is it possible to move a 26' X 26' house

2old2playftball · #1 01/30/15, 03:10 PM

we saw a house for sale the other day that has to be moved. Is it even possible to move a house that big?
this is in maine.
thanks,
eric

MO_cows · #2 01/30/15, 03:12 PM

It's possible but would be expensive.

2old2playftball · #3 01/30/15, 03:16 PM

yeah how expensive? the house is only $5K for a 2 bedroom.

po boy · #4 01/30/15, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2old2playftball

yeah how expensive? the house is only $5K for a 2 bedroom.

Cost depends on your area. Check with local movers. I imagine it will be much more that than the $5000 asking price.....

MichaelZ · #5 01/30/15, 03:20 PM

Our house is about 25 x 50 and was moved before we bought it. But these days it is pricey - have to get utility companies involved I believe.

Johnny Dolittle · #6 01/30/15, 03:44 PM

Is it a manufactured house that was moved to location ?
Is it sitting on a foundation or is it on a pad ?

My nephew lives in Maine and his double wide is on a pad.

If the house was built on site then splitting to haul we be a lot of work which will cost a lot of money. And sliding a house off of a foundation to transport will also be expensive.

If the house was moved onto location in two sections and is sitting on a pad ... it will be easy to split and make ready for transport to a new location.

Darren · #7 01/30/15, 04:10 PM

Shouldn't be difficult for someone in the business. One mover relocated a two story brick building that was probably built in the early 1900s.

Use Less · #8 01/30/15, 04:12 PM

A couple of houses much bigger than that were moved in towns near me. Moved pretty far, like down the main street and a mile out of town. Expensive. Lots of OK's and permits needed. Both of these required the power and phone to be temporarily rewired away from the road and the real lines to be disconnected. The insurance bill is a beast, too.

Terri in WV · #9 01/30/15, 04:20 PM

Is it cost effective to move a building?
It costs about 40% less of what a newly built building would normally cost.

Above is from this website:

http://www.chasebuildingmovers.com/faqs/#Costs

It looks as if their site will answer a lot of questions you may have.

Drizler · #10 01/30/15, 04:27 PM

Some of the price depends on how far and where it's going too. Further equals more and not just for the mileage, that's the easy part. Trouble is things like electric wires narrow roads and local laws. Oh and EVERYBODY who's town, county ect you have to go through gets greased. They all have their hands out for the $$$$$ for those permits. It's a real moneymaker for them . Also routes , they may not let you take it the best way forcing you to go out of your way. They only let wide loads go on the roads during certain hours. Every state is different this way and that and it can add to the cost and frustration. Also you need a pilot car front and back with all the appropriate DOT approved gear, license classifications ect. So you can't act as a pilot car yourself, oh no. Additionally many places require police escort and almost surely you will get to pay for that as well.
See what I mean , everybody and I mean everybody has their hand out and this is above and beyond the real actual work. I know a guy who runs escort for wide loads which is where I heard of all this crazy crap.
Now if it's just down the road who knows it could be worth it. Just remember all the little things they may forget to tell you . Things like having a completely cleared back solid hard packed extra wide driveway ready for them at the new site. Also Insurance, who is responsible if they rip out half a mile of power and telephone lines , stuff like that. It happens, I have seen it done. What happens if they trash the place during moving or it comes apart, who is liable for what? Also when does it have to be GONE from it's current place? At best you have one hell of a prep job ahead of you and it's mostly stuff you can't just "get to it when I have free time" so it'll be more expensive.

Also the cash for all this prep work, do you have it or can you get it, and perhaps a lot more (Murphies Law).
If you decide to do do it you really need to make a check list of all this gobblede---- and ask the pointed questions that perhaps the moving contractor might not mention and above all, EVERYTHING IN WRITING.

Johnny Dolittle · #11 01/30/15, 04:34 PM

Given that the house is 26 feet wide suggests that it is not a double wide because standard widths of each half are in multiples of 2'. If house is not a double wide the roof might have a lot of pitch to shed snow and in which case the house may be too tall to transport.

farmerDale · #12 01/30/15, 04:34 PM

They can move just about anything these days. But the cost is up there as others have said...

Johnny Dolittle · #13 01/30/15, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terri in WV

Is it cost effective to move a building?
It costs about 40% less of what a newly built building would normally cost.

Above is from this website:

http://www.chasebuildingmovers.com/faqs/#Costs

It looks as if their site will answer a lot of questions you may have.

I agree .... but this link concerns houses built on site. The costs will be much less if the house was manufactured so that it can and will be moved

Johnny Dolittle · #14 01/30/15, 04:41 PM

If the owners want it gone and it is not economically feasible to move then either burn or tear down ... or perhaps reducing the price might be a better option for them.

Terri in WV · #15 01/30/15, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Dolittle

I agree .... but this link concerns houses built on site. The costs will be much less if the house was manufactured so that it can and will be moved

Yes, I realize that, but with the size that's stated it's pretty reasonable to assume that it is site built. That and I imagine that most of the general population knows that a modular/mobile can be moved.

TerriLynn · #16 01/30/15, 05:54 PM

In the past 10 years there have been 2 homes around here that I can think of off the top of my head. Beautiful, historic, lots of wood craftsmanship and they offered the homes for free, but they had to be moved.

Couldn't give either one away, they ended up tearing them both down.

po boy · #17 01/30/15, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TerriLynn

In the past 10 years there have been 2 homes around here that I can think of off the top of my head. Beautiful, historic, lots of wood craftsmanship and they offered the homes for free, but they had to be moved.

Couldn't give either one away, they ended up tearing them both down.

Had the same problem on a nice brick home. Couldn't give it away and paid about $15,000 having it demolished and hauled off.

Johnny Dolittle · #18 01/30/15, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TerriLynn

In the past 10 years there have been 2 homes around here that I can think of off the top of my head. Beautiful, historic, lots of wood craftsmanship and they offered the homes for free, but they had to be moved.

Couldn't give either one away, they ended up tearing them both down.

May have been practical to move if you are moving to an adjoining lot or across a neighbors field to avoid transport over a public road.

In Maine the typical small house has a very steep metal roof to shed snow.

Johnny Dolittle · #19 01/30/15, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terri in WV

Yes, I realize that, but with the size that's stated it's pretty reasonable to assume that it is site built. That and I imagine that most of the general population knows that a modular/mobile can be moved.

Yep ... I previously stated that it was probably site built because of the width dimension.

It is the seller who is suggesting that it can be moved .... so maybe he knows that it is modular/mobile .... because most of the general population knows that a modular/mobile can be moved.

Johnny Dolittle · #20 01/30/15, 06:33 PM

Well we don't know if it is in good condition or more of a fixer-upper...... If the house is offered for only $5000 because it is only worth $5000 then it will not be worth moving period.