How do I find out the age and manufacture of a manufactured home?
While one can often tell a lot by looking at a manufactured home, any discerning home buyer knows: there is often more than meets the eye. When inspecting and considering the purchase of a manufactured home, or preparing your existing home to sell, you will want to track down two documents that you will likely find conveniently affixed to the home itself!
The first is the Data Plate:
The name can be a bit misleading. The data plate is actually a certificate, usually printed on paper, and posted somewhere in the home’s interior. You might sometimes hear the data plate be referred to as a “compliance certificate”.
What does the data plate display?
On the data plate, you will find details of the manufactured home displayed, including the date of manufacture, model number and manufacturer, and serial number. For a more detailed rundown of what you may find posted on the data plate, click here.
What should I do if I can’t find the data plate?
Let’s be clear about what you’re looking for: The data plate will be printed on paper (sometimes foil), and be around the size of a standard piece of paper (8.5”x11”). It is usually affixed to an interior wall, and either inside a cabinet, the master bedroom closet, near the laundry, the main electrical panel, or other breaker boxes.
What if I determine that the data plate is missing altogether?
According to HUD.org:
“The In-Plant Primary Inspection Agency (IPIA) is a third party inspection agency that works in conjunction with HUD to inspect manufactured homes during the manufacturing process to ensure that the manufacturer meets the Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards. To obtain a list of inspection agencies, visit here.”
Did you say there were two things to look for? This article only mentions one. And the copy of the article Im reading online ends with a topic question sentence. “What if I cannot find the data plat?” then there was block note from HUD on IPIA. Was this the intended ending point? Maybe my page view cut off the rest of your article but couldn’t produce any other, longer version of the article. Just curious. Thx. S
To find out the age and manufacturer of a manufactured home, you can try the following steps:
Look for a serial number or HUD label on the exterior of the home. This should be a metal plate or decal that is affixed to the outside of the home. The serial number or HUD label will typically include the manufacturer’s name and the date the home was built.
Check the title or deed for the property. This should include the date the home was purchased, which can give you an idea of how old it is.
Contact the manufacturer directly. If you know the manufacturer’s name, you can try searching online for their website or calling them to ask about the age of the home.
Check with the local building department. They may have records of when the home was built and who the manufacturer was.
If you are unable to find the information you need, you may want to consider hiring a professional inspector to assess the home and provide you with more detailed information about its age and manufacturer.
Compre una casa prefabricada en Agosto 2023, me dijeron que el año de la casa es 2024 pero al mirar el titulo dice fue hecha en el 2023 . Entonces me gustaria saber porque dijeron que era 2024 ?
Hola,
Gracias por contactarnos y compartir su inquietud.
Es posible que la discrepancia entre lo que le dijeron en agosto de 2023 y lo que se indica en el título de propiedad se deba a una confusión o error administrativo. Para obtener una respuesta definitiva y resolver este asunto, le recomendamos que se comunique con la entidad o persona que le vendió la casa prefabricada para aclarar la discrepancia en la fecha de fabricación. Puede ser que haya habido un malentendido o un error en la documentación.
Esperamos que esta información le haya sido útil y que pueda resolver este asunto de manera satisfactoria.