Fire destroys mobile home : News : KTVO3
Posted:10 January, 2009 by adminFire broke out at number one East Gate Trailer Court in Kirksville Saturday evening.
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Fire destroys mobile home : News : KTVO3
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Exploring the Mobile-Home Park Business
Posted:10 November, 2008 by adminTHE NEED FOR MOBILE-HOME PARKS
From time to time we’re going to refer to “mobile-home parks” and “trailer parks.” You may wonder why different terms are used. Are they just different words to describe the same thing? Or do they reflect some real differences in the parks we’re going to talk about? We think you’ll agree that a “mobile- home park” represents a basic change in mobile living. Here’s why.
The trailer-coach industry was just getting started in the 1930’s. Even as late as 1940 the industry had turned out only 10,000 trailers. Most of these trailers were small and were used by sportsmen for vacations and by construction workers located temporarily in out-of-the-way places. Trailers didn’t have bath- rooms, nor were their kitchens equipped with the ultramodern conveniences new mobile homes contain.
Today, the production of mobile homes exceeds 65,000 units a year. Modern mobile homes are much larger and more luxurious than those of fifteen years ago. They may be 35, 40, 45 even 50 feet in length. Some come in two sections. Most of them are equipped with complete bathroom facilities, plush living rooms, up-to-date kitchens, and full-size bedrooms.
People, therefore, are now finding mobile homes a practical and economical form of permanent housing. It is estimated that more than two million people are now living in them. And our retired folks millions each year are finding the mobile-home park an ideal retirement community.
The only similarities between the trailers of 1940 and the mobile homes of today are wheels and mobility. Everything else is different including electrical installations, brakes, heating arrangement, interiors, and frame and body construction. Yes, the change is as great as from the horse and buggy to the automobile. What has all this done to trailer parks? Briefly, the parks built to accommodate small, non-modern trailers are obsolete. Their spaces are too small. Roads are not wide enough. Electrical wiring is not heavy enough to handle the loads required by modern kitchens, hot-water heaters, and increased lighting. Such parks generally do not have sewage-disposal systems or individual coach connections. And, since they were not properly planned, they do not present the attractive community appear- ance mobile-home owners are looking for.
How To Build and Operate a Mobile-Home Park
Posted:1 November, 2008 by adminWhen you go into business, for example, there will be respon sibilities to your family, employees, and creditors. Meeting the payroll and paying monthly bills are heavy loads. Important decisions will be made by you every day. If you make too many mistakes, you face the danger of losing your capital or your earnings will be much less than working for someone else.
Regardless of these difficulties, you’ve probably said to your- self, “I want a business of my own.” All of us, at one time or another, want to create our own opportunities and build our own security.
And, after all, there are many bright sides to the picture! When you start a business, you’re boss. When new ideas come, you can put them right to work or drop them as quickly. There are risks plenty of them. But, if all goes well, you can pay your- self a good wage and a husky dividend. Since no one can fire you, success in business makes ownership permanent and of lasting value.
Then there is the pride and security that comes with the ownership of income-producing real estate. It is a real pleasure to own a mobile-home park, watch it grow and flourish, and know that it is yours.
The fact that you’re reading this book puts you ahead of the thousands of dreamers who build air castles and never carry out their visions with concrete plans and action. It is possible, too, that, when you finish reading, you will be enthusiastic about becoming the owner of a mobile-home park.
PART I. PLANNING A MOBILE-HOME PARK
Posted:24 September, 2008 by adminCHAPTER 1. EXPLORING THE MOBILE-HOME PARK BUSINESS
Exploring the Mobile-Home Park Business
BE YOUR OWN BOSS
Sit back and relax. Imagine a beautiful, landscaped tract of
land 10, 15, or 20 acres located in a nice resort area away from
the dirt, noise, and tension of the city. Or perhaps in a nice sub-
urban area, out far enough to be beautiful and in close enough
to be convenient.
On this land sets a new way of life the mobile-home com-
munity. You are the head of that community. If it were an
elective office, you’d probably be the mayor. But you’re its head
because you’ve shown the initiative to start one of the many
mobile-home parks needed today.
Now, imagine your community in operation. You see attrac-
tive mobile homes placed on neatly spaced lots with sidewalks,
paved roads, and street lighting. See Plate 1.
You see, too, a new kind of community spirit. People no
longer live in isolated homes socially insulated from one an-
other. They are now part of a self-contained community, where
people can have sociability when they want it or privacy when
they need it.
What does all this mean to you? Just this. If you start a
mobile-home park, you’ll be going into a business that is needed
and which, in most cases, will be highly profitable. Beyond that,
you’ll be starting a new way of life that cannot be duplicated by
other forms of housing.
You can, of course, work for someone else. And this may even
be better than owning your own business or being your own
boss. Any business of your own requires good planning, extra
work, and some worry. You’ve got to plan, save, sacrifice, and
learn from inevitable mistakes. Problems are the rule, not the ex-
ception.
