Every report has the same shape: cover sheet, narrative findings, indexed photo appendix, certification page. Length varies with photo appendix depth; structure is invariant. The format below has been refined across thousands of inspections.
The cover is what an underwriter reads first — and often only. Property identification, loan or case number, HUD data plate transcription, engineer of record, all on a single page in the layout the recipient expects.
The data plate transcription is the most common source of submission delay. If the data plate is missing or illegible, we document the condition photographically, search for the manufacturer build records, and note the limitation on the cover. Underwriters can usually still accept the report; carriers vary.
The six structural findings required by HUD 4000.1 II.D.4.b, in the order the underwriter checks them. Each finding cites its handbook reference, states a plain-English determination, and points to its photo set.
Pier spacing, pier height, pier construction (concrete, ABS, or steel), footing dimensions, soil bearing assumption, anchoring system, ground anchor type and embedment. The largest finding by narrative length — this is what makes the foundation "permanent" for mortgage purposes.
Electrical service entrance, water and sewer connections, gas service if applicable, HVAC connections. Each utility's permanence to the home and to the site.
Verification that the data plate is affixed inside the home (typically interior of master bedroom closet door or kitchen cabinet), legible, and matches the unit. Serial number, manufacturer, and design loads transcribed in full.
Exterior certification labels (red label) verified on every transportable section. Photo-documented at each label location.
Site grading, drainage away from the unit, perimeter skirting, vapor barrier on the ground beneath the home, access for inspection. This is where local-jurisdiction quirks usually surface.
Removal of running gear (axles, wheels, tires, hitch) as required by HUD's permanent-foundation definition. Documentation of removal or, where retained for storage, documentation that they're stored off-site.
A reader who wants to verify Finding 04 flips directly to Photo Set 04. Photos aren't a slideshow — they're an evidence index, organized to match the six narrative findings.
Each photo set covers one of the six findings. Within a set, photos are sequenced to walk the reader from the broad view to the specific detail: overview, mid-distance, close-up, measurement reference. Each photo carries a one-line caption keyed to the narrative bullet it supports.
Total photos per report typically 30–60. Underwriters who skim the narrative can adjudicate any finding by looking at the photos alone.
One page. The engineer's certification statement, the second instance of the PE seal, license details with state of issuance and expiration, insurance carrier, direct contact. This is the page lenders detach for their loan-doc file.
The certification statement is plain-language: that the structural elements of the home meet the requirements of the applicable handbook (HUD 4000.1, Selling Guide B5-2-04, HB-1-3555, or carrier intake), and that our P.E. accepts professional responsibility for the determination under the license.
The engineer block below the statement carries:
MFG Inspections is the manufactured-housing practice within the Scapular Engineering network. FHA pipelines, settlement packages, fintech-grade affixation, and aluminum-wire certifications all run through the same engineer of record, $2M E&O carrier, and seven-state license set.
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