Mobile home living allows its residents many of the same benefits as a conventional home but often times, comes with lower costs and less maintenance. While they do present fewer costs and problems, mobile homes still require proper inspections and regular maintenance to ensure livability and to make sure they pass home inspections like in traditional or site-built houses.Mobile home insurance is as equally important too. How can you maintain your mobile home properly? To help you keep your abode beautiful, healthy and in good condition, here are some mobile home maintenance tips you can follow.

Mobile Home Maintenance Inspection

Conducting regular inspection on your own is the practical way to do mobile home maintenance. Just simply check what’s off and not in your home. Take note of any damage or possible problem such as mold build-up or mildew. This way, you can prevent any further damage from occurring and you can seek professional help as early as possible. But of course, you also need professional home inspection by the experts once in a while.

Keep it Level

This is the most important action a mobile homeowner should take. If mobile homes are not properly leveled, various problems may arise, such as the occurrence of leaks, cracking of the wall or trouble shutting doors and windows. These are just some of the problems that you might have to face if you neglect mobile home maintenance. To prevent any of these from occurring and to properly maintain your home, it’s very important that you regularly or annually check your home if it is still “level.”

Keeping your home properly leveled prevents a host of other problems. If you notice that your windows or doors are not closing properly, that cracks are appearing in your walls, or that your floor squeaks excessively when you walk on it, your mobile home is probably uneven.

While it is important for the owners of site-built homes to check the level of their homes, this step is essential for the owners of manufactured homes, which are built in one place and then deposited elsewhere.

Whether your home is site built or manufactured, you should conduct a regular inspection to ensure that it remains level. If you find that your home is uneven, you can purchase a kit or hire a professional to help you even it out.

Keep the Skirtings in Good Shap

Homeowners often neglect the “skirting” or otherwise called “perimeter enclosure.” Skirting ventilation is highly important in mobile home maintenance.

While the skirting around your mobile home does add curb appeal, it is there for more than decoration. Skirting protects the foundation of your mobile home. It does not only act as an insulator, it also keeps pests away and prevents the growth of mold if properly ventilated.

This article from Hunker says that skirting “helps to maintain a steady temperature under the home to prevent freezing of pipes and high humidity levels that can lead to condensation and moisture problems that will potentially damage wood floors and support members.”

Whether you choose simulated rock or brick, or plain siding, you must maintain the proper skirting ventilation. See to it that you get proper ventilation in your home. The professionals have provided a formula on how to determine proper skirting ventilation. It is as follows: for every 150 square feet of space, there must be 1 square foot of venting. Moreover, avoid or prevent dead air pockets by installing vents within 3 feet of each other. Having the proper perimeter enclosure along with the correct square footage of venting allows you to protect your home.

Roof Maintenance

Just as with a conventional house, keeping the roof in good condition is important. The roof must be included in your list of mobile home maintenance habits. Mobile homes differ from conventional houses because they have flat roofs, which means that a leak can cause more water damage at a faster rate. It is important that you frequently assess the quality of your roof, even if you do not notice a leak.

Regularly check and maintain your roof. The maintenance depends on the type of roof you have. For example, if your home has a flat roof, it is advised that you must recoat or reseal it regularly, perhaps once a year. Using the right coating is also important as there are certain coatings that cannot be used on certain roofs. For instance, aluminum and asphalt coatings should not be applied on rubber or PVC roofs. Furthermore, make sure that there are no cracks in the caulking and that the flashing is in great condition.

Plumbing Tips

Mobile homes require different plumbing needs than site-built ones. However, both types of homes have more or less the same plumbing structures, such as drain line, supply line, pipes and such. The main difference is that in mobile homes, every water feature ideally should have a shut-off valve, particularly in the faucets and toilet. It is important that you know which part of your home these valves are located.

Use the Right Supplies

Mobile homes are usually built with different materials than conventional homes, which means that you will need to purchase unique, often difficult to find materials to maintain your home.

For instance, as this article from doityourself points out, fixtures such as doorknobs and faucets, and materials such as drywall and vinyling typically differ in mobile homes. As you are choosing materials to maintain your mobile home, remember to acquire the right types of products.

Mobile Home Insurance Coverage

Mobile home maintenance is highly important to keep the value of your property, and to ensure that you are always living in a safe, sturdy and healthy home. These mobile home maintenance tips should assist you in keeping your mobile home in pristine shape, but remember that problems eventually will arise. On top of these maintenance tips, you must not neglect insurance. Our passionate team at Gebhardt Insurance Group wants to help you find an insurance policy for your mobile home that gives you the coverage you need at a cost that you can handle.

