Keep it Simple with Our New Home Buyer Checklist

Young woman with a bun and yellow sweater sits on a couch with a window, curtains, door and pillows behind her and smiles while she looks at information on a laptop.

Looking for a new home but don’t know where to start? The Clayton team has created this home buyer checklist with info to help you each step of the way.

Becoming a homeowner is an exciting milestone, whether you’ve purchased a home before or this is your first time. But we know that excitement can also come with a lot of questions when it comes to finding a home, the loan process and what happens before move-in day.

At Clayton, we want to help you understand these steps, so you’ll feel confident about your home purchase and know what to expect along the way. While no two experiences will be exactly the same, think of this post as a helpful guide to all of the important parts of your manufactured and modular home buying journey. So, let’s jump right in and take a look at key milestones at each point!

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Finding Your Floor Plan

We have many ways you can see manufactured and modular home models from Clayton that fit your budget and have the features you’re looking for:

  1. Look at floor plans that are available in your area to get an idea of which homes you’re interested in. You can use filters for the number of bedrooms or options like kitchen islands, office spaces and bathtubs. You can also check out our Studio blog or Inspiration page to see some of our most popular models, and save ones you like to your Clayton Favorites account.

  2. At this point, we recommend having an idea of how much money you plan to spend on your new home. You’ll also want to think about whether you’ll be placing your home on land you already own, land you will purchase or on a lot in a community. You don’t have to have all of these details finalized yet, but a general idea of what you want to do can help you get a good feel for your overall budget.

  3. When you’re ready, contact us to schedule a visit at your local home center. There, you’ll meet with one of our home consultants, who will be your go-to guide for questions during your home buying experience. While you’re visiting, they will get to know information like your budget, style preferences and any customization or upgrade options you may be looking for.

A woman shows paperwork to a couple all sitting in chairs at a table in a home center.

Choosing a Lender and Finalizing Your Purchase

The exact order of these next steps can vary based on your individual experience and needs, but once you’ve decided on a home model and are ready to purchase it, here is typically what happens:

  1. You will choose your final floor plan, including options like the paint, carpet and exterior siding colors. The home center will then send that information to the Clayton building facility that will be constructing your home so they can create the build quote for the home’s price.

  2. You’ll also finalize your home’s location. If you’ve purchased land, you’ll need to get a property assessment and see if the land needs any site prep or land improvement options. This may include grading or clearing parts of the land so it’s ready for the home, along with steps like building a driveway and making sure the home can be connected to utilities. We know this is often a stressful part of the process because there are many details and costs to consider, but your experienced home center consultant can help guide you on what needs to be done!

  3. At this time, you will also select a lender and complete the loan application process. We recommend taking your time to research different lenders and the loan options or programs they offer, so you can find one that fits best for your specific financial situation. You will then need to submit a loan application to the lenders of your choice as well as any financial information or documents the lender may require. The lender you select will then work on underwriting the loan you have applied for.

  4. Once you receive the build quote from the home building facility and loan approval from the lender you have selected, your home consultant will discuss the final home purchase price with you. Once the sales price is agreed upon, you will sign your purchase and sales agreement. At this time, a deposit on your new home purchase is typically required.

  5. Finally, if all conditions are satisfied and your lender provides the final loan approval to proceed to closing, the lender will arrange to complete the closing and your new home financing process will be complete.

Three men in gray T-shirts and white hard hats, two of them with their backs to the camera, work with drills on a manufactured home inside of a home building facility.

Home Building and Preparing Your Land

Your home consultant will now submit your order to the facility that will be building your home. This is a great time to check out our blog to learn more about the home building brands we partner with and our streamlined construction process.

  1. While your home is being built, you will want to make sure your land is ready for when the home will be delivered. As we listed above, this can include steps like ensuring the land is level and will drain properly, along with installing a septic system or well. This is also when the foundation for your home will be laid so it can then be properly anchored down. Your home center can help you make sure you understand everything that needs to be done at this part of the process, including working with qualified local contractors and applying for any permits you may need.

  2. During this time, you’ll also want to review your home warranty with your home consultant to make sure you understand what’s covered.

  3. Things are really starting to take shape at this point, so it’s also when the excitement about moving day really starts to build! You can look at decor and organization ideas for you new space or think about landscaping or gardening plans for after your home is set up.

Blue manufactured home with gray roof and white trim being delivered to a home site with a crane in the background and a man in a hard hat in the front.

Home Delivery and Move-in Day

Once your home is built and the land is ready, the home will be transported to the site.

  1. Installation construction crews will complete the on-site installation process for your home. This includes completing any interior touch-ups that are needed as well as connecting and testing utilities, along with finishing up exterior siding and skirting.

  2. Once that’s all taken care of, you will complete the final walkthrough of your home with someone from your home center. At this time, your project manager will complete the home setup inspection form, which is a checklist of what will be inspected by you and the project manager prior to when you move in. You will then receive your home buyer’s packet and appliance information.

  3. This is the moment you’ve been waiting for throughout this journey, the moment you receive the keys to your new Clayton home! It’s now time to move in, get settled into your new space and begin making a lifetime of memories with your loved ones. We’re so happy to welcome you to the Clayton family!

We hope this post has been a helpful overview of what to expect during the manufactured and modular home buying process! And if you’re ready to take that next step toward homeownership, you can contact a home center near you for more information and start browsing home models on our website today.

Meet with a local home consultant and tour available models.

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