of you. Permanent Modular Construction “PMC” are 60% to 90% completed in a factory-controlled environment, and transported and assembled at the final building site. While this is convenient and efficient in a number of ways, it also means that your modular or mobile home is unlikely to have a basement to provide extra storage space. Start too late and you’ll just be exponentially overwhelmed, or you won’t get rid of enough and won’t have the room to store all your belongings in your new place as a result.
Don’t Neglect Donation/Recycling Options
Don’t just throw all of your unwanted belongings in the trash during the declutter and downsizing process. Not only is this wasteful, but it’s harmful to the environment. Take some time to seek out some recycling and donation options to make the best use of everything you don’t want to bring to your new place.
“When moving to a mobile home you will have to rid yourself of a lot of the clutter that fills your current home…Before you move to your mobile home take all of that clutter and donate as much as you can to local charities. By donating old clothing and furniture you will not only be able to clear out space, you will also be helping less fortunate members of your community. You may even be able to save money on next year’s taxes,” writes Kenny Soto on Mobile Home Living.
Have Fun With Personalization
Your options may be limited if you’re just renting, but otherwise, don’t hesitate to spruce up your new home and make it truly feel like your own. Plant a garden or invest in some other landscaping project, paint the walls, get new flooring, or do whatever it is that you feel you want your new home to have. There was a 2% increase in spa visits from 2014 to 2015, making the addition of an above-ground jacuzzi or hot tub a great option as well. Whether your modular or mobile home will remain your abode for the next few months or the next 30 years, it’s worth it to invest in your overall satisfaction and comfort level by tweaking it to reflect your unique tastes and hobbies.
Moving into a mobile home should be seen as a new chapter in your life that’s full of opportunities. Take the process one step at a time, think things through, and you’ll be settled into your new home before you know it.
