1.
IS HOUSE MOVING NEW?
It seems like a lot of people are moving houses
these days, but house moving is not new. The first
record of a house being moved is in “The Survey of
London” dated to 1598 by John Stow. (Volume 13, No.
2 issue of the Structural Mover) The International
Association of Structural Movers just commemorated
400 years of house moving: 1598 to
1998.
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2.
WHY DO PEOPLE MOVE HOUSES OR
STRUCTURES?
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Reason
One:
The Home or Structure
is
Historic
If the House or
structure to be moved was once owned,
lived in, or used by a famous or
historically significant person, or
community of persons then it is
considered
historic.
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Reason
Two: The
Home or Structure is
Sentimental
If the house holds
sentimental value to someone, i.e.,
Grandfather was born there, it's “the
old home
place.” or, conversely, because of negative
sentiment or bad memories - “Just get it out
of here.” |
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Reason
Three:
To
Clear
Land
If the structure is in the
way of progress, or if it’s not in the plans
of the developer or owner. The house may have
maple floors, stained glass, crystal
doorknobs, high ceilings, charm, character,
or may even be rich in history, but it is
well worth the developer's money to run a
bulldozer through it and haul it to the city
dump. Far too often, the structure is
demolished when it can be a good candidate
for an individual who is looking for a
structure to be moved. Remember, this
structure may be 2 or 102 years old. Age and
condition are often negligible variables in
this situation.
Examples: |
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1) The house or structure
does not justify the cost of keeping it because
it may not meet city, state or federal code
where it sits, i.e., electrical, parking, wheel
chair accessibility, fire code, square footage,
or floor plan.
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2) The house or structure
poses a danger to the community, or a possible
liability to the real property
owner. |
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3) The house or structure
lowers the real property value by the amount of
money required to demolish
it. |
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4) The facade or appearance
does not fit existing trends or "theme
requirements." It just “looks
wrong.” |
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5) The house or structure
finds itself to be the property of a city,
university, governmental or river authority,
etc. . |
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Reason
Four: The
House or Structure is "A Good
Deal"
The house or
structure to be moved can often be
a result of reason three (To
Clear the Land). It is important to note,
however, that each individual candidate house
to be moved, like each individual person
wanting a candidate structure, is different.
People may base their decision on someone
else's experience good or bad. For example, a
good deal for the first-time home buyer who
happens to be a remodel carpenter, may not
necessarily he a good deal for a real estate
speculator or vice versa. What makes
structural recycling a good deal, typically,
is the ever-increasing cost of new building
materials.
It is not uncommon
for a quality house or structure to be purchased,
delivered and leveled for anywhere from 10.00 to
25.00 dollars per foot. Please be aware that there
are many variables in these equations. Examples of
A Good Deal:
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1)
Cost -
New construction is
often cost-prohibitive due to building
material costs. |
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2)
Price -
A house or structure may be discovered that
can be purchased through trade or
inexpensively. |
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3) Real Property
Owner - An
individual may own a real property in need of a
house and have little cash or
credit. |
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4) The
“Do-It-Yourselfer” - An individual who has
do-it-yourself skills or attitude can find a house
or structure in need of
repair. |
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5) Business
Owner - A businessperson whose
business, or place of business can be improved, if
not made by a wonderful old house. “New
construction just will not do.” Some examples are:
Bed And Breakfast establishments, Antique Stores,
legal, dental or medical offices in historic towns
or big cities. |
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6) The
Speculator - A real estate
speculator with an immediate equity situation
(land + structure =
equity). |
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7) Love for
Quality - An individual who
prioritizes charm and character, but does not have
a budget for sometimes-expensive fixture details
can often find what they’re looking for in recycled
structures. For example, glass doorknobs, wood
floors, high ceilings, high gables, choice lumbers,
and quality workmanship are often found in older
structures. It is for these discerning individuals
that structural recycling can be the best deal of
all. |
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3. WHAT DO I LOOK FOR IN A
HOUSE TO BE
MOVED?
Before setting
out on the search for a house or
structure to be moved, a scope within
which to begin a search should be set
down on paper. For example, if the
intended move were to a city, the lot's
size and configuration would be one
factor dictating the final decision.
Accordingly, the width of the road
immediately approaching the destination
should be considered. The width of the
approach, as well as what sticks up and
hangs down on that approach may dictate
the size of the candidate house or
structure to be moved. One solution
to a narrow road may be an even larger
house or structure cut in
two.
