If you need to relocate or sell a mobile home, your first question is likely: “Who Will Pick Up a Mobile Home for Free?” It’s a legitimate worry, since moving a mobile home can cost $5,000-$10,000 (if just across town) and up to $100,000 (from one state to another). Luckily, there are a few options for getting rid of your mobile home without completely breaking the bank.
In this guide, we cover your free options for mobile home removal and demolition, how it works, what you can expect, and how to choose the right contractor for the job.
What is Free Mobile Home Removal?
Free mobile home removal is the process of being taken away at no charge. Although it sounds too good to be true, there are times when companies or services will swallow the price of having your home removed, particularly if they find a use for the structure (or can save any useful raw material) elsewhere. But not all mobile homes will be eligible for free removal, so it is important to know what the criteria are.
Read more: How much does moving a mobile home cost?
Who Can Remove a Mobile Home for Free?
A few different types of businesses or people will offer free mobile home removal, generally for one reason or another. Here are a few examples:
1. Mobile Home Removal Companies
A few removal companies (such as Washington Free Mobile Home Removal) offer free mobile home removal if the home can be salvaged or recycled. One business offering to purchase the mobile home for scrap or to repair and sell it may be able to help. If the home is in good shape and in an area where there’s high demand for affordable housing, they might also provide this service.
2. Landowners or Property Developers
Occasionally, land owners or developers may pay for removal to dispose of an older mobile home that is not in use on their property. If the land is being redeveloped for new construction, the developer might pay to have it removed as part of their project.
3. Non-Profit Organizations
Some non-profit organizations might accept older mobile homes at no cost, especially if a home could be rehabilitated to fill the gap for affordable housing. These entities could potentially rehabilitate or rehabitize manufactured homes for rental to low-income families or homeless shelters.
Read more: Does manufactured home depreciate?
Why Would Anyone Offer Free Mobile Home Removal?
You may be curious as to why someone would be happy to pick up a mobile home for free. Below are explanations for free mobile home removal:
1. Salvageable Materials
Your Mobile Home is Full of Materials You Can Reclaim. Scrap metal and wood are valuable not just for the environment, but also in your wallet! This can make them a great source of material for recycling or resale. Companies that specialize in scrap metal or other repurposing ventures will come and get the mobile home for free to remove these resources.
2. Opportunity for Resale
If your mobile home is in decent condition, there might actually be a resale market. Some companies may be willing to accept your mobile home free of charge, renovate it, and sell it for a profit. This is especially likely with triple-wide mobile homes, which tend to be more valuable because they are larger and in better shape.
What Affects Free Mobile Home Removal?
Although free mobile home removal might sound like a win-win, it’s important to understand that several factors will affect whether or not you qualify for this service:
- The State of the Mobile Home:
An unsafe and unlivable mobile home is not qualified for removal free of charge. - Location:
Removal may cost more if your mobile home is located in a hard-to-reach area. - Age of the Home:
The older the mobile home, the less it may be worth salvaging or rehabilitating.
Read more: How to remove popcorn ceiling in double wide mobile home?
The Bottom Line
Who Will Pick Up a Mobile Home for Free? Under the right conditions, mobile homes can be removed for free. Whether you’re working through a mobile home removal company, non-profit, or developer-type, knowing what makes it possible for the removal could be free will definitely shape your scope of working with someone. If you have a mobile home that no longer meets your needs, you’ll want to research whether or not there is a possibility of having it removed for free.
If you need more information regarding the process, or would just like to know some of the costs associated with this type of work, don’t hesitate to call a few experts who specialize in mobile home removal.
