How Much Does It Cost to Move Your Whole House?

Table of Contents:

Reasons for Moving a House

Moving an entire house is a daunting task and does not go without risks. Several components go into moving a house, and there are various reasons. If you want to keep your home but need to move, you can rest assured that it may be possible.

There are several reasons for moving a house. For example, well-established families typically invest an extensive amount of money in their homes, and they do not want to part with them when it comes time to move. Additionally, environmental factors such as floods may create a need to move home to a higher location or further inland.

In some cases, small moves are required. For example, if a house is on someone else’s property line, a few feet may be the extent of the move. Moving a house is also standard for historic homes in which the owner wants to preserve the house.

Relocating a house can be a solution in the following situations:

• You have acquired a next-door lot and want to move your home to sit on both lots.

• You want to move your house further away from the street.

• You want to move your house to be further away from the waterfront

• You need to lift your house without moving it to fix the foundation or add a basement.

• You want to stay in your house instead of building a new home or relocating.

• You have a historic home that needs to be moved.

• You need to move your home to avoid crossing someone else’s property line.

Your house is not a good candidate to move if:

• You are relocating to a new city. Unfortunately, the move could be too far to bring a house along.

• You are looking to save money and make a deal on the move.

• Your house has significant structural damage.

How To Relocate a House

To move a house, you will need to hire a general contractor, an architect, and an engineer. They will devise a plan and apply for the permits to move the house. The general contractor will be responsible for disconnecting the house from the foundation and utilities. If the house has an underground basement, the space has to be altered for the move on the truck.

Additionally, the contractor is expected to prepare the route to get the home to the new location. Factors they consider will include the width of roadways, any obstructions, and plans to avoid the obstacles.

Obstructions may include overhanging trees on the road and traffic issues from other vehicles, power lines, utility poles, and traffic lights. Preparations also include understanding the terrain and possible sharp turns and tight corners. Sometimes, escort vehicles will flank the house during the move as well.

Next, a transportation company will come to the house and move it. They do this by drilling holes in the foundation and installing lift and jacking systems. They will dig trenches around the foundation and install steel beams. The construction will be significant. The house is then lifted onto dollies and the moving trailer or flatbed truck. Some homes have to be cut in half to be moved. Several moving companies specialize in these types of moves and can offer the best advice on the process. Most movers use high-end hydraulic systems to move the house and minimize the potential damage to the home in the moving process.

Once the house reaches its new location, the general contractor will have the excavation prepared, and the moving company will move the house onto footers on top of the site. A mason will then add the foundation by building it up to the house. The moving company will then return and remove the footers and equipment and set the house down into the foundation.

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Factors To Consider When Moving a House

Moving a house is a long process that includes preparing the existing and new home sites, preparing your home for the move, and then moving from one location to the other. Other components to factor into the process include:

• Getting the right team in place
• Reviewing zoning regulations
• Obtaining a permit to move your house
• Removing, then reinstalling appliances and utilities
• Removing and rebuilding accessories such as decks and porches
• Hiring an inspector to ensure building compliance
• Obtaining insurance

Costs to Move a House

If you’re considering moving a house, you’ll want to factor in the costs. The expense of moving a house will depend on the distance between the old and new location. Other variables that impact the cost of relocating a house include the moving process and the size of the home.

Permits are sometimes required to move an entire house and also cost money. In general, here are the average costs to move a house.

Permit: $2,500-$10,000

Labor: $14+ per square foot

Total cost: $15,000-$200,000

Special permits can range between $2,500 and $10,000. Labor costs are around $14 per square foot, but the price does not include building a new foundation for the home. The total costs are expensive, so request a detailed scope of services from the experts you hire. On average, the price to move an entire house is about 50 to 75 percent of building a new home. However, sometimes it costs even more than buying a new home.

It is also a good idea to temporarily move out of your house, which can also add more to the costs. The time it takes to move a home can take days, weeks, or months depending upon the complexity of the relocation.

Here are some of the criteria movers use for a price quote:

Size and Weight

The square footage of the house, along with its length and width, matter, all contribute to the cost of the move. Moving a prefabricated mobile home will be much less expensive than moving a historic 8,000 square foot mega-home.

Structure and Shape

Structure and shape also impact the cost o moving a house. In general, square-shaped homes are easier to move than homes with many corners and unusual shapes. Boxier homes move better because the equipment can better manage them. However, some details, such as wrap-around patios and chimneys, also make a move more challenging.

Foundation and Crawl Space

the home foundation and Crawl Space also contribute to the final cost of moving house. Homes built on piers near the waterfront are different than homes on a concrete foundation inland. The crawl space to insert the slats needed to move the house is easier to install on the home built on the pier.

Accessibility and The Moving Route

Moving a home a few feet will have fewer obstacles than moving it 100 miles. Issues related to routes can include things such as overhanging trees, unpaved roads, and uneven terrain. It’s also important to note that larger home lots are generally easier to work within than tighter, smaller lots.

Moving a house off its existing lot also includes managing the powerlines and certain permitting factors. Even small distances can have significant obstacles. Moves that are longer distances or with more road obstructions are more likely to have increased costs.

Labor and Time

Labor and time involved are two factors that have a high impact on the cost of moving a house. Labor costs are high because you must hire expert movers with years of experience to conduct such a complex move. In addition, they will need to have the highest moving technology and equipment on hand.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a structure relocation?

A structure relocation is defined as moving a structure from one location to another.

There are two ways to move a house or structure. The first is disassembling and then reassembling a home. The second is moving the entire house without breaking it apart.

How common is moving houses?

Most homes that are moved are lifted out of flooding zones. As a result, the cost to move a house can be underestimated, with expenses being higher than planned.

Is it worth it to move a house?

It is worth it if you need to move the house or love your house and have the funds to move it. Some people need to lift the house without moving it per se to add more headroom to their home or to add a garage or basement. Historic homes are

moved often.

How much does it cost to move a transportable house?

To move a single-wide mobile home using the full-service moving service and the same distance of up to 60 miles will cost about $3,000-$5,000. Full-service moves include the disconnect, reconnect and transport services. To move a double-wide mobile home will cost $4,000-$10,000

How much does it cost to move a 2,000-square-foot house?

The costs will vary based on the location and the type of house, but the average price is $12 to $16 per square foot. For a 2,000-square-foot home, this could equate to as much as $32,000. This cost is only for the move and does not include a new foundation.

What is the cost to move a house 100 feet?

The cost of moving a house ranges from $12 to $16 per square foot but can quickly rise if the home is heavier, larger, or has farther to go. One housebuilder estimates that moving a large house more than just a few miles can run about $150,000 to $200,000.

Summary

Moving an entire house can be a high cost but may be worth it based on your needs and desires as a homeowner. The average cost to move house is going to range anywhere from $12 to $16 per square foot, depending on no the weight and square footage. Several additional factors can contribute to the cost and should be considered and worked through carefully with a team of hired moving experts.