Know what to ask before you buy
I bought my home before I knew what to ask. This is the list I wish I’d had.
Fresh paint and new floors don’t tell you what’s behind them. I made Know Before You Own so the next Florida buyer walks in with better questions than I did — about the roof, the land, the park, the flood history and the paperwork.
Jessica
What I was told
“The roof is fine.”
“The floors are brand new.”
“It’s never had water damage.”
What I should have verified
Roof type, age, permits and every known leak.
Why the flooring was replaced — and what’s under it.
Insurance claims history, before I paid.
Three things to do before you hand over your money
1. Check the home
Flood zone, records and permits before you fall in love with it.
Try the flood check2. Walk the home
Room by room, underneath too, with a list of what to look for.
See the checklist3. Get ready to close
The documents to collect and the hard questions to ask out loud.
Questions to ask
Start with the FEMA flood map.
Enter the property address to pull up FEMA’s flood hazard layer for that exact spot, plus a direct link to the official FEMA Flood Map Service Center. It’s one piece of the picture — not the whole story.
Flood check
Use the complete address of the home you’re considering.
FEMA flood maps show mapped flood hazards used for the National Flood Insurance Program. Being outside a high-risk FEMA flood zone does not mean a property cannot flood. Consider local drainage, prior flooding, storm surge, rainfall and insurance information too.
Florida Manufactured Home Buyer’s Guide & Checklist
The guide I wish I’d had before I bought.
Not a cute checklist. A working document for the questions that actually matter — the ones most buyers only learn about after closing.
- Roofs, leaks, water damage & mold
- What inspections do — and don’t — cover
- Permits, title and repair history
- Leased lots, park rules and fees
- Flooding, drainage and storm history
- Insurance before you hand over money
The Manufactured Home Buyer Workbook.
47 fillable, printable pages of worksheets, checklists and trackers — from park questions and walkthrough notes to insurance, repairs and closing. Keep what you were told next to what you verified.
How was I supposed to know to ask that?The question that started everything
I didn’t know. Now I want the next person to know.
Know Before You Own didn’t come from a business plan. It came from my life — years of struggling, living in my van, finally buying a home I thought would give me stability, and then realizing how many questions I never knew existed until afterward.
Join the beta.
Public records, a guided walkthrough with photo checklists, your documents and a report you can share with your agent — in one place. Beta testers use it free and help shape it.
- Check the homeFlood zone, records and nearby places
- Walk the homeRoom-by-room photo checklist
- Get ready to closeDocuments, questions and a shareable report
What brought you here?
I’m thinking about buying.
What to ask, what to look at, which records to request and what matters before you sign anything.
Start the checklist ii.I bought, and something went wrong.
Document what happened, keep it organized, and possibly help the next buyer ask a question you didn’t know to ask.
Share your story iii.I want to help change this.
Better information, stronger consumer protections, and real experiences that show where buyers fall through the cracks.
Take actionThe questions buyers wish they’d asked sooner.
Inspections, flooding, roofs, water, leased land, permits and records — the things that are easy to miss until after closing.
Questions to ask before buying a manufactured home in Florida
What to verify before any money changes hands.
Read InspectionsWhat does a manufactured home inspection actually cover?
Four-point, wind mitigation, tie-downs, WDO, mold — the scope and the gaps.
Read Roof & waterRoof leaks, water intrusion and moisture
What to look for, and what to ask about the history.
Read Leased landBuying a mobile home on a leased lot in Florida
Park rules, lot rent, fees, approvals and resale.
Read FloodingFlood history, drainage and storm questions
What to check beyond how a home looks today.
Read Paper trailWhich records to save before you buy
Listings, messages, inspections, contracts and promises.
ReadSomething happened after you moved in?
Tell us what happened in your own words — the people or companies involved, what you noticed, what professionals told you and what records you have. Your documents are not made public automatically.
One story matters. Repeated stories may tell us something more.
The goal isn’t to decide who is right or wrong. It’s to responsibly collect experiences, separate reports from verified facts, and see whether the same issues keep coming up.
- Tell it in your wordsWhat happened, when, and who was involved.
- Attach what you haveReports, photos, messages — with sensitive details covered.
- You choose what’s sharedPublic use and contact are separate permissions.
Education first. Evidence next. Then change.
Sign the petition
Support review of recurring consumer concerns and stronger protections for Florida buyers.
Get notifiedJoin the advocacy list
Hear about chances to share your experience, contact officials, support reform or help with the project.
Get involvedJoin the app beta
Flood data, permits, manufactured-home records, inspection questions and saved property notes — in one place.
Join the betaQuick answers for Florida buyers
Is a four-point inspection the same as a home inspection?
No. A four-point inspection is mainly an insurance underwriting inspection of four systems — roof, electrical, plumbing and heating/air conditioning. A full home inspection is a broader visual examination of the home’s readily accessible systems and components. Citizens Property Insurance requires a four-point inspection on certain applications for homes more than 20 years old, but it is not a substitute for an inspection done for you as the buyer.
If a home is outside a high-risk FEMA flood zone, can it still flood?
Yes. FEMA flood maps show mapped flood hazards used for the National Flood Insurance Program. Being outside a high-risk zone does not mean a property cannot flood. Ask about prior flooding, drainage, standing water after heavy rain and storm surge, and get a flood-insurance quote before closing if risk is a concern.
What should I ask before buying a mobile home on a leased lot in Florida?
Apply to the park and get approval in writing before closing. Get the current lot rental agreement, the park rules and the prospectus, and read them yourself. Ask what the lot rent includes, every additional fee, how and when rent can increase, who maintains drainage, trees and utilities, and whether a future buyer of your home would have to qualify with the park.
Where do I find the HUD data plate on a manufactured home?
HUD says the interior data plate is commonly found near the electrical panel, inside a kitchen cabinet or in a bedroom closet. It lists the home’s Wind Zone, roof load and other design information. Post-1976 manufactured homes should also have a HUD certification label on each transportable section.
When should I get homeowners insurance quotes for a manufactured home?
Before you buy. Give the insurer the exact address, year and correct details about the home, and ask whether a four-point, wind mitigation or tie-down inspection is required, how the roof and any additions affect eligibility, and whether flood coverage is separate. Confirm that this specific home is insurable, in writing when possible.
Is Know Before You Own a law firm or inspection company?
No. Know Before You Own is an educational consumer resource created by a Florida homeowner. It provides questions and general information to help buyers slow down and verify what they can. For a specific home or transaction, use appropriately licensed professionals.