Buying A Manufactured Home

The Manufacturer's Warranty

Warranty coverage varies among manufacturers. Retailers must make copies of warranties offered on the homes they sell available for you to review and read before you buy a home. Read them and compare coverage. The following questions may help you in doing this.

What coverage comes with the home? You may get warranties from the home manufacturer, the retailer, the transporter, the installer, and the appliance manufacturer.

What components and what types of problems does each warranty cover? What's not covered?

Does the manufacturer's written warranty cover transportation and installation? If not, are they covered by other written warranties?

Are extended warranties available from the manufacturer? If so, what do they cover and cost? Manufacturer warranties generally cover substantial defects in the following areas:

• workmanship in the structure;
• factory-installed plumbing, heating, and electrical systems; and
• factory-installed appliances, which may also be covered by separate appliance manufacturer warranties. Manufacturer warranties do not cover:
• improper installation and maintenance;
• accidents;
• owner negligence;
• unauthorized repairs; or
• normal wear and aging.

Make sure the person who performs the installation follows the manufacturer's installation instructions. Also ensure that the manufacturer's maintenance and repair instructions (contained in the consumer/homeowner's manual) are followed to keep your warranty in effect. While your retailer will perform most warranty service, the manufacturer is responsible for making sure repairs are done and completed in a timely manner.