What does the engineer need when I refinance a manufactured home?
The engineer needs your lender's request in writing, the property address, and a way to get into the home. Everything else helps, but those three let us define the assignment.
Why would a refinance need a report?
A refinance gives your lender a fresh look at the property. It may ask for an engineer's report on the foundation, on a home that was moved, or on an addition. The wording of the request tells you which, so ask for it before you order.
What should you gather?
Mark anything you do not have as unavailable. Do not guess.
- The address, the state, and the lender's written request.
- Any earlier engineering report or foundation certification.
- What you know about additions, porches, or repairs, with dates if you have them.
- Photos of the home's data plate and exterior HUD labels, if you already have them.
- Records of a move, if the home has been relocated.
- An access contact, any known limits on access, and your target closing date.
You do not need to crawl under the home or take anything apart for photos. Tell us what is hard to reach and we will explain what the visit needs.
Can an earlier report be used?
Send the whole report to your lender and ask whether it will be accepted for this refinance. An earlier report may not cover later additions, changed conditions, or a newly requested scope. Your lender decides what it can rely on. Our guide on additions and alterations explains why changes since the last report matter.
What does the visit involve?
An engineer comes to the home, documents the conditions that match the scope, and prepares a signed report. We confirm the scope and the quote before scheduling. If the lender has asked for separate foundation and structural opinions, check that both are in the quote.
What if the report finds something?
Ask the engineer to explain it and say what further information or work is needed. Get the cost in time and money for any extra step before you agree. Leave room in your schedule for the lender's review after the report arrives, because delivery and approval are separate steps.
Which states are covered?
Reports are signed by an engineer licensed in the state where the home sits: Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, or Indiana.
How do you ask for a quote?
Our conventional loan structural report is the usual starting point. Send the address and your lender's wording. We reply within one business day.