House Relocation – Turn a free house into your dream home

Do you have what it takes to tackle a house relocation?

It sounds unbelievable, but over 10,000 buildings are moved every year.  House relocation allows you to have the charm of an older home with modern upgrades.  House relocation might also help save a historic structure from demolition.

I really enjoy the articles and pictures in This Old House magazine.  One of my favorite features can be found on the back page…The ‘Save This Old House‘ feature.  The houses can be cheap, even free, but in many cases house relocation is required.  Read on to see if you have what it takes to turn a ‘free’ house into your dream home.

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The basics of building relocation

Houses from all different eras can be found for a wide range of prices.  Houses are purchased and relocated throughout the Unites States and around the world.  Be sure to do your research and hire the expertise you need to  plan a house relocation project.  This work is complicated and there are significant costs associated with moving and restoring a house.  However, these facts shouldn’t scare you away.  The key is that you know the costs up-front, so that you can develop a good strategy to move the house and then turn it into your home.  You might be surprised what a cost-effective option house relocation can be.

Homes have been moved for over a century.   These moves are often due to development of the area, town, or city surrounding the property.  At some point, the value of the land or desire for the property outweigh the value that others might see in the pre-existing house or building.  Over a century ago, house moves were complicated and often involved horses pulling building structures across towns.  Recent engineering advances have certainly made this process easier and more efficient.

The Process

In order to relocate a house, the first step is to raise the house away from the existing foundation.  This is accomplished by inserting beams under the house.  Large structures can require dismantling the home into sections that can be transported on roadways.  Once the house is supported by the beams, the team lifts the house inch by inch, using jacks, until it’s high enough to slide onto a truck bed.  Depending on the length and path of travel, it may be necessary to move power or phone lines.

The Rebuild

When the house arrives at the new site, it is positioned but left on the beams while a new foundation is built underneath.  After the foundation is complete, the house is then lowered into place, utilities are installed, and any damage from the move is repaired.  From there, updating the house is like any other remodeling job.

The Pros and Cons of house relocation

House moving is gaining appeal.  This is due in part to highly visible moves, the opportunity to create a modernized home with old house charm, and the fact that moving a house provides an alternative means to home ownership.   This is particularly important for those who might not have the funds available for a traditional home purchase.  Other advantages to moving a house and rebuilding or renovating include historic preservation and the ultimate recycling effort.  Donald Barbee (Ducky Johnson House Movers) sees his job as saving forests. “Every 1,200 square feet of house we save means about 2 acres of trees don’t have to be cut down,” he says.  Preventing demolition also means less building materials in a landfill.

Examples of historic house moving or relocation projects.

• 1865 Ward Farmhouse – Mishawaka, Indiana
• 1872 Adam and Mary Smith House – Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
• 1885 Historic Belmont-DeVilliers  House – Pensacola, Florida
• 1897 House of Seven Gables – Wheaton, Illinois

House relocation isn’t for everyone.  It requires an orchestrated effort on both ends of the move and during the transit of the structure.  Not to mention, the thought of seeing your home rolling down the street could cause even the most seasoned rehab addict to sweat bullets and chew through a few finger nails.  The ability to move the house and cost of the relocation will be dependent on many factors,  including the condition of the structure and obstacles along the transportation route.  Fortunately, experts in house relocation are available to help navigate the process.

What to consider

Relocating a house requires a lot of cash up front or special financing arrangements.  Here’s a great story about financing that was made available for such a relocation project in Monticello, Indiana.  Don’t give up.  Work with different financial institutions until you find one that is prepared to work with you on your project.  Even better if they have done something similar in the past.

This is not a typical home renovation project where you can coordinate plumbing, carpentry and other more common home renovation skill needs that you can’t tackle on your own.  Hire a general contractor to maintain your sanity.  This individual or business should have experience to help you navigate all phases of this complex project.

Where to find homes & structural relocation experts

Find a Free or Cheap Home

Homes can be found on a number of websites, including  Circa Old Houses  and at This Old House Magazine, the ‘Save This Old House‘ feature.  You should also try contacting your city’s historic commission or a local preservation organization.  They usually have good insight on which houses are at risk and potentially available for relocation.

Find a Mover

Visit the website of the International Association of Structural Movers (iasm.org) for a listing of housemoving companies by state.

Check out a recent home relocation project in Geneva, IL

I had a tough time finding complete case studies on house moves and restoration projects start to finish.  I love the Cinderella story and really missed seeing the ‘after’ pictures.  If you are aware of a good story or case study that highlights a house relocation and restoration, please share it in the comments section.

The 1839 Miller-Gully house in Geneva, IL was recently moved.   I will try to update with pictures after the move and exterior renovation.  Below are pictures of the home in the 1800’s and during more recent times as it waited for its move.  The relocated home was sold in February 2020 and the new owners tackled the renovation and restoration.

Love historic homes?

Check out the story of how and why we landmarked our Victorian Italianate home.