How Much Does It Cost To Move A House

Alex is the founder of 9Kilo Moving, which he started to help people easily find and choose the right moving company to make their move as stress-free and seamless as possible. He has spent over 20 years working in the moving industry, so he knows every aspect of the business and uses his knowledge to write about the industry and give moving advice. More on about us page

You must have seen people move a mobile house around, but how often have you spotted an entire house being moved from one place to another? Though a little unconventional, there are quite a few instances when people choose to move a house. But before you start contemplating this idea in your mind, you should know that this process needs a lot of detailed planning and logistics too.

CALCULATE MY MOVE

Moving a house isn’t a one-man job, rather it requires the coordination of a lot of people to take care of all the nitty-gritties. Naturally, the process is also an expensive one that can easily hit your bank balance. In order to plan further, it’s important that you know how much does it cost to move a house. Let’s have a look at the process in detail.

When Should You Move A House?

Before we get to the process of calculating the total cost, it’s important to understand that moving an entire house isn’t possible in all situations. There are certain criteria that need to be met when you’re planning to physically move a house from one point to the other. This process is common among people who have a historical home or who live in coastal areas and need to shift their homes further away from the shoreline.

There are other instances too where you might want to move your house. These include if your house is customized as per your family’s special needs or if you’re moving to a location with an expensive housing market and shifting your house seems to be the cheaper option. You should avoid moving your house if there are any structural defects or if you’re planning an interstate or a long-distance move.

How Much Does It Cost To Move A House?

To give you a rough estimate, you could be spending anywhere between $11 and $17 per square foot for moving your entire house. In the case of a local move, the base price for moving a one-bedroom house that weighs around 3,500 pounds could be between $190 - $550 on average. Similarly, the base price for moving a 3-bedroom house that weighs around 10,000 pounds could cost between $580 - $1,020 on average. However, these are just general and base estimates, and the actual cost of moving a house would be calculated after taking into consideration a number of factors.

Apart from moving costs, you also need to take into account other costs such as packing, insurance, and any other additional service you might need. These costs could also differ from mover to mover, so it’s best to get multiple estimates before you finalize your movers.

GET A QUOTE

Also Read: How Much Does it Cost to Move a Bed?

Factors That Affect The Cost To Move A House

Following are some of the main factors that influence the total cost of moving a house:

Size And Weight Of The House

The most basic aspect that determines the cost of your house is the size and weight of your house. Larger houses will require more labor, heavier equipment, and more work from the contractors and therefore, the costs would increase. Your housing structure’s length and width as well as the total square footage would determine your costs.

Type Of Structure

Every home structure is different. Homes can be made of bricks, steel, stones, logs, blocks, and terra cotta. It can be a modular house or a stick-built house. Houses can also have different structure shapes like a rectangular two-story house or a ranch-style single-story house. Your total cost of moving would also be influenced by the shape and type of structure of your house.

Home Accessories

If your house has balconies, chimneys, porches, decks, garages, fireplaces, or any other additions, that would also determine your total moving cost. Usually, these home accessories can be moved without demolishing or removing them, but there can be an added cost.

Accessibility And Route

A house on a narrow street can be much more difficult to move than a house on a broad, open street. If there are obstacles on the route like trees, uneven terrain, or a mailbox, it could lengthen the process as the movers will have to maneuver around. If specialized equipment is needed to move your house around, that would also increase your total costs.

Kind Of Foundation And Height

Different houses have different types of structural foundations too. It’s better if your house has a crawl space or a basement that is at least three feet tall as it makes the moving process easier. In comparison to a concrete slab, homes built on pier foundations can be easier to move and might also be cheaper.

GET A QUOTE

Steps Involved In Moving A House

When it comes to moving an entire house, one needs to plan things carefully and in detail so that the whole process runs smoothly. To give you an idea of what the process would look like, here are a few steps involved in moving a house:

Your first step is going to be to reach out to contractors, engineers, and architects to figure out the planning of the move. Simultaneously, you’ll also have to apply for necessary permits before starting any physical work.
Once you have your permits in place, you’ll have to decide on the route through which the move will be taking place. Here, your contractor could be the one helping you out to check if there are obstacles that could interrupt the moving process.
Depending on the route chosen and the obstacles, preparations will have to be made to ensure that the moving process is as smooth as possible. The roads should be clear and the trees should be trimmed. Traffic control will also have to taken care of.
For preparing your house for the move, the items in the crawl space and basement will have to be removed before the contractors come in. In addition to that, call your electrician and plumber to disconnect and secure all the utilities.
Once your house is ready to be moved, the moving company will drill holes in your foundation to lift the house using their hydraulic jacking system. Next, dollies will be installed to be able to move the house through the decided route.
At the new location, the new foundation will have to be excavated out and the new footings will have to be poured. This is usually taken care of by the general contractor.
When your house arrives at the new location, the wheels would be pulled out and the house will be made to balance on the steel structures underneath.
After the new foundation is built up to the house by the mason, the moving company would return to lower and fix the house on its new foundation.
The general contractor will then be finishing up the remaining work including the interiors, the backfills, and will also connect the utilities.

Things To Keep In Mind When Moving A House

By now, you must have gotten the idea that it takes detailed and thorough planning to move a whole house. After getting a team of people to guide you, you must also get thorough information about the area and the city you will be moving to.

You have to make sure to talk to the county and state officials asking for permission and also try talking to locals to get a fair idea of the neighborhood you’ll be moving to.

Take into consideration all the factors that could influence your total cost when deciding on a budget for moving your house. Make sure that your house structure is in place and your foundation is good and sustainable quality-wise.

If you’re planning to move long-distance, getting an allowance to use state roads can cost you anywhere between $2,500 and $12,000, which is almost 10% to 30% of the total cost of moving. Do thorough research and get quotes from moving companies to understand these costs.

When moving your entire house, make sure to take care of all utilities. Remove all the electrical wires used for connections to the items including appliances, and contact a plumber to take care of the plumbing and ducts. You might also have to remove steps and decks from the lobby.

Summing Up

Now that you know how much does it cost to move a house, you can decide whether it’s a feasible option for you. Do keep in mind that you don’t just need to take the cost into consideration but also the accessibility, convenience, and permissions when deciding to move your house from one location to the other. We suggest that you invest enough time in the planning process and get moving quotes from multiple companies before deciding on your move.

GET A QUOTE

FAQs On How Much Does It Cost To Move A House

What Costs Are Involved In Moving?

If you’re just moving from one home to the other, your moving costs would be determined based on the distance of your move, time of your move, size of your move, and the kind of services you choose if you’re hiring a professional moving company. If you’re planning to move your entire house, all these factors along with the weight, shape, and type of your house would also add to the moving costs. Apart from these, there would also be insurance costs involved in the moving process.

How Much Does It Cost To Move A House To A Different Location?

The cost of moving a house to a different location can be anywhere between $11 and $17 per square foot. Factors like the shape, size, and structure of your house, the distance of your move, and the accessibility of the project would also influence your total costs. Overall, you could be spending anywhere between $20,000 and $250,000 to move a house to a different location.

How Long Does It Take To Move A House?

Depending on the area and locality chosen for moving house, it might take a few weeks to a few months. The average time for moving an entire house is about 8 to 20 weeks.

Should You Tip Movers?

While it isn’t mandatory, if your movers have done a decent job, giving them a tip could be a way of thanking them for their assistance. It also shows them that you value their efforts and hard work. Most people do tip their movers after a satisfactory moving experience.