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FAQs Main Buying a House FAQs Move FAQs Raise FAQs Frequently Asked Questions on Lot Moves What is a lot move? A lot move is a building that needs to be moved around on its existing property. What is the reason for a lot move? The most common reason is when a property is large enough to subdivide, and the house is situated inappropriately to execute the subdivision. Other reasons may include the property has been rezoned, or a building is to close to property lines and due to the desire to renovate the home the building authorities require the building to be made to conform to property setback regulations. What do we need to do before we get started? Your first step is to investigate your local by-laws and building restrictions to see if it is possible. Have a plan drawn up showing the new location of the building, and the desired renovations and elevations. Then call us to do a site analysis and quotation on the move. At this time we would be happy to provide you with a list of qualified contractors who have had experience in this area. Is it possible to get a budget/ball park price prior to agreeing to do it? Yes. If you can provide us with some details about the building and the property such as, building square footage, height of crawlspace/ basement, perimeter dimensions, site accessibility and slope of the property. Does it matter what time of year it is? Generally, weather conditions must be extreme to hinder a move, but certainly good weather is preferable. Can you move the porches as well? In most cases, yes. What about the front porch that is supported by columns, can they be moved in tact? Yes. How do you know what can be moved and what can't? There are really no physical limitations to what can be moved, only financial. Will our architect know this when he draws up our new plans? Not necessarily, but he may call us to confirm any information he needs. Can the house be moved with the chimney & fireplace? We used to raise the fireplaces & chimneys with the buildings but recent changes to various municipal regulations have made it prohibitive. We now recommend that the fireplaces and chimneys are removed prior to the lift. What if it's a gas insert? Yes. Do we need a moving or building permit? A moving permit for a lot move is not required, but a building permit is. Contact your local building dept. to acquire their procedures. Can we use part of the existing foundation for new construction? It is possible in some cases to do this, but we do not recommend it. Differences in the age of sections of the foundation will cause future settling to be un-equal. As well the cost and hassles of tying the old foundation to the new can be prohibitive. Can the house be turned without removing the foundation? The moving of the house can be done while the existing foundation is in tact, but this is not always the best method. It depends on site conditions and future accessibility to remove the old foundation. Does the landscaping get ruined? For most lot moves, the majority of landscaping is excavated out of the way. Do we need to point out to you what gardens we would like to see undamaged? Yes. If there are some plants you would like to be saved, they can be transplanted prior to the move or in some cases we can work around them. Do you have to put the house on a trailer to move it, or do you slide it over on steel? Every job is different, but the determining factor is the distance the building needs to be moved. If it is being moved less than 30', we will usually move it on skates ( not steel to steel ). If more than 30', usually on wheels. Can we have the new foundation ready before the move? If there is not an overlap between the existing location of the house and the proposed location, it is possible. This method is suggested for moves where the distance from our yard to the job, is more than 2 hours away. The increased travel cost makes it more economical for you to pre build the foundation. How long does it take to move the house? An average building of 1200 square feet, will usually take 1 - 2 days. A 3rd day is required to come back and lower onto the new foundation. What kind of prep work is required to do prior to it being moved? Generally speaking, you must have all services disconnected, clean and strip out the basement/ crawlspace of the house, including the fireplace/ chimney, and have the new excavation completed. There are many other requirements that are more job specific. After viewing your project, we provide you with a written quotation, and list all of your requirements. Do we need permits to remove trees? Check with your local building department. Is it possible to move the house if there is a ditch between the original location and the new location? When you are excavating and preparing the new site, at that time you would also prepare the access from where the building is situated now. What do we do with all the debris leftover from the original location? We recommend that you recycle as much of the material as you can, disposing of the rest. Concrete can now be recycled as well as many other construction materials. The Excavation Company you chose will be able to help you out in this area. Is there much cracking when the house is moved? The majority of cracking in a house is caused by settling over the years of it's current foundation, and when we begin to lift it back to level it shifts back to its original state. If your house has not settled, the amount of cracking will be minor. Do we need to remove all the furnishings from the house before it is moved? We do not require you to for moving purposes, but you may want to check with your insurance company to insure they will still cover your contents while the house is being moved. Does the distance of the move affect the cost? Not necessarily. The majority of the work is in the preparation for the move. The distance becomes relative to the cost when site conditions are difficult. What are some of the variables that increase the estimate for the cost of the move? Site conditions, size, weight and the geometry of the building. Can you move anything? We maintain that the only restrictions to moving any building are economic. If men can build it, we can move it. What about the attached garage, can that be moved with the house? Yes. What about detached garages, does that cost a lot more to have it moved as well? A price for this can be quoted as well What about a glass sun room. Can that be moved with the house? Yes.