Should you move an old house or a new house? And will it suit the site?

Reasons for transporting a house

Transporting a house to a new site happens when:

• A new house is built off-site by a building company that either specialises in building removable homes, or is selling a show home.
• A house is built in the contractor’s yard and later moved to a new site.
• An old house is bought, either from a building removal company’s sale-yard, or from an existing section, and transported to a new site for restoration and renovation.
• A house is moved to a better position on the same site to allow for a subdivision or better use of the section.

New transportable homes

You can find the names of companies that build transportable homes in the Yellow Pages. Some kitset and group housing companies also build transportable homes.

One reason for buying such a home may be the convenience of the house being built off-site. This is often a cheaper option and you can see exactly what you are getting. These houses are popular for baches and holiday homes. The house arrives fully completed but you will need to have foundations built, and engage a plumber, drainlayer and electrician to connect the services.

Old homes for relocation

People choose to recycle an old house rather than building new because:

• They can acquire a character home which they can renovate.
• They like the native timbers used in a lot of older homes and which are now becoming harder to obtain.
• It can work out cheaper than building new.

Will it suit the section?

The location and topography of the new site is important when you plan to move a house onto it. Houses can usually be placed on a hill section provided it is not too steep. They can be placed on poles to raise them up and/or to build a basement beneath. You have to know whether the house you are moving is built for the wind zone in the new location. See the building consent process.

Access is important as the truck has to be able to drive in, although in some cases a crane can be used.

Also be conscious of whether the house you are moving will suit the neighbourhood. A small colonial cottage may look odd in a new subdivision of large, new Mediterranean-style homes. And there may be council planning restrictions on the types of homes that can be built in certain areas.