1. Be sure your contract includes a date of completion. You are told 60-90 days but mine took 15 months. I had to pay interest on the construction loan of over $900 per month while it sat there and I was paying rent elsewhere. Countrywide would not let me discharge the dealer to allow me to hire another contractor to finish the job without a release from him.
2. Be sure you have the correct info re: when the house was built, model number, etc. I was told it was a new home, have since learned it sat on the dealer's lot for 1.5 yrs with no protection, roof covering etc. There is significant damage that I was not aware of. The home was built late in one year but since they use a system like cars it was considered a newer year model.
3. These homes only cost around $70k. Be sure you are getting a reasonable deal.
4. I am now looking at close to $200k in damages thanks to a dealer who used unlicensed contractors, has closed his business and did not get the house installed properly. I guess I am lucky, he took a million dollar down payment on a contract from another group and never delivered a home to them. Be sure you check the dealer out extensively, the better business bureau is not complete, you must check with the licensing agency that licenses the parties involved. DO a public records request on any and all complaints for the party you are considering.Check court records. This way you will have a better idea of what other people have experienced. I learned to do an exhaustive research up front, later is too late and $70k later in atty fees and experts.
Be sure the dealer is financially solvent. Does he have everything hidden behind an LLC or corporation?"