I recently won an auction for a 1-acre waterfront property in Alabama that comes with a vintage 1982 manufactured home, along with a spacious dock and boathouse that's grandfathered in—meaning it has some allowances that wouldn't be possible today. My plans are to split the property into two half-acre plots. I'm considering either gutting and renovating the existing trailer or demolishing it to build two new structures. I want to know what others have experienced with renovating older trailers, the costs involved compared to starting fresh, and what factors I should keep in mind as I make my decision. Also, I'm curious about how raising the trailer for better crawl space access might impact the renovation process. Any insights would be appreciated!
3 Answers
Before you decide, you should definitely crawl under the trailer and check the floor and open a wall to see if there's any rot. If it’s solid, you might be alright. Also, renovations can sometimes be easier to get permits for than new builds, so keep that in mind!
If you’re handy, you might find renovation more rewarding, but make sure to weigh the costs. Check on the septic—if you demo the trailer, you'll probably need a new system for the new homes. It’s smart to consider both the financial and time aspects of each option.
That’s quite the project! Just a heads up, around here, old trailers usually end up being a teardown if they're in bad shape. Definitely take a good look at your comps since you’re thinking about flipping. It can be tricky, but if it’s in decent condition, you might have some options!
Also, remember that the $1.8 million price you mentioned isn't for a single half-acre trailer—it’s for a bigger lot on the peninsula.