If you’re interested in relocatable homes or prefabs, you’ll need to know about the costs involved with transportation. While the house price may be lower than a traditional new home build, these housing options generally do not include delivery costs.
In this article, we discuss the various costs involved in transporting a house, including house movers, house prices, and location.
Cost factors for relocating a house
The expenses involved in shifting a house vary depending on each project and key factors. We’ve outlined each of these factors and price estimates below:
House size
The size of the house will dictate the number of piles needed for the foundations and the number of trucks required. The larger the house, the more variations in cost due to extra materials, people, and equipment.
House removal
If you’re relocating an existing house to a new location, the removal process may incur some unexpected costs. This depends on the complexity of the removal, accessibility, and any preparation work that needs to be done.
With a prefab home, you can skip this step because the house is transported directly from the factory.
Site access
If your new site is obstructed by telecom poles, trees, fences, or narrow driveways, you may incur extra costs to clear the accessway, also known as egress. When you work with Genius Homes, we’ll conduct a free site assessment and delivery route inspection before we begin, ensuring all obstacles are factored into the house design.
Distance
The distance from the first location to the new site will impact the cost of transport. Houses can only be transported on roads between certain hours so it may take multiple nights to reach your site. The longer the distance, the longer this process will take and the more fuel required.
Roofline alterations
If the roof of your house is too high, it may require lowering and reinstating once it’s in position, which will add to the total cost.
Time and labour
The more labour and time required to transport the house, the higher the costs will be. A common time drain includes positioning the house on the site, especially when your house is at an awkward angle.
Number of pieces
Some houses may need to be transported in more than one piece to ensure they can be transported safely and within load restrictions. If the house needs to be cut into two or three pieces, this can increase the cost and slow down transportation.
Assuming your house is being transported within a 100km radius of its original location, on standard pile foundations, and is a relatively simple move, a single-piece shift averages from $35,000 to $55,000 plus GST. If it is transported in two pieces, the estimated cost ranges from $55,000 to $85,000 plus GST.
Transport services
Depending on the house you want to transport, you may need to find house movers to handle the process. At Genius Homes, we will arrange a local house mover or transport company to deliver your new prefab home, based on years of working with the best in the business.
House plans NZ
If you’re interested in a cost-effective new home, our prefab house designs will tick all your boxes. Not only are they customisable and built to a high standard, but they’re also built efficiently in our specialised factory.
1-bedroom homes
Our one-bedroom homes are compact, making them cost-effective and easy to transport. If you're looking for a sleepout, tiny home, office, or second dwelling, these designs are perfect.
2-bedroom homes
Our two-bedroom layouts are all transported in one piece, making them cost-effective to transport while still offering spacious and functional living. Whether you're a first-time homebuyer, investor, retiree, or are looking to downsize, these designs have everything you need.
3-bedroom homes
Our three-bedroom homes offer plenty of room for any lifestyle while still being cost-effective to transport. Explore the range below for a layout tailored to your lifestyle.
4-5 bedroom homes
These prefab house plans are cost-effective transport while still providing ample space for large families, hosting, or use as a short-term rental.
Browse four to five-bedroom homes
Financing a new build
Building a new home can be complicated, expensive, and stressful, especially when you’re waiting for financial approvals. Fortunately, our prefab homes offer an affordable and viable solution.
Here at Genius Homes, we partner with BNZ to offer specialised prefab home loans, giving you the freedom to build your dream home with our affordable prices. Click below to learn more about prefab home prices, prefab financing solutions, fixed-price contracts, and the 5-step financing process.
