Move-In Checklist for Your New Mobile Home

Have you bought a new mobile or manufactured home? Congratulations!

Moving into a new home comes with plenty to look forward to – and plenty to prepare for. From scheduling utility hookups to hiring movers and handling countless other tasks, the process of getting settled into a manufactured home can feel overwhelming. The good news? With a solid pre-move checklist, new mobile home owners like you can stay on top of everything and make the process much smoother – and a lot less stressful.

Today, our manufactured home lenders walk through a complete new home move-in checklist for mobile homes – covering everything from setting up essential services to organizing your unpacking plan.

What to Know About Preparing to Move into a Manufactured Home

Before you start packing boxes, it’s important to know how moving into a manufactured home differs from moving into a traditional home. These differences often revolve around logistics, zoning laws, and spatial planning – here’s a closer look.

Utilities and Services

Getting your utilities in order is a top priority before you move into a manufactured home. Depending on whether your manufactured home is located in a park, on private land, or within a new community development, the setup process for services may vary.

Here's a breakdown of what to coordinate:

• Electricity & gas: Contact local providers to start service transfers or new account setups, and remember to confirm whether your manufactured home runs on electric, gas, or both. If your manufactured home is brand-new, these services might need to be hooked up for the first time, as well, which may mean another appointment from the utility company.
• Water & sewer: If you’re in a manufactured home community, these might be included with your lot rent. Otherwise, contact your municipality or a private service provider to get them set up.
• Trash collection: Not all areas offer municipal trash services, so don’t forget to ask your landlord or mobile home park/community manager about trash collection options.
• Internet & cable: Some rural locations may have limited broadband access. With that in mind, research local providers early and consider satellite or wireless options if needed for your new mobile home.
• Mail forwarding: Update your address with USPS and all relevant service providers, banks, and subscriptions.

All in all, it’s a good idea to have all your critical mobile home’s utilities and other services scheduled for connection at least one week before move-in. That’s the best way to ensure your home is ready and comfortable once you arrive.

Declutter for an Easier Move

Whenever you move into any new house – including a mobile or manufactured home – getting rid of unneeded stuff is a good way to make moving easier. Downsizing saves time, money, and future headaches. You can get a jumpstart by:

• Measuring your new space: Take note of all your room dimensions to determine what furniture will fit and what you should give away.
• Decluttering in phases: Sort items into keep, donate, sell, or toss categories in the lead-up to moving day.
• Prioritizing multi-use items: A storage ottoman or wall-mounted shelving can help you optimize space, so you may want to keep these kinds of items.

The goal here is to arrive with only what you need and love. With some intentional packing, you can set your manufactured house up to be a cozy yet uncluttered home.

Moving to a New State

Relocating across state lines means a whole new environment to enjoy the upsides of mobile home living. You’ll also need to keep some extra considerations in mind, especially when it comes to regulations, titling, and transportation logistics.

Add these steps to your checklist when moving to a new state to make sure you don’t forget anything:

• Check state-specific requirements: Some states require certain inspections or certifications of your manufactured home before occupancy. Your lender may be able to help out with this and make sure you get everything prepared properly before your interstate move.
• Update your title and registration: Just like a vehicle, your manufactured home needs to be titled correctly in your new state. If your mobile home was originally in another state, double-check this.
• Understand zoning laws: Not all residential areas are zoned for manufactured homes, so check with local planning offices if you’re placing your home on private land.
• Transfer licenses and insurance: Update your driver’s license, vehicle registration, and homeowner’s insurance to match your new location.

Pre-Move Checklist for New Mobile Home Owners

To stay organized and avoid last-minute moving chaos, you’ll want to break your moving prep into distinct stages. Here’s what we recommend to new manufactured home owners for an easy moving experience.