If you are interested in purchasing a new insurance plan for your mobile home, get a free quote today. We want to find you a plan that not only meets your financial needs, but also adequately protects your home in the case of an emergency or needed repairs.

Enduring a disaster that damages your home can be a scary process. In just a moment, you could lose a part of your house, belongings in your home, or even the entire house. Filing a homeowners insurance claim is a daunting process that you must face after a disaster. If you have never had to file a claim before, knowing what steps to take can be difficult. To make this process easier, we will explain the typical insurance claim process for homeowners.

Filing a Claim

In the case that your home becomes damaged, the first thing you should do is determine if it is safe to return. You and your family’s safety is more important than your home or any damaged items inside.

Whether or not you can continue living in your home, you should begin evaluating the exact damage so that you know what to tell your insurance agency when you file your claim. To make sure that you have an accurate assessment, hire a contractor to inspect the damage.

If your home is damaged, it is important that you file a claim with your insurance company as soon as possible. The quicker that you get in contact with your insurance provider, the quicker you will receive the help you need.

With new technologies, there are plenty of ways to contact your insurance company to file a claim. Calling your insurance agent is usually the best and fastest approach. Either way, it is important that you document all of the damage.

What Happens After I File a Claim?

Once you file a home insurance claim, an insurance adjuster, who may also be called a claims adjuster, will connect with you to assess the cost of the repair. They will probably talk with you over the phone, as well as visit your home to assess the damage.

After the insurance adjuster has discussed the damage with you and evaluated your total losses, they will propose an appropriate settlement. If you accept, then you will typically receive the money quickly.

Sometimes, you will receive a check to cover the whole of your damages, but not always. According to the Insurance Information Institute (iii), the initial payment usually does not include the entire settlement amount. Many insurance companies will provide “an advance against the total settlement amount,” and then pay the rest later. This quick payment allows homeowners to make temporary repairs and cover immediate costs.

Even after you file the original claim, if the damage is severe enough to force you out of your home, make sure that you include additional living expenses on your claim. Things such as accommodations, rental cars, and meals from restaurants all fall under the additional expenses category that your insurance company should compensate you for. Keep track of your receipts so that you can verify to your insurance provider how much extra compensation you will require.

What Factors Affect the Homeowners Insurance Claims Process?

Not every insurance claim will yield the same results. Here are a few factors that typically play a crucial role in determining the amount of money you will receive.

Type of insurance coverage

There is one important distinction that will play a major role in determining the amount of your coverage: replacement cost vs. actual cash value.

• Actual cash value: This type of coverage has less value, as the focus is on the monetary value of the items instead of how much you would actually need to replace them. The amount provided typically is not enough to replace the lost or damaged items, especially if they are older and have depreciated in value.
• Replacement cost: This type of coverage does not consider the actual monetary value of each item, but rather how much it would cost to replace them. This option provides more comprehensive coverage that allows homeowners to recover faster.

If you lose your home and the items inside are damaged in a disaster, replacement value is the better coverage. However, this article from the balance says that replacement value often comes with caveats. For instance, “your insurance company may have the choice to only pay partial payments until you have replaced the item,” or they may only allow you to purchase your items at certain stores.

Home Ownership

There are important factors relating to the home itself that play a significant role in deciding the extent of your coverage.

• Mortgage: If you are still making payments to a mortgage lender for your home, the check you receive from the insurance company will probably have your name and their name on it. Since the lender has a large financial investment in your home, they will want to ensure that it is repaired sufficiently and that its value does not depreciate.
• Type of Residence: If you live in a condo or a co-op, even though you own it, your insurance policy will function differently. If you live in a condo and want to know how living in it will affect your policy and claim settlements, check out this article from the balance.
• Renter’s insurance: If you are renting a home, condo, or apartment, you do not need to purchase a homeowner’s insurance policy. However, since your possessions would not be included on your landlord’s policy, renter’s insurance is a way to protect your belongings.

If you are unsure of whether the conditions on your current policy meet your needs, we can help. Our passionate, experienced team at Gebhardt Insurance Group will help you understand the homeowners insurance claims process and aid you in finding a plan that provides the perfect amount of coverage for you. Visit our website and receive a free quote today.