Establish a scope or
range for your search (type, age, style,
size or shape). Be aware of true
negatives and false negatives:
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1)
Rotted
Seals - Anywhere concrete meets
wood, a rotted seal may exist. Quite often, a
porch, add-on, or concrete slab abuts the
structure. Almost always, this situation
traps water, thereby rotting the seals. Many
structural movers prefer to replace the seals
before re-blocking the structure at its new
location. An individual may wish to obtain
the material for replacing the seals, and ask
their house mover to include that process in
the bid. Rotted seals should not be
intimidating. In fact, it should be an
expected expense in moving a home or
structure. Far too often, people mistake
rotted seals for a structural problem that
cannot be
overcome. |
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2)
Floors -
Sagging floors are
one of the most misunderstood characteristics of
the structure to be moved. An
“off
level” structure is condemned as
irreparable and worthless, ironically by both buyer
and seller. An old house is not dead and rigid, but
living and breathing. Remember that the candidate
house is going to be blocked and leveled when it
arrives at its new location. Do investigate why the
candidate structure is out of level. Yes, there
will be some cracking in sheet rock or plaster on
ceilings and walls when the structure is picked up
and loaded. Nevertheless, "sagging floors" or the
out-of-level house should not be overlooked as a
candidate house or structure to be
moved. |
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3) Slab
House -
"Can I move a
slab house?" Yes. A house or structure with a
concrete slab foundation can be moved. While
some structural movers prefer not to move
slab foundation structures, other structural
movers specialize in moving “slab houses”.
For example:
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A) The slab house can be
picked up, moved, and put down on a
pre-plumbed, newly poured slab foundation at
the new
location. |
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B) The slab house can be
picked up off the slab, and a new wooden
“floor” and sub-floor can be built under the
structure. |
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In any case, the costs of a new floor, a new slab,
and/or location preparations need to be figured
into the move. It needs to be determined if it is
cost justified to recycle the slab house. Since one
is typically dealing with a more modern structure,
which may have many existing amenities, the slab
house can be one of the highest and fastest equity
yielding developments in structural recycling
today. |
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4)
The Box
House - An older house that was not
framed with 2x4 studs in its interior and/or
exterior walls, but rather, was built with
1x12 planks is a boxed structure. In some
house movers’ opinions, a box structure was
in fact structurally sounder than a frame
house. Some house movers would prefer not to
move a box structure. Some of the most
fabulous structures that have been recycled
were box
structures |
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5)
Racked
House - The racked house is out of
level and twisted. House movers can use a
technique with their trucks and/or cables
remove most, if not all of the “rack” from an
old house. Further, there are carpentry
techniques that can at least cosmetically
hide the majority of the appearance of the
“rack.” This is an issue for your local house
mover. |
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6)
Brick
House - A house or structure with a
brick exterior can be moved, although the
brick exterior may have to be removed before
relocating the structure. A buyer may wish to
recycle some of the old brick as an exterior
wall cover when the structure arrives at the
new location. However, new brick may be less
expensive to use depending on each individual
situation, that is: labor vs. material. Any
number of new or used exterior wall cover
materials may be used instead of the original
brick. Brick houses, like solid masonry
structures, have also been moved intact.
Individuals must judge what is cost-justified
for their particular
situation. |
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4. CAN YOU MOVE A
TWO-STORY
HOUSE?
Two-story houses
and structures are moved all the time, in
different ways, according to their
structure. One way is to remove the
roof then put it back on once it
reaches its final destination.
Depending on the individual situation, a
local house mover of the buyer’s choice
will be able to offer more information on
such a move.
5.
HOW FAR IS TOO FAR TO
MOVE A HOUSE?
Structures have
been moved cross-country on trucks,
floated on barges, and airlifted with a
cargo helicopter. If money is not an
issue, there is a structural mover that
can and will relocate the structure.
Therefore, the question is not, "How far
is too far?" Rather, "How much is too
much?" Distance is but one of several
variables in the structural mover's bid.
Long distance moves can be more
expensive. Bare in mind, however, there
are instances when a structure moved
across the street has cost many times
greater than one being moved across town.
Distance is typically only one of the
shifting variables in the cost of
relocating a house or
structure.
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6. HOW BIG IS TOO
BIG?
Remarkably big
structures have been moved: Multi-story
hotels, lighthouses, bowlers, ships and
water towers. One might ask, "How much is
too much?"
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7.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO MOVE
A HOUSE?
Each individual house
or structure is different with its own
degree of cost and difficulty. Most bids
are priced by the “square foot”, though a
house mover may choose to charge by the
mile. The majority of a house mover's bid
is estimating the cost of getting the
structure prepared, out of where it is,
and into where it is going. Variables
that may affect a house mover's bid are
as follows:
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Distance -
Long distance moves
can be more expensive, depending on the
structure. |
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Moving Costs -
Ever-increasing costs of
insurance, permit and other requirements,
i.e., tools, fuel, power line assistance,
labor etc. |
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Scheduling -
Certain moves are permitted
only at certain times of night or day. House
moving can be “seasonal” in some areas. With
this in mind, certain times of the year are
very busy for house movers, depending on the
weather. |
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Structure
size - Typically speaking, the
bigger the structure, the bigger the
price. |
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Cutting the
Structure -
The structure that must be cut (a
cut often means an individual move for each
section) is generally more expensive. Thus, more
permits, trucks, time
etc. |
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Structure Type
affecting labor -
For example, a brick
structure may require the removal of its
brick exterior. A log cabin may need to be
braced and banded with a branding machine.