1-2 Months Out

When you still have a few months to go, it’s time for big-picture planning. At this stage, your pre-move checklist should include steps like:

• Create a master moving binder: Store all your quotes, receipts, timelines, and contacts in one place.
• Hire experienced movers: Don’t underestimate how much easier it is to get everything packed up and unpacked with a team of professionals – and a big moving truck – on your side. Booking well in advance should help ensure you have the help you need for the right dates.
• Schedule utility setups: As we broke down above, schedule connections for your mobile home’s water, power, and internet to begin shortly before your move-in date.
• Begin downsizing and organizing: Tackle closets, garages, and other storage-heavy areas first.
• Start gathering packing supplies: Stock up on boxes, bubble wrap, tape, and labels.
• Schedule any required mobile home inspections, repairs, or cleaning services: Making sure your new home is truly move-in ready can make a world of difference when moving day arrives.

2 Weeks Out

Moving day will be here sooner than you think, so it’s time to dig into another batch of key tasks on your essential moving checklist:

• Set up your change of address: Notify the USPS, banks, credit cards, and important friends and family contacts.
• Confirm moving details: Check in with your movers and finalize the schedule.
• Pack all non-essentials: Focus on decorative items, books, seasonal clothing, and other low-priority items you won’t use in the next few weeks.
• Label boxes clearly: Note the contents and destination room to make unpacking more efficient.
• Prepare an “open first” box: Include items you'll need right away, like bedding, toiletries, and kitchen basics. That way, you can settle into your home ASAP and won’t need to dig through lots of boxes to find an essential or two.

1 Week Out

With just a few days left, final checks are crucial. You’re in the home stretch, so wrap up these last preparatory tasks on your new home move-in checklist:

• Finish packing: Only daily-use items should be left unpacked.
• Deep clean your old place: Whether you’re renting or selling, it’s always wise to leave your previous residence in good condition.
• Confirm utility activation: Double-check that all your services will be live at the new location. Some might already be active!
• Prepare payment for movers: Have cash or checks ready for tipping and final balances.

Tips for After Move-In Day

Once the moving truck is gone and the boxes are in, you can finally start unpacking and enjoying your new manufactured home. To make things even easier, you can follow these tips and avoid unneeded stress.

Plan Your Unpacking

It’s tempting to unpack everything at once. However, you might have better results if you instead:

• Tackle one room at a time: Start with the kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms.
• Break unpacking into manageable phases: Aim for 1–2 rooms per day to avoid burnout.
• Organize as you go: Don’t just unpack; set everything in its proper place as you go. Install shelving, storage containers, and hooks as needed.

Store Important Documents Safely

After moving into your mobile home, it’s easy for critical documents – like the title and purchase documents from when you bought your mobile home, your warranty information, and loan agreements – to get lost in the shuffle. That’s why we recommend storing all those important files and papers in a secure spot.

Use a fireproof safe or lockbox for peace of mind. If possible, also scan and store digital backups in a secure cloud service.

Familiarize Yourself with the Home

Moving into a new manufactured home is exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. Take a few minutes to locate:

• The circuit breaker box
• Water shut-off valves
• HVAC filters and thermostats
• Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors

Check that everything is operational and make a note of any maintenance schedules. Once you understand your new home’s layout and system, and can plan for the expenses that keep it functioning, you’ll feel in control and well-prepared for any issues that arise.

Learn About Your Community

Whether you’re moving into a mobile home park, a classic neighborhood, or a more rural area, your community will play a big role in your quality of life. After you’ve settled in for a bit, get to know your surroundings by:

• Introducing yourself to neighbors
• Attending any HOA or community meetings
• Exploring local shops, parks, and services
• Learning the community rules (quiet hours, parking policies, pet guidelines)

A sense of belonging can make your manufactured house feel like home faster than any furniture arrangement ever will. Plus, if you live in a mobile home park, knowing the local rules is important to make sure you don’t accidentally break them!

Begin Your Manufactured Home Buying Journey with 21st Mortgage

Your manufactured home journey doesn’t begin on move-in day – it starts with finding the right financing. If you’re still looking for your dream manufactured home, 21st Mortgage is the perfect lender to help you find it. As the nation's leading lender for manufactured housing, we specialize in financing options tailored to the needs of homebuyers just like you.

That’s because we offer competitive loans with flexible terms, including financing for both homes and land, as well as personalized service from experienced lending professionals. Get in touch with us today to learn more!