Whether you’re the proud new owner of a manufactured home or want to update your older manufactured home, there are many easy ways to improve the way it looks from the street – or its curb appeal. 

New additions can make your home look nicer and renewed while increasing its value. They can also make your home feel more personal, save energy and create more outdoor living spaces. 

Here’s a quick guide with ideas to upgrade the outside of your manufactured home. 

Before you start, it is important to consider the street view of your home based on the way it is oriented on your lot. 

Typically, homes are oriented to the street in one of two ways. They can be placed horizontally on the lot, facing the street, with front and back yards. Or they can be placed perpendicular to the street, usually on narrow lots with side entrances and side yards that can be seen from the street. 

This means you need to think about how your home looks from all angles. 

If you live in a community or neighborhood, check the rules or bylaws on additions before you begin any projects. 

Focusing on the front means having inviting porches and entryways that look great. This makes your home look better from the street and can make a narrow lot look wider. It allows for more use of outdoor spaces and can include big windows, decorative doorways and welcoming porches. 

Upgrading your exterior doors is a simple way to improve your home’s curb appeal. Choose high-quality doors that match your home’s style. Options like strong steel doors for security, energy-efficient doors to save on heating and cooling or elegant French doors can make a big difference.

Consider a bold-colored front door in shades like red, blue, or yellow — these are called “power doors”. Homes with a front door in a strong color often get noticed and can sell for more. Cavco’s Palm Harbor location in Fort Worth, Texas offers a wide variety of power door options for your manufactured home to choose from. 

Updating window treatments, like adding shutters, curtains or stylish frames may make your windows look nicer, adding unique character and personality to your home. Additionally, they reduce harmful UV rays that can fade rugs, artwork and paint.

Adding attractive and durable awnings to your home or patio adds instant charm and appeal. Awnings over windows, doors, or patios can protect against sun and rain, making outdoor spaces usable year-round. They also help reduce cooling costs by shading your home from direct sunlight. 

Porches and decks are popular upgrades for manufactured homes. A porch or deck creates an outdoor living space, perfect for relaxing, barbecuing or entertaining guests. With many styles and sizes to choose from, you can customize your porch or deck to fit your needs. Adding a porch or deck not only increases the usability of your outdoor space but also raises your home’s value. 

Many of Cavco’s manufactured homes come with built in porches, such as the Lake Charles by Chariot Eagle in Ocala, Florida pictured above.

Skirting is one of the first upgrades most homeowners choose. Replacing old skirting with new materials can protect your home from pests and weather damage. Options like brick, stone or modern vinyl skirting can give your home a solid, upscale look. If you aren’t ready to upgrade completely, check into power washing as an affordable option to keep your home looking clean and fresh.  A great example is the custom block skirting on this Sunset Bay by Palm Harbor Homes in Millersburg, Oregon pictured below.

A well-thought-out and executed landscaping plan can transform the entire look of your home. By choosing the right combination of plants, shrubs and trees for your region and sunlight, you can create an outdoor space that matches your home’s style. Consider using native plants that need less water and maintenance. Landscaping can create natural privacy barriers or paths that lead visitors through your outdoor space. 

For those with a green thumb, consider creating outdoor gardening spaces with raised beds, decorative pots, or small in-ground beds. Not only do you get to enjoy the beauty of the plants, but you also get to harvest and eat the healthy rewards. 

New exterior lighting instantly changes the look of your home at night. Adding pathway lights, accent lights and decorative string lights can create beautiful illumination and a charming atmosphere. It also enhances safety and security, creating a welcoming ambiance for visitors while discouraging burglars. 

We hope our suggestions already have your brain working on some exterior upgrade ideas for your manufactured home. If you’d like to browse some of our amazing modern homes or find a retailer in your area, visit Cavco Homes today. Whether you want to know how to improve the look of your home, or are thinking about buying a manufactured home, let us help you with our nearly 60 years of industry experience.