Festive Living, Factory Made

Warren Buffett says the most important task of a business is to delight the customer. And yet manufactured housing is usually equated with subsistence level living, as a last stand between home and homelessness. In previous posts I've written about the importance of bringing curb appeal to the manufactured subdivision. Now as curb appeal is an all encompassing term, a catchall phrase for everything outside the house, it follows that the front, back, and side yards can contribute or detract from curb appeal.

This design tries to really move the curb appeal needle for a 3 bed, 2 bath single wide around 80' long, 18' wide. The connecting carport has become a popular feature for the mobile home. The carport shown in the drawing above has room for two or three cars, provides convenient, secure storage, has a raised terrace along the street, and puts a permanent roof over the spa. Next to the spa is a small pool - an element which perhaps most reliably cranks up curb appeal - fitted with tropical plants, trees, and hedge. From the pool its a short walk on circular lawn pavers to the U shaped outdoor living room, covered by a retractable awning. From there its another short walk to the dining area also covered by a retractable awning, just past a small 'tea circle' nestled between two trees. Next to the dining area is covered outdoor kitchen and which tin roofing gives a relaxed tropical touch, and is also used for the carport. The twin Lionhead fountains produce the soothing sound of falling water and are surprisingly affordable in resin form versions as for instance these from Wayfair.

The lots are trapezoidal, 57' wide, 106' long on the short side. This works out to 7,600 sq ft per lot or around 5.5 units per acre. The home itself is around 1,440 sq ft, supplemented by roughly 500 sq ft of secure storage. The backyard and side yard are landscaped to feel like a pleasant, relaxing oasis and connect to the raised terrace along the street by a short flight of stairs. In the front arbor vitae, vines such as clematis or bougainvillea, flower beds around trees, and Hosta running along the building, give the home the sense that it belongs on the site, while the 'crossmod' carport helps connect the home with its neighbors.