Feels Like Home ...

Not sure why this house clicked with me, but it did and it will become my home away from home in upstate South Carolina - near the Georgia/SC border.

• Yes, it has two front doors and I don't know why (multiple theories).
• Yes, it's in rough shape, but it has "good bones".
• Yes, there is an animal on the porch and it is my dog.
• And... It has to be moved 1.5 miles to my lot!

I purchased a lot in SC about 6 or 7  years ago and within the last three years I started looking at options for getting a house on the lot.  I had a bid for a custom build, looked at options for a small house (not a tiny house) and investigated modular homes.  Nothing worked with my budget and some things didn't work with the zoning so it was one road block after another.  Then Sam, who cleared my land, asked why I didn't just have a house moved to my property and that's when everything started to changed.  Until that day, I thought only mobile homes, portable classrooms and historic properties were moved. Sam knew better and kindly enlightened me.

People have houses moved all the time!  In general, moving a house keeps it from being demolished and going into a landfill.  The cost per square foot can be  less than having a house built and, even with the cost of the move, it can be a good value.  The jury will be out for a while on my project, but I have high hopes.  You can find houses from some house movers who bid on properties and then move them to a  lot where they are held for sale to an individual.  The price usually includes the cost of the house and the move.  If you find a house on a commercial property that is for sale, you can see if the property owner will give you the house if you pay to have it moved.  

• This is often a win/win for the property owner because the house is removed and he doesn't have to pay to have it demolished.  
• The property owner ends up with vacant land to sell and you get a house.  
• The person who might buy the commercial property usually doesn't want to mess with a house demo or removal.
• And a house stays out of the landfill.

In my case, I "shopped" for a house on a movers lot and later found one on Craigslist, but after two false starts, I saw this house in a field along with a notice for rezoning.  That made me wonder if the owner would want it. Thanks to online property records, I found the name of the owner and a few lucky connections got me his phone number.  (Nancy O. and her family (immediate and extended) are the best local connections a person could ask for!) When I called the owner to ask him about the house he told me it was very available if I wanted to have it moved.  Since I had his permission, I  went to the house to take a look.  

Yes, it's a huge project, but I immediately felt like I was in the right place.  Big rooms, beautiful wood floors and lots of potential.  Nancy O., a dear friend who has been on this journey with me since the beginning, saw the house and agreed that the house seemed like a good fit for me.  

Everything was confirmed when Dan, contractor/house mover that I met during this process, took a look at the house and agreed that the house was worth saving. Dan gave me so much valuable assistance and advice and  I will always be grateful to him. Dan's schedule and health would not permit him to be involved for the long haul, but he recommended another great professional and then everything started happening.

Sometimes things moved quickly and sometimes they moved very slowly.  Coordinating permits, people and plans takes a lot of energy and patience.  I've met so many good people who are helping to make this happen and the journey is underway.  

Two trips to the local "convenience center" (AKA - the dump) cleared out of most of the debris associated with a house uninhabited for many years.  

 

A few rodents, and maybe a snake or two, remain in residence so there will be additional evictions!

I did decide that I would be crazy to continue to try to do all of this on my own and have asked

a contractor to oversee my project.  I realized that I could have made a mistake that cost as much, or more, than a general contractor's fee.  I'll still be involved and hands on whenever possible.  

My brother, Doug, has also volunteered to help with the demo and his wonderful wife, Katie,  will be there to take care of us and keep us in good spirits.

Nice wood floors in  three of the four rooms.

I plan to post pictures of the move and maybe even a video!

The house will be moved 1.5 miles  with a stop off in a nearby field while the foundation is readied and inspected.

I think it's going to be an adventure - stay tuned!