If you’re thinking about selling or buying a mobile or manufactured home, you should consider using a Mobile Home Bill of Sale form.
This legal contract serves as a record of the purchase and sale of a mobile home and protects the seller and buyer against future questions regarding ownership.
What is a Mobile (Manufactured) Home Bill of Sale?
A mobile home bill of sale is used during a sale transaction to transfer ownership of a mobile or manufactured home from one party to another.
The information found on a mobile home bill of sale includes the following:
- Identifying information about the seller and the buyer
- A description of the mobile home, including whether it’s a single-wide, double-wide, or triple-wide
- The purchase price
- Any other terms of the sale, including inspections
- The signatures of both the seller and the buyer
- Witnessing signatures, such as a notary public
If you’re selling land with your mobile home, the transaction will be similar to a real estate transaction. In that case, you may want to use a real estate purchase agreement form instead.
Why Do I Need One?
In many cases, you will need a copy of the bill of sale to register your mobile home with the state where you live and to obtain a title in your name.
Having a transaction record allows you to prove that you legally took ownership of your manufactured home.
How to Sell a Mobile Home
Step 1: Determine Your Mobile Home’s Fair Market Value
There are several methods for estimating the value of your mobile or manufactured home.
You can compare other similar mobile homes sold in your area to estimate your mobile home’s worth, helping you establish a base asking price.
Websites such as Zillow.com and Craigslist.org can be excellent places to start.
An estimator website like NadaGuides.com will allow you to enter specific details about your mobile home. Another option is hiring a professional appraiser to tell you what your manufactured home is worth.
The price you list should include any land included in the sale.
Step 2: Decide How You Will Advertise and Sell Your Mobile Home
You could hire a real estate broker or agent to sell your mobile home. Doing so may be more convenient since an agent will handle the advertising and any legal documents required for the sale.
However, hiring someone else to sell your mobile home will cut your profits.
The other option is to advertise and sell your mobile home yourself. Before you put your manufactured home on the market, make any necessary repairs and give it a deep clean.
Take interior and exterior photos of the house in good lighting so prospective buyers can see what you’re offering.
In the written description, be sure to include the following information:
- Mobile home year
- Size and dimensions
- Square footage
- Manufacturer
- Style
- Roof material
- Any items included in the sale, such as appliances
- The price
- Contact information for the seller
Post your ad online, in your local classified section, or on spec sheets you can distribute to interested parties who see your in-yard “For Sale” sign.
Step 3: Schedule Showings
You must schedule potential buyers to see your mobile home in person.
Be sure to declutter and minimize distractions to make the space inviting and appear as large as possible.
Step 4: Negotiate the Terms of the Sale
Once a buyer is interested, you must negotiate the price you are willing to accept for your mobile home and any other terms of the sale.
For example:
- Will the mobile home remain on the property or be moved, and by what date?
- Will any items (e.g., appliances or furniture) stay in the mobile home as part of the transaction?
- What is the closing date for the property to change hands?
- Will an inspection be required before closing, and who will pay for it?
Step 5: Buyers Inspection
Most buyers will ask to make the sale contingent upon the mobile home passing inspection by a certified inspector.
The buyer usually pays for the inspection, but not always.
The inspector will examine the following structures and issue their report to the buyer in about 48 hours:
- Foundation
- Electrical systems
- Plumbing
- HVAC
- Water heater
- Siding
- Roof
Step 6: Set a Closing Date
Once the inspection is passed, the buyer and seller must mutually agree on a date when the property will change hands.
Be sure to pick a date that gives you plenty of time to remove your belongings from the mobile home.
At closing, the seller should provide the buyer with all necessary documentation to transfer ownership of the mobile home into their name, including:
- Title signed over to the new owner
- Mobile home bill of sale
- Past inspection reports
- Repair and maintenance records
- Lien releases
The buyer should come prepared to pay the agreed-upon amount with cash, a cashier’s check, or a money order.
During the closing, the seller will sign the title to the buyer, and both parties will sign the mobile home bill of sale.
Step 7: Register the Mobile Home
In most states, a mobile home located on land owned by someone other than the owner, such as in a mobile home park or that will be moved to another location, requires registration with the state.
This is similar to registering a motor vehicle and typically occurs at your local Department of Motor Vehicle office. These are the documents you will need to register your mobile home:
- Proof of ownership (signed over title or mobile home bill of sale)
- Current or past registration
- Proof of insurance
- A government-issued photo ID
- Registration fees and sales tax as required by your state
How to Write a Mobile Home Bill of Sale?
Step 1 – Seller and Buyer Information
At the top of the mobile home bill of sale, enter the seller’s full legal name, address, phone number, and address.
The same information will need to be entered for the buyer.
When completing this information, both parties should provide their photo identification to the other party for verification.
Step 2 – Mobile Home Information
Next, fill in the following details about the mobile home:
- Model
- Make
- Year
- Price
- Color
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
- Odometer reading
- Any other notes about the mobile home, such as the condition
Step 3 – Signatures
After all the mobile home details are entered, the seller and buyer must sign, print their name and date the mobile home bill of sale.
Depending on your state, witnesses and a notary public may be necessary to verify the signatures.
Mobile Home Bill of Sale Sample
Below is an example of a mobile home bill of sale.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Use a Mobile Home Bill of Sale?
Mobile home bills of sale are typically completed and signed by both parties after all inspections have passed and payment has been exchanged. It’s a good idea to have the signatures of the seller and buyer witnessed by a notary public in case questions of legality come up later. The buyer will then need to take the title and mobile home bill of sale to their local title and registration office to transfer the title into their name.
Can I create a mobile home bill of sale online?
Yes. Use our mobile home bill of sale template to start the process today. You can download the form in PDF format.
