Modular homes offer flexibility, affordability, and swift construction. If you live in one right now we don’t have to tell you all this, though - you’re probably loving life in your home!
This is why a common question arises when life throws you a curveball or you decide you want a change of scenery. Can you move a modular home?
While the question seems simple, the answer involves intricate logistics, costs, and considerations. And sometimes, the solution might just lie in avoiding the move altogether, opting instead for a fresh start.
This guide to moving a modular home will help you weigh the pros and cons - most notably, the cost to move a modular home and other challenges you may face along the way.
We’ll also walk you through how to move a modular home to set you up for success while giving it to you straight - it often makes more sense to sell your modular home and install a new one in your new location!
Why Would You Consider Moving a Modular Home?
First, why would someone consider uprooting their dream home and moving it to a new location? Let's delve deeper into some of the most compelling reasons to consider moving a modular home.
Changing Landscape and Surroundings
A serene countryside can transform into a bustling suburb over the years. Or a once-quiet neighborhood might suddenly find itself in the path of commercial development.
The point is that the surroundings of your modular home may evolve - for the worse. You might not enjoy the same peace or convenience that initially hooked you in.
Whether it's increasing traffic noise, the loss of a cherished view, or simply an area's evolution that doesn't align with your lifestyle, shifting landscapes can be a significant driver in the desire to relocate.
Economic and Job Transitions
Financial ebbs and flows, or the pursuit of new job opportunities, can influence where we choose to plant our roots. Moving closer to a burgeoning job market or relocating to an area with a more affordable cost of living might be tempting.
Unlike traditional homeowners who might feel anchored by brick and mortar, modular homeowners may feel they have a bit more leeway to chase economic opportunities. But is it true, can you move a modular home? Bear with us - we’ll get to that in minute.
Family Needs and Size Adjustments
Life is dynamic. Families expand, kids grow up and fly the nest, and sometimes, elderly family members move in. These changes in family size and structure can influence the kind of space and environment you require.
Maybe you’re approaching retirement and want to retreat to a more desolate area since you don’t have to bother with a commute any longer. Or, perhaps your kids are moving out of the house to go to school and you want to be closer to them. Either way, the problem isn’t your home - it’s the location.
Desire for Different Scenery or Climate
Let's face it, sometimes we're just struck by the itch for a change - to swap snowy winters for beachy summers or trade urban skylines for mountainous horizons.
The allure of waking up to a new view or experiencing a different climate is a major pull. And for modular homeowners, the prospect of bringing their beloved home along for the journey can be an enticing one. That being said, can you move a modular home?
Can You Move a Modular Home, Though?
The appeal of modular homes largely lies in their promise of flexibility. But does this extend to the possibility of relocating the entire structure after it's been set up?
After all, the home was built off-site and then moved to your location. Surely you can move it again, right?
The short answer is yes, but it's more intricate than just hitching your home to a truck and driving off. Let's dissect the complexity of this venture, starting with the challenges of moving a modular home.
Challenges With Moving a Modular Home
While you can certainly move a modular home, it’s not something you should do just because you can. Here’s why:
- Structural Integrity: Modular homes are constructed to be sturdy and robust. However, frequent movement can jeopardize their structural integrity. Every move subjects the house to stresses, potential damages, and the wear and tear of disassembly and reassembly.
- Permits and Legal Hurdles: Moving a home isn't as simple as relocating from one apartment to another. Transporting such a large structure often necessitates special permits, not to mention the potential restrictions placed by housing communities or local municipalities.
- Logistical Concerns: Modular home size matters. Maneuvering a modular home through city streets, under bridges, or on highways presents logistical challenges. You'd also need specialized transportation equipment and skilled professionals to ensure safe transit.
- Utility Disconnections: Your home is connected to various utilities: water, electricity, sewage, and maybe gas. Preparing for a move means safely disconnecting from all of these, which can be both time-consuming and costly.
- Site Preparation: A new site means new preparations. This involves ensuring that the ground is level, setting up new foundations, and again connecting utilities.
