Sometimes the best way to save a historic structure from demolition is to move it. When a historic structure is worth far less than the value of the land, moving a house allows the owner to sell their land, the developer to build new on the land, and the preservation community to save a historic house. Moving a house from one place has a long history and was used in the past to save money due to the high cost of new construction. Now moving a house is usually done to preserve a historic structure.

It takes a team of experts including a general contractor, structural moving company, electricians, concrete company, and a detailed plan to make sure the job is done legally and safely. If you have a new lot close by and there are not many obstructions (utility lines and trees) on the move route, it could be a very good deal. Usually, the movers take care of getting everything necessary to move the house from one site to another such as choosing the best route, acquiring the road permits, working with the electric company to move power lines if necessary, and providing insurance.

Moving a house is a five-step process:

• All items are removed from the basement or crawl space, including appliances, utilities, plumbing and ducts. Usually decks and steps from porches are removed.

• The building itself is prepared for moving. Preparation is done by the contractor with guidance from the structural moving company.

• The building’s new site is prepared and a foundation built.

• Professional movers use unified hydraulic jacking systems to raise the building to limit the chance of structure damage. If it is a short move, the building can just be placed on rollers and pushed or pulled to a new location.

• The home is set into its new location and all utility hook-ups are restored.

Moving costs greatly vary depending on how the house is moved, the distance it’s moved, the new location site, and the size of the home. Costs can range from $15,000 to $200,000, usually between $12 and $16 a square foot.

The process of relocating a historic house may seem overwhelming but it is doable and worth the work because preserving a piece of tangible history gives people a sense of place and a connection to the past.

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