Ripped Out Wiring

 
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Old 12-14-2007, 04:36 PM   #1
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Ripped Out Wiring


I have an opportunity to buy a late model mobile home from a mobile home park. I can get the home for about $8000, but it needs extensive electrical work. After all is said and done, I should be able to sell the home for $40,000. The previous owners opened up the walls in one bedroom and removed the wiring. They also opened up the wall above the panel and cut every wire from the panel to the top plate.

My question is what would be required to make the repairs? Would all the wiring need to be pulled and replaced, or is there a way that it can be spliced. Most of the wiring is still in place in the house except for the one bedroom, and above the panel. If the wiring would need to be pulled and replaced, would holes need to be cut into the ceilings and walls, or is there a way that you can pull the wiring without cutting a lot of holes?

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Old 12-14-2007, 04:53 PM   #2
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Re: Ripped Out Wiring


Sounds like a great place to try out those plastic boxless connectors that were a topic of discussion in another electrical thread. Doesn't sound like a big deal to fix it.
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Old 12-14-2007, 05:12 PM   #3
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Re: Ripped Out Wiring


What he said. Otherwise, pull the wires back to J-boxes and extend to panel from there. If there's no accessible attic, use the J-boxes to mount smoke detectors or lights or just put on a blank plate.
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Old 12-14-2007, 05:32 PM   #4
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Re: Ripped Out Wiring


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Originally Posted by shed-n-deck View Post
The previous owners opened up the walls in one bedroom and removed the wiring. They also opened up the wall above the panel and cut every wire from the panel to the top plate.
Why? Did they sell the copper for crack money?
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Old 12-14-2007, 05:52 PM   #6
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Re: Ripped Out Wiring


Meth....crack is soooo 1980's
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Old 12-14-2007, 06:03 PM   #7
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Re: Ripped Out Wiring


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Why? Did they sell the copper for crack money?
It's pretty common practice for some mobile home owners to remove all of the copper plumbing when they move out....They opened up the walls behind both showers, but only found CPVC, so I guess it irritated them, so they went after the wiring. I don't know what they do with it, but usually when they gut these houses, it's because they are pissed off at the park for evicting them.

The problem that I see with using J boxes is that there are 12 or 14 wires in a 14 3/8" space, it would look odd to have that many boxes lined up side by side.
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Old 12-14-2007, 06:31 PM   #8
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Re: Ripped Out Wiring


Quote:
Originally Posted by shed-n-deck View Post
It's pretty common practice for some mobile home owners to remove all of the copper plumbing when they move out....They opened up the walls behind both showers, but only found CPVC, so I guess it irritated them, so they went after the wiring. I don't know what they do with it, but usually when they gut these houses, it's because they are pissed off at the park for evicting them.

The problem that I see with using J boxes is that there are 12 or 14 wires in a 14 3/8" space, it would look odd to have that many boxes lined up side by side.
Of course, you would need to properly size the JB, then you could use just one. You could always put in a receptacle for a plasma while you are at it.
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Old 12-14-2007, 06:43 PM   #9
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Re: Ripped Out Wiring


How accessible does the J box need to be? Could I have the electrician mount the J box behind the wall, and then conceal it with a removable panel?
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Old 12-15-2007, 09:26 PM   #10
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Re: Ripped Out Wiring


Quote:
Originally Posted by shed-n-deck View Post
How accessible does the J box need to be? Could I have the electrician mount the J box behind the wall, and then conceal it with a removable panel?
Yes, that would be one method. As long as the access panel is there, you can "hide" one or more junction boxes in the wall.
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Old 12-15-2007, 09:32 PM   #11
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Re: Ripped Out Wiring


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It's pretty common practice for some mobile home owners to remove all of the copper plumbing when they move out....
in 34 yrs of living on this planet, this is the 1st time i've learned of this valuable piece of information...wtf?
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Old 12-15-2007, 10:50 PM   #12
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Re: Ripped Out Wiring


Not to burst your bubble, but they depreciate, rather than appreciate, as a rule.
Is it a very new model? Double-wide? What conditions are being placed by the park? A lot of stuff to thnk about here.
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Old 12-15-2007, 11:13 PM   #13
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Re: Ripped Out Wiring