The slab house, the metal frame house etc.
may require more labor and
time. |
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Inner City
Moves -
Among many other variables,
the mover may travel 10 miles to move a
structure 2 city
blocks. |
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Structure
Height -
Typically speaking, the
taller the structure, the higher the
price. |
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Chimneys and
fireplaces -
It is likely that masonry
will need to be removed before the structure can be
moved, thus increasing the labor
cost. |
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8.
HOW DO I BUY A HOUSE TO
BE MOVED?
Homework should be done
before picking a subject
house.
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Has a house mover seen
the house? If so, what was his
opinion?
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What is the seller's
relationship with the
house?
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If the seller is not
the owner, what is their relationship
with the owner? The seller's motive may
give at least some insight into
pricing.
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Has a house mover given
a "general bid"? (x number of dollars
within x number of miles, if no
particular extras are
involved.)
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Why do they want to
move the house or structure? The reason
for moving may give you insight into how
fast it has to be moved, and/or the
reason for the structure's high or low
price.
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How long has the
structure been on the
market?
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Has the candidate house
to be moved been on the market before? If
yes, why did the house not sell the first
time? Who removed it from the market?
Will it be removed again? If so, has the
price gone up or down?
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Why has it not been
moved already?
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Does the house have any negatives or problems
that you know of?
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How much time do I have
to move the house?
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A house mover may loose
three days from his present move schedule
for every one day of rain. Also
regardless of rain at the structure's
location, rain at his present job
location can cause a
delay.
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Has the house been
moved before?
If yes, this can
give you at least a starting place on move
costs.
Once these
questions have been answered, if possible, do
the following suggestions:
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Take photos of the
candidate house or structure to be moved.
Take measurements of the candidate house
or structure (length, width, & height
if possible) Note: Measure in two parts
for a T - shaped or L-shaped structure.
Walk through the structure at least
twice. Check for any code or “conformity”
regulation at the destination for the
structure to be moved. For example, size
minimum, exterior, curbs, driveways, etc.
Start with subdivision and
city.
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Some
Free
Advice
1.
Why move a
house?
It's cheaper than new
construction and often has
better material and
workmanship. Your home has
sentimental value that can no
be replaced. Save up to $10,000
or more in unnecessary
demolition costs by relocating
or recycling your house. Your
house can be moved to a
different location on the
existing lot to make room for a
second house or structure. You
can increase the rental or
equitable value of your lot by
adding a second house or
structure.
2.
Is there any type of
house that cannot be
moved?
No,
anything can be moved.
Financial/value concerns
limit the viability of
any project. Typically, a
wood frame house on a
crawlspace or basement
that was built to the
building code of its day,
and is in reasonable
condition, is worth
moving. Wood framed
houses constructed on
slabs, brick buildings,
and steel buildings can
all be moved. Cities and
municipalities often
demand that certain
heritage buildings on a
site be moved and
restored as part of the
development
package.
3.
Where do we
operate?
Thrasher
House Moving
primarily provides
structural moving
in Middle/East
Tennessee and South
Central Kentucky. We have
the ability to move
anywhere in the state of
Tennessee.
4.
How far can we move a
building?
We can move
anywhere in the state of
Tennessee subject to
regulations imposed by the
Tennessee department of
Transportation and local
government.
5. Do
I need any permits, and how
long does this
take?
Thrasher
House Moving can
coordinate and secure all
city and state permits
necessary to move your
house or structure as
needed. Most permits can
be obtained in under two
weeks
time.
6. What kind of prep work do I
have to do before moving my
house?
T
hrasher
House
Moving is a full service
moving company. We offer
a variety of pre-moving
service options including
demolition of patios and
decks, removal of
underpinning and roofs,
chimney demolition, and
other related work
necessary to move the
home or structure.
Different price packages
are available to choose
from depending upon your
service needs.
7. Do houses
ever get damaged while being
moved or
raised?
With
most dry walled houses,
you may experience a few
stress cracks in the
drywall, especially over
doorways (but no more
than you will see in an
average new house that
settles). The remedial
work is minimal, but you
may have to adjust some
doors.
8.
How much does it cost to
raise or move a
house?
Although most
house movers focus on bidding
jobs on a price per square foot
basis, Thrasher House Moving
realizes that each job is
unique and flexibly prices the
jobs based on the level of
service required by the
customer.
For an
estimate please Contact
Us.
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