Is it cost effective to renovate a 1980's mobile home?

it does't cost anything to get bids on a remodel project. mobile homes use slightly different building materials than stick built homes. try to find an outfit that has experience in Mobile homes.

At the very least insulate it if at all possible, we used to live in one and had the same experience as you. It probably does not have a whole lot of monetary value, but it seems to be in a livable condition with needs. The decision would be determined by how much you want to put into your project and what your future plans are for it.

If resale, then ask yourself would someone buy it for what you have put into your renovation? If you plan to stay and make a go of it, you can be very selective on what to do to it and how much you need to spend. At that age, many things lead to another, & to another, and before you know it is nickle and dimming you all over the place.

Best of luck.

Whether and how much you renovate depends on how you intend to use it... and for how long..... and of course on your budget and DIY skill level.

Is the mobile home on property that you own.... or in a Trailer/mobile home park where you are paying rent for a space. How much would it cost to move the home as a "lake side" type of vacation property?

To give you a realistic prospective.... have it appraised... ask how much it is worth now... and how much it would be worth if certain types of work are done.... new kitchen, new bathrooms, new flooring, new roof... new heating/cooling... new insulation, new exterior, etc.... We live in a mobile home on 5 acres.... and I know that unless it is rigorously maintained.. many insurance companies won't insure them... which makes them really hard to sell... I also know that once one starts to deteriorate that many mobile home parks will require that it be moved out... which is expensive....and once it is moved... it must be brought up to code...

Before you spend a lot of money fixing it up... get realistic information on whether spending money on it will be worth while.

will you be doing the work yourself?

It depends upon what you want to do with it, and can afford. Insulation? The first thing to do is skirting. You can use straw bales for their insulation factor if that is acceptable to you. If not insulate well under the trailer first, then use skirting around the trailer. Then put in thick carpeting over a thick pad. Second, is the roof. There are different products that will insulate it. Actually, most heat is lost through the roof. Caulk around all windows and doors - inside and out. I lived in an old park model trailer with bump outs and loved it. You can do so much with the decoration.