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Not to burst your bubble, but they depreciate, rather than appreciate, as a rule.
Is it a very new model? Double-wide? What conditions are being placed by the park? A lot of stuff to thnk about here.
I'm with Tinner and i live 60 miles south of you . If your listening to some salesman get some of Putty Trucks "Butt Putty" and put it in your ears. 40k for a mobile in Colorado? Tell us about it.
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Old 12-16-2007, 06:43 AM   #14
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Re: Ripped Out Wiring


Well, it's true...Even in Colorado...It's a late model, double wide 3 bed 2 bath, in great condition, other than the missing hot water tank and wiring...and a few holes in the walls...The park that it was sitting in has placed it in a storage facility in unincorporated Adams County, in that park, it would be lucky to get $30,000, but the park that I am planning on placing it in has comps for similar houses as high as $43,000...$40,000 might be a bit higher than I eventually make, but if I can bring $35,000, which is my safe low, then I'll be fine....

The park that I am considering moving this home to is very forgiving, they are willing to offer me 2 months free lot rent, but I'll still have to pay for utilities...That's pretty common though from what I understand, the park is happy to have another paying customer. I've never bought or sold a mobile home before, but I have done a lot of work for a guy that is a mobile home broker that is helping me out a bit...

K2, mobile home prices brand new are selling for a starting price of near $50,000, they do deprecate in value as soon as the home is placed, but not as much as you might think....The home that I am looking at would probably cost closer to $60,000 new, so at $40,000 at a near new condition, it should be a relatively easy sell...I hope....
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Old 12-16-2007, 09:13 AM   #15
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Re: Ripped Out Wiring


Quote:
Originally Posted by shed-n-deck View Post
Well, it's true...Even in Colorado...It's a late model, double wide 3 bed 2 bath, in great condition, other than the missing hot water tank and wiring...and a few holes in the walls...The park that it was sitting in has placed it in a storage facility in unincorporated Adams County, in that park, it would be lucky to get $30,000, but the park that I am planning on placing it in has comps for similar houses as high as $43,000...$40,000 might be a bit higher than I eventually make, but if I can bring $35,000, which is my safe low, then I'll be fine....

The park that I am considering moving this home to is very forgiving, they are willing to offer me 2 months free lot rent, but I'll still have to pay for utilities...That's pretty common though from what I understand, the park is happy to have another paying customer. I've never bought or sold a mobile home before, but I have done a lot of work for a guy that is a mobile home broker that is helping me out a bit...

K2, mobile home prices brand new are selling for a starting price of near $50,000, they do deprecate in value as soon as the home is placed, but not as much as you might think....The home that I am looking at would probably cost closer to $60,000 new, so at $40,000 at a near new condition, it should be a relatively easy sell...I hope....
Sounds like you did your hommework and it's a good deal.
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Old 12-16-2007, 09:59 AM   #16
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Re: Ripped Out Wiring


Here's some info for you to ponder. Mobile home makers do not wrap windows or doors. They slap siding on them. Their biggest downfall is floors rotting out after 5-8 years. This comes from the window and door leakage. I repair them at times. I'll just supply the link to all the details http://www.albertsroofing.com/Window%20Flashing.htm and you can see some of the damage.
The damage shows up inside first as a soft floor and by then, it's in really bad shape.

Pull the siding there and flash them, replacing any wood necessay. As the example shows, just flashing without pulling and wrapping them will add many years to their life.
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Old 12-16-2007, 12:50 PM   #17
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Re: Ripped Out Wiring


Quote:
Originally Posted by tinner666 View Post
Here's some info for you to ponder. Mobile home makers do not wrap windows or doors. They slap siding on them. Their biggest downfall is floors rotting out after 5-8 years. This comes from the window and door leakage. I repair them at times. I'll just supply the link to all the details http://www.albertsroofing.com/Window%20Flashing.htm and you can see some of the damage.
The damage shows up inside first as a soft floor and by then, it's in really bad shape.

Pull the siding there and flash them, replacing any wood necessay. As the example shows, just flashing without pulling and wrapping them will add many years to their life.
A mobile home is not an investment it is an ongoing expense, if you want the real facts go to any bank and request a loan on your find, bet they see it in a different light.
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Old 12-16-2007, 12:55 PM   #18
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Re: Ripped Out Wiring


Go up to northern Maine, people add on to their trailers, second floors, extra bed rooms. Are there not codes in these places? Or do trailers not fall under code
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