HOW TO BUILD AND OPERATE A MOBILE-HOME PARK
Posted:23 September, 2008 by admin
The mobile-homes industry is comparatively young. It is
essentially an outgrowth of the camping-trailer industry which
prevailed during the early thirties.
As a mobile-home industry it has faced growing pains and the
need for adequate standards and planning. Much of this need has
been in the field of the trailer park, known today as the mobile-
home park.
Professor Michelon, who had spent several periods in Florida
studying mobile-home park development and its relation to re-
tirement programs, came to the conclusion that there was a
definite need for a text on the construction of such a park.
The Mobile Homes Manufacturers Association, which with
its Park Division had spearheaded the planning of such parks,
readily joined with his cause.
Mr. Michelon then proceeded to construct his own park and
from such construction weave the pattern to help other prospective park operators.
The Mobile Homes Manufacturers Association acknowledges
the work of Professor Michelon and appreciates the part played
by the staff of the University of Chicago Industrial Relations
Center, which participated in the retirement research program
at AlA Mobile Home Park, Melbourne Beach, Florida.
The Manufacturers Association takes pride in the publication
of this text, the first complete volume covering the construction
of a mobile-home park.
Contents
PART I. PLANNING A MOBILE-HOME PARK
CHAPTER 1. EXPLORING THE MOBILE-HOME PARK BUSINESS
Be Your Own Boss The Need for Mobile-Home Parks Have
You Got What It Takes? -How Much Money Will It Take?-
Have You the Right Kind of Business Organization? Get
the Facts Opportunity Unlimited Check List of Personal Quali-
fications and Other Factors
CHAPTER 2. FINDING THE RIGHT LOCATION
Factors Affecting Location Topography and High Level of
Land Site Provisions Yardsticks of Cost Conclusion
CHAPTER 3. DESIGNING A MOBILE-HOME PARK
Large and Attractive Spaces Angular Parking of Mobile Homes
Suitable Auto-parking Areas Concrete Patios and Sidewalks
Hard-surfaced or Durable Roads Buildings, Landscaping, and an
Appealing Entrance MHMA-approved Layouts of Mobile-Home
Parks Tips in Designing a Mobile-Home Park
CHAPTER 4. GETTING READY To BUILD
Retaining a Competent Attorney Inventory of the Laws Affect-
ing Utilities and Buildings Bill of Materials Selecting the Right
Items for Subcontracting How To Get Definitive Bids Setting
Cost Goals and Staying within Them Avoiding Liability from
Injuries during Construction Getting Waivers of Lien on Work
Fully Paid For Conclusion Sample Specifications for Service
Building
PART II. BUILDING A MOBILE-HOME PARK
CHAPTER 5. CLEARING AND GRADING YOUR MOBILE-HOME SITE
Making a Ground-Elevation Map Clearing and Grading Equip-
mentSome Key Factors To Keep in Mind Estimating the Cost
of Clearing and Grading
CHAPTER 6. SEWER SYSTEM
Planning a Sewer System How To Construct a Sewer System
The Septic Tank, Distribution Box, and Drain Field Recom-
mended Mobile-Home Sewer Connection
CHAPTER 7. WATER SYSTEM
Factors To Consider When Installing a Water System Location
Development of Wells Pumping Equipment Storage Dis-
tribution System Disinfection of the Water System Inspection
and Maintenance Suggestions for Installing Metal Water Pipe
CHAPTER 8. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Wiring Diagram Sample Specifications for a Park Electrical
System Conclusion
CHAPTER 9. BUILDING THE ROADS
Grading and Laying Out the Roads Suggestions on Contracting
Road Work Conclusion
CHAPTER 10. PATIOS, SIDEWALKS, AND SHUFFLEBOARD COURTS
Patios and Sidewalks Shuffleboard Courts Conclusion
CHAPTER 11. BUILDINGS IN A MOBILE-HOME PARK
Recreation Building Service-Laundry Building Hobby Shop
and Lathhouse Conclusion
PART III. OPERATING A MOBILE-HOME PARK
CHAPTER 12. BEFORE You OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Licenses, Inspections, and Insurance Promoting and Advertising
Your Park Registering of Guests Refuse Disposal Fire Pro-
tectionPreparing Effective Rules and Regulations Tips on
Handling the Clientele Learning How To Park and Connect
Up a Mobile Home
CHAPTER 13. How To KEEP USEFUL BUSINESS RECORDS
Some Simple Records To Keep Preparing a Balance Sheet and
Profit-and-Loss Statement Conclusion
CHAPTER 14. INCREASING NET INCOME
Income from the Use of Telephones Income from a Park Laun-
dryIncome from a Park Store Income from Bottled-Gas Fran-
chiseMobile-Home Sales and Service Park Electricity Keep-
ing Overhead Down
CHAPTER 15. How To ORGANIZE A RECREATIONAL PROGRAM
Typical Recreational Activities Making Recreation Pay
