relocatable houses

Hi,

I remember this issue was covered in API magazine a while back. I cant find my copy ATM but maybe someone else can help you out with the issue number.
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The story was about a guy who had been doing it in the hunter valley. Had a break down of costs etc.
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Good luck.

The story of a sub-divide/relatable was in API Nov 2004, p. 48.
I have been looking at doing this north of Melb.
I am finding that the companies who move houses often supply them as well, which sinplifies things, but probably does cost more. It is like buying anything secondhand-availabiity is unpredictable. So are many of the costs.
The story in API showed this-Andrew changed his mind about the house he bought for example.
JulieS[biggrin]

Dear Billy T
I have encountered about half a dozen movers around Melb wbo quote ‘about 55-60k including a new colourbond roof’. You need to be really careful about exactly what they do-esp the roof. Some don’t do the gutters or drainpipes, for example. They seem to rejoin the outside but not the inside, don’t put on trim around the stumps or fill in the eaves. And so on.Others will replace a roof if it is OK condition. So it gets quite complex.
JulieS[biggrin]

Dear Billy T,
The old roof might be too old to re-use, or tile.
Or, I’m guessing that a particular mover might prefer to provide new roof for their own purposes either profit margin or because they guarantee the work and new material is less trouble prone. My interpretation there.
But the roof does come off for transport.
There was an earlier story in API which had some info about the mechanics of the process-movers will tell you what they do. I will try to find that old API too.
look at http://www.khr.com.au they are a Victorian mover, but their website is as informative as any.
It is an odd topic to websearch, because furniture removalists all come up! Most of them don’t have a web presence.
If it was you who had the 35k quote for a house onto stumps, that is less than I have encountered, but I am starting to realise that they vary. Lots and lots.
Julie Ellen[biggrin]

hi Julie,

try

Winnie Doevendans
lowlandslavender AT clear DOT net DOT nz

Thanks, Mini. I did try that email but it was returned. I might try a phone call yo NZ and will let you know.
I don’t know any SA movers, but the first API article did include a story about a couple doing projects there, and that would be a start. Look in your yellow pages on line under the exact category. It is House Relocation Services here, anyway. Kilmore House Removers is the only website that I have found that gives its costing guidelines and a bit of solid onfo.
Pip Pip
JulieEllen

We relocated an old colonial as our PPOR 4 years ago and believe me it’s STILL mid-reno…although it looks like a palace compared to how it arrived. One job gets started, then has to be paused til another job is dealt with, which in turn exposes another!

I think we must have had temporary insanity because we didn’t break down and cry when we saw how dreadful it looked, when it first arrived. Anyway it gave us a leg up, providing us with a 5 bedroom 3 bathroom home that we could not have otherwise afforded, and certainly plenty of room. Buuuut…oh my goodness, the hard work! the cracks in the floor and walls, the windows that failed to shut once the house was actually level…I would do it again, yes, but only with plenty of money up my sleeve to save my sanity. I would also be a little more discerning (make that a LOT) with the choice of home.

And your question about the roof…our council’s requirement was “new roof” and with that, the inside of the roof had to be according to the current wind rating etc…we had to pay around $5500 for extra support inside the roof cavity before they put the iron back on.

My husband is calling out for me to inform you that our council required that every single crack on the outside of the house had to be gapfilled (we bought boxes and boxes and boxes of the stuff) and any decaying putty in windows must be replaced. Our bond was 9K and two inspections and 4 years later, they still have $500 of the bond…we still are mid-throes of painting the exterior and have 2 windows needing to be replaced.

Be warned, although it can be an absolutely fantastic leg up, it is SUCH AN ENORMOUS LOT OF WORK. Choose your house – and removalist – wisely. Get things written into a contract. We had heard terrible reports of the company we chose, and yet they had what we wanted. We told them anything they did for us would have to be written in BLOOD!! They were so determined to change their reputation, we got an incredibly good deal…entire new roof included, not just the main centre, and other extras. Something as simple as them providing a skip bin for the tons of rubbish was appreciated, and apparently a first, according to their contractors.

Anyway, don’t let us put you off. If you are in the mood for an adventure, then buckle your seatbelt and bite the bullet – if nothing else it will be an enormously satisfying feeling when it is all finally completed.[biggrin]

Redhaven.

“I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.” ~ GOD ~ (Jeremiah 29:11)

Dear Redhaven,
I am really, really interested in your experience with your relocated PPOR, and a colonial at that.
Is your house unfinished because of the usual tardiness with our own houses—-we have unpainted doorframes in ours, five years later!What problems relate to mini developers like me, who will use trades for most of the work, planning on spending 35-40k once house is on site?
why don’t the windows close? Do more modern windows work better? What about doors? Anything to put in the mover’s contract?
Would love to hear more from you.
JulieEllen[biggrin]