We haven’t even mentioned the cost to move a modular home, either. We’ll talk specifically about that in a later section.
So, Can You Move a Modular Home?
Yes, you certainly can. Relocating your modular home is feasible with meticulous planning, a trustworthy moving team, and an understanding of the associated costs and challenges.
However, it's essential to weigh the benefits against the potential risks and costs. Sometimes, the hurdles may outweigh the perks.
Can You Move a Modular Home Twice?
We see individuals asking - can you move a modular home twice? If you moved it once, then yes - you can move it again. And again, and again…you get the point.
Technically, there's no limit to how many times you can move a modular home. However, the risks we mentioned above multiply with each move.
Frequent relocations can significantly reduce the lifespan of your home and might end up being more expensive in the long run than investing in a new structure.
How Far Can You Move a Modular Home?
Distance is more than just miles on an odometer when it comes to modular homes. It's a factor that plays into costs, logistics, and potential damages.
So, how far can you move a modular home if you decide to go through with it? Let's delve into the considerations that will dictate just how far you can or should move your modular home.
Distance and Cost Relationship
The farther you plan to transport your modular home, the more you'll likely spend. Professional movers generally charge per mile. While this might seem manageable over short distances, cross-country moves can result in substantial costs.
Longer distances mean longer work hours for the crew and potential overnight stays. These extra hours and accommodations can add to the overall bill.
Beyond the actual cost of a moving team, you will have to factor in the cost of toll stations, especially if your journey involves major highways or bridges. The larger and heavier the vehicle (which is certainly the case with those transporting homes), the higher the tolls tend to be.
Structural and Logistic Concerns
The longer a home is on the road, the more it's exposed to potential damages from road vibrations, weather elements, and unforeseen incidents.
Plus, longer distances mean navigating a myriad of roads, each with its potential challenges. There might be low bridges, narrow passages, or weight-limited roads that can't accommodate your home. Proper route planning becomes paramount to avoid such issues, and sometimes, the best route might not be the shortest.
And, moving a modular home can quickly become a logistical nightmare because they come in multiple sections. The need to ensure that each section arrives simultaneously and safely becomes more complicated as the distance grows.
Licensing and Regulations
Interstate moves bring an added layer of complexity. Different states or even counties might have varying regulations concerning the transport of large structures. Each jurisdiction may require its own set of permits, and navigating this web of bureaucracy can be challenging.
Crossing into a new state or county might entail inspections to ensure compliance with local laws, potentially causing delays.
Building standards might differ between regions, too. A modular home constructed for one state's weather conditions and regulations might not immediately fit another's.
How to Move a Modular Home: Tips for Moving a Modular Home Seamlessly Without Breaking the Bank
Relocating a modular home is no small feat. While these structures are designed for mobility to some degree, the process requires detailed planning and execution.
That being said, we’re going to alleviate as much of your stress and uncertainty as we can in this guide. Let’s delve into the steps and strategies behind how to move a modular home without excessive costs.
Planning and Preparing
Before you even think about the move, survey both your current location and your destination.
Ensure that the departure site is easily accessible for heavy machinery and that your destination site is prepared, leveled, and suitable for the modular home. Our guides on where to put a tiny home or where to put a modular home can help you navigate this step.
You can start to take inventory from there. Document the condition of your home. This will help in assessing any damages that might occur during the move and can be useful for insurance purposes.
This is also a good time to start securing local permits. Each move will require a set of permissions, especially when crossing jurisdictional boundaries. Acquaint yourself with local regulations and obtain the necessary permits in advance.
Selecting the Right Mover: Qualities to Look For
We aren’t going to teach you how to move a modular home yourself - you’ll leave the nitty gritty details to a mover. But how can you find a moving company you can trust? Not all movers are created equal, after all.
So, ensure that the moving company has specific experience with modular homes, as they'll be familiar with the unique challenges. This can offer a great sense of peace of mind.
But, the best assurance comes from testimonials. So, look for customer testimonials and reviews. Past experiences can give you a good sense of what to expect.
