What you need to know when you are insuring your manufactured home in Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Arizona
Congratulations!!
Whether this is your first home, or your 15th, buying a manufactured or modular home represents a major purchase, and you want to make sure that purchase is protected in the event of a claim, or heaven forbid, a total loss.
A manufactured home is essentially the modern term used for mobile homes. This terminology changed when new codes went into effect in the 1970’s. With these new rules, standards such as minimum snow load, plumbing and enhanced structural integrity came into effect. Insurance companies tend to view these types of homes like vehicles, with declining value over time. With a modular home, the home’s walls are assembled at the factory, then transported to the site, and assembled on a foundation, much like a traditional site-built home.
Value of Site built vs Manufactured homes over time
Statistically, site-built homes tend to gain value over the life of a mortgage. That’s not the same with manufactured homes, which generally decline in value over time. However, if you own the land that your home resides on, that land is generally appreciating in value.
Risks of Manufactured homes
Some risks are greater with a manufactured home. With the construction off site and shipped to the site, some risks are statistically amplified, due to foundation issues (we will get to that later), fire, and weather.
Your mobile home is probably perfectly safe, but insurance companies must look at the risks to this class of property as a whole, to assess premiums.
Types of Manufactured home insurance.
The types of insurance available to manufactured homes are similar to site- built homes. Some of these types of coverages include:
- Liability Coverage- This protects you financially in case someone is injured in your home, or on your premises, and they seek damages.
- Property Damage- this protects your investment in your home in the event of a disaster like a fire.
- Contents Coverage: This protects your investment in your personal property in your home.
At jan jesberger insurance we are here to help you assess the amount and types of coverage that are appropriate for you.
How is my Manufactured Home Insurance affected when you don’t own the Land?
If you don’t own the land that your manufactured home is on, you must make sure your structure and its contents are properly covered. Also, it is important that the landowner have the proper insurance, especially liability insurance. If there is a doubt, give us a call, and we will be happy to review your policy with you. Any outbuildings need to be covered, and perhaps their contents.
Land ownership affects many things, including the value of your home as well as its insurability. The best way to make sure you have the best coverage available is to just give us a call at 208-762-2122.We are an independent insurance agency, so we can fit the correct insurance company with your specific situation.
What are the factors to consider when finding insurance for your Manufactured Home?
One of the biggest factors when considering insurance for your manufactured home are the two ways that you are compensated in the event in a loss, they are:
- Actual Cash Value: In the event of a loss, you will receive the value of the structure in the current market, which considers depreciation, so you may not get enough to replace your home in the event of a big loss.
- Replacement cost value: In this type of policy, the amount you would receive is the cost of replacing the home up to the limit shown on your policy declarations page.
Content Coverage in Manufactured Home Insurance
Having adequate content coverage is essential when purchasing your policy.Many companies only provide for 50% or less of the value of your home on their base policy.This amount, in our experience is not enough. You can increase this amount in most cases.When you think about what it would take to replace the contents of your house with all new furnishings, it adds up quickly.
Foundations
When you are setting up your manufactured home, it is especially important that you make sure that the foundation that it is placed upon meets standards.When a mobile home has the correct foundation, usually we can secure a better policy for less money, while making sure that your assets are correctly covered.
Bundling
In some circumstances, we can bundle your home and auto policies, and save you money while providing the coverage you need.
The Bottom Line:
It is important to think about many things when you are protecting your manufactured home.While price is important, it is also important that the insurance is there when you need it. The last thing that you want to have to worry about, after suffering a loss, is whether your insurance is adequate. At jan jesberger insurance, we are always aware that the bottom line is important, but it is more important that you are covered, and if you have a claim that we are in your corner. Whether you are a new homeowner, or retiring to that bit of heaven that we call the Northwest, email us today at jan@janjinsurance.com.