12 things you can do to make your manufactured home look like it was built on-site.

1. Roof angle: A manufactured home’s most obvious trait is low-pitch or flat roofs. Elevating the roof angle is one of the best ways to make your manufactured home look site built. Some even come with elevated roofs from the factory. A steeper roof angle will help with drainage and snow with the bonus of looking good.

2. Extended eaves: Another roof treatment is the eaves. They are typically flush or very short on manufactured homes. Extending these adds a little style to the roof. If you wanted to get fancy, you could add some decorative brocade or wainscoting to accentuate the roof from the home’s siding.

3. Exterior Cladding: Manufactured homes typically come with standard vinyl siding. This weathers well and looks ok, but if you want to punch it up a notch, you can choose an alternative exterior cladding. Brick, stone, natural wood, genuine clapboard siding, stucco, log, or even industrial metal with a rusted patina. The only limitation is your pocketbook, imagination, and taste.

4. Basement or foundation flush with the ground: Another dead giveaway for manufactured homes is the skirting covering the under part of the home where it is lifted and balanced. If the home is placed flush to the ground on a solid permanent foundation, this skirting is not needed, and the home looks like a home built on-site. Plus, the home will settle better over time on the superior foundation.

5. Garage: Building a garage as a separate addition can add huge appeal to a manufactured home. This makes the home appear larger and adds more complexity to the shape and form. The garage can be attached to the home or not. Such structures will also greatly increase the value of the home.

6. Out Buildings: Like the garage, any outbuildings you build will add to the home’s appeal and value. These can be attached to the home or not, as you choose. A greenhouse shed, barn, or workshop would be good outbuildings to add to your home.

7. Landscaping: Good landscaping will do wonders to create a permanent site-built appeal to your home. If your home is lifted with skirting, you could plant shrubs and bushes that break up the visual of the skirting, making it a less prominent feature. Having paths to your doors creates a welcoming atmosphere and adds beauty to your home. A yard full of trees and flowers will accentuate any home.

8. Replace the doors: Manufactured homes typically have special smaller doors and unique door frames. Replacing these with standard larger doors can make your home look nicer and provide better entry access. Standard door handles do not fit manufactured home doors without special adaption kits. If you want a nice front door with a fancy doorknob and knocker, you can get a standard door and have it fitted to your manufactured home. It’ll make a great entry impression.

9. Add a porch or two: Adding porches to manufactured homes is always a good idea if you have the room. It breaks up the rectangular shape of the home as well as provides a nice area to enjoy. You can add trestles and climbing vines to make your porch a showcase.

10. Lighting Fixtures: Adding good-looking lighting fixtures always makes a home pop. Whether site built or manufactured. These pieces of sculpture will enhance your home, whether the lights are on or off.

11. Interior wainscoting and crown molding: Wainscoting is a great way to make an interior wall look fancy. It’s just a wooden or plaster form adding texture and depth to the lower part of the wall. Crown molding does the same for the top of the wall where it meets the ceiling. This treatment will turn any room into a showpiece. And it isn’t very difficult and doesn’t require any sort of demolition. You are just adding to what is already there.

12. Interior drywall: The drywall looks good. It has a custom-made appeal. Drywall has texture and dampening qualities that will improve a room’s presentation. This a pretty involved effort, but the results will be spectacular.