It’s also important to avoid hidden costs by choosing a mover that offers transparent pricing, ideally with a detailed breakdown of all potential charges.
Insurance and Safety Precautions
Ensure that your mover offers comprehensive insurance that covers potential damages during transit, loading, and unloading. This protects your asset from negligence or bad luck.
A thorough inspection before the move can identify potential weak spots or areas that need reinforcement. This can prevent damages and costly repairs later on.
Disassembly and Reassembly Tips: Making the Transition Smooth
Your mover will need to be diligent in labeling all parts during disassembly - especially connections and wiring.
This will speed up the reassembly process of getting you back into your home in its new location. Taking pictures during the disassembly can serve as a useful reference during reassembly.
Ensure that essential utilities like water, electricity, and sewage are set up first when reassembling, making the home livable as quickly as possible.
How Much Does it Cost to Move a Modular Home and is it Worth the Hassle?
Now, there is one more big question to address in this guide to moving modular homes. How much does it cost to move a modular home on average? More importantly is it worth it?
Average Cost to Move a Modular Home
The price tag associated with moving your modular home isn't static. Several factors weigh in, including:
- Distance of the Move: Short local moves will obviously cost less than long-distance hauls. On average, moving a modular home within 50 miles might range from $5,000 to $10,000, whereas cross-state or cross-country moves could spike up to $20,000 or more.
- Size and Complexity of the Home: A single-module home is typically easier and cheaper to relocate than multi-module homes, which require more intricate disassembly and reassembly.
- Permits and Licenses: You may need multiple permits depending on the states and counties you're moving through, each coming with its own cost.
- Site Preparations: Prepping the new site, including foundation work, utility connections, and other adjustments, can be a significant portion of the total expense.
- Insurance: Comprehensive insurance to cover potential damages during the move isn't cheap, but it's an indispensable safety net.
You can weigh the cost to move a modular home against the new modular home cost or the cost to build a tiny home. Factor in how much you can recoup by selling your old modular home, and moving a modular home starts to make less and less sense economically and logistically…
Why Not Opt for a Fresh Start with Boxd Living?
Given the complexities and costs associated with moving a modular home, it begs the question: is there a better way? There is - you can sell your current modular home and get a new modular home for sale at Boxd Living! Here’s why this makes better sense:
- Cost Efficiency: The price of procuring a brand-new modular home from Boxd Living can compare favorably to the compounded expenses of moving an existing one in many cases. When considering all potential costs, including unexpected ones, starting afresh might be the wallet-friendly option. Our modular homes start at just $70k!
- Modern Features: Modular homes have witnessed notable advancements recently. You benefit from the latest in design, energy efficiency, and modern comforts by opting for a new home.
- Hassle-free Experience: You’ll enjoy a seamless buying experience at Boxd Living. From world-class customer support to rapid setup, the journey is as pleasant as the destination.
- Customization: Tailor your new space exactly to your preferences without the constraints of an existing structure.
- Peace of Mind: There's an unparalleled peace that comes with knowing you're in a brand-new space, untouched and unblemished, ready for your unique touch.
The best part? In terms of how long to get a modular home delivered, you can be move-in-ready within 60 days. We also offer modular home financing to help you justify the decision to buy anew.
Want to learn more about what makes our process so special? Fill out our form today to get started!
Wrapping Up Our Guide to Moving a Modular Home
From the reasons one might consider moving a modular home to the undeniable challenges and costs associated, we've aimed to shed light on every facet of this topic. We hope you have a better sense of what your next move should be.
We also have tiny homes for sale and backyard workspaces. Our blog has additional resources on the world of modular living - including a breakdown of the differences between modular homes vs manufactured homes and tiny homes vs trailers. Or, learn about the ideal tiny home size.
At this point, though, there’s really only one thing left to do. Weigh the pros and cons of moving a modular home and see what makes the most sense from an economical, logistical, and convenience standpoint.
You’ll probably discover that even knowing how to move a modular home, starting fresh starts to look more and more enticing. And if you’re still not quite convinced, just take a look at some of the stunning designs awaiting you at Boxd Living today!
