Moving a House: More Cost-Efficient than You Might Think

If you’re looking for a bargain on your new home, consider going à la carte—that is, buying a house separate from your property and moving it. Moving a whole house might sound cost-prohibitive, but under certain circumstances, it can actually be cheaper than the alternative, especially if you get the house for next to nothing. Proper demolition costs landowners thousands, which means some choose to offer the structure free to anyone willing to pay to move it. Not only does this save money on both ends of the equation, but it’s recycling on a grand scale.

How it works

Technically speaking, it is possible to disassemble a house nail by nail and reassemble in the new location. But there’s an easier way—picking it up and moving it. First, you’ll need to hire a company that specializes in structure moving and get your utilities disconnected by electricians and plumbers. After that’s done, the movers dig out around the foundation, exposing the walls so they can cut openings and insert steel beams. Once some additional support is added, movers can use hydraulic jacks to raise the house just high enough to place sliding beams underneath. From there, they slide the house onto wheeled dollies and can tow the house (slowly) to its new location. So slowly, in fact, that movers tell stories of cats still sleeping and drinks undisturbed when they reach the new location.

How much it costs

The problem with putting an entire house on the back of a truck and driving it down the road is that a few things are bound to get in the way. Power lines, trees, even mailboxes all have to be planned around or moved in order to allow all but the smallest of houses. That means that while the house itself may be dirt-cheap, the moving process isn’t.  Many estimates put the cost at $12 to $16 per square foot, but how much it’ll really cost largely depends on location and how far you plan to move the house. Anything more than a mile or two gets difficult for the movers and pricey for you, though if you live in closely-populated and hilly New England, you may end up paying more than in wide-open Wisconsin. Aside from the actual moving, you’re also going to have to factor in buying the land, building a new foundation, and reconnecting utilities.

How you finance it

Just because the house itself is free doesn’t mean you’ll be able to pay for all the moving and construction costs on your own, financing free. This may seem like tough situation to secure a loan for, but some, like an FHA 203k, have provisions specifically for this purpose. Some lenders may shy away from what they see as an unnecessary risk, but if you look hard enough, you should have no problem finding someone to help you finance your new home.