Guide · 6 min
Should I use the dealer's installer? Your rights when buying a mobile home in Florida
Dealers present their installer as part of the package, and often as mandatory. In Florida it isn't. Here's what the bundle hides, your right to choose, and how to decide.
March 25, 2026
You found the home. The dealer hands you one price that rolls the home, transport, and setup into a single number, and presents their installer as just how it works. Here's the part they're counting on you not knowing: in Florida you can choose your own licensed installer, and the setup line is where buyers overpay the most.
Your right to choose
Florida lets you hire your own licensed installer for transport and setup, you are not required to use the dealer's. Saying "I have my own installer" is also one of your strongest levers on the home price itself, because the dealer's bundled setup margin is suddenly on the table. None of this is adversarial, it's simply the right most buyers don't realize they have.
What the bundle hides
- Setup, blocking, anchoring, skirting, and permits are separate scopes, each with its own fair price. Rolled into one number, you can't see what each costs.
- A line-by-line comparison routinely finds four figures of difference on the identical scope of work.
- If your land isn't ready (septic, well, power, pad), the dealer's timeline can collide with an unprepared site, and that's where the real cost surprises live.
When the dealer's installer is fine
- The bundled setup price is itemized and competitive when you compare it.
- You value one point of contact over saving on the line, and the number is fair.
- The dealer's crew has strong local reviews for setup quality, not just sales.
How to decide in one step
Before you sign, get an independent quote for the same scope, ideally a photo of the dealer's quote compared line by line. Three outcomes, all of which save you money: you take the independent quote, you use it to negotiate the dealer down, or you confirm the dealer's is fair and sign with confidence.
Frequently asked
Do I have to use the dealer's installer in Florida?+
No. You can choose your own licensed installer for transport and setup. Dealers often present their bundle as mandatory, but it isn't, and saying you have your own installer is also your strongest lever on the home price.
Is the dealer's setup price usually higher?+
Often, yes. The bundled setup line is where buyers overpay most. A line-by-line comparison on the same scope routinely finds four figures of difference.
What if I already signed with the dealer?+
Bring the contract anyway. If transport and setup are itemized there may still be room to substitute, and at minimum a second opinion sanity-checks what you're getting so installation day goes right.
Ready for a firm quote?
Same-day written quote with every line item visible.