Whether you’re looking to relocate for a new job or simply want to live in a new area, there are several reasons people decide to move their homes. Some reasons include disputes over property lines, flooding, or damage to the foundation. Take it from Associated Pacific, professional mobile home movers. If you’re moving to a new location for one of these reasons, here’s how to prepare.
Prepare for Moving a House
There are a number of things you need to consider before moving into a house. This includes your budget. If you are moving on a tight budget, hiring a moving company can speed up the process. However, if you have the time and energy, you can also do the work yourself. Aside from hiring a moving company, you will need to purchase packing materials, including heavy-duty boxes, bubble wrap, and packing tape.
Before moving, you should clean your house thoroughly. You may want to pick up clothes from the dry cleaner or return library books. You should also cancel any gym memberships, confirm whether your yoga studio membership will transfer, and gather all of your medication and toiletries. Also, make a list of household items and assign numbers to each.
Once you have a list of essential belongings, you can pack the first box with them. It will help you identify any missing information or items that are especially critical. Also, make sure you back up any photos or important files. By doing so, you will be able to ensure that they won’t be lost during the move.
Moving a house can be a stressful process. Taking time to organize your possessions will make the transition easier. Try to keep items in boxes and containers, and label them with their proper place in the house. You can also consider donating or recycling items. You may also want to take pictures or videos of your empty house. And, of course, you should have cash handy. If possible, you should also clean the house before moving in. This will save you from having to move furniture around.
Pick up the House from its Foundation
There are many steps involved in the process of picking up the house from its foundation. The house moving company will drill holes in the foundation, and install lifting steel, and a jacking system. Once the house is lifted, it will be placed on dollies for easy transportation. The heavy machinery will be maneuvered by the house moving company, following the contractor’s guidance.
Excavate Out the Foundation
If you’re planning to move your home to a different location, it’s a good idea to excavate out the foundation before you move in. You need to make sure that the foundation is level and will not shift during the move. Depending on the soil, you may need to add additional supports, such as a concrete footing. This can be expensive but is essential to ensure a solid foundation.
It’s also important to get the help of a professional excavation company. A good excavation company will know the exact depth of the foundation, as well as what backfill is needed. Usually, builders will send a weekly schedule to their trade contractors, so be sure to call and confirm that they’re available on that date.
The excavation process can take several days or a week. It’s important to choose a contractor with experience and specialized equipment. Several factors can make this process take much longer than expected. For instance, if the foundation of your new home is 10 feet deeper than you anticipated, it could take three weeks or more. Also, if the soil is filled with large boulders or clay, this process can take longer.
Pour New Footings
One way to make sure that your house moves properly when you move is to pour new footing. Footings are levels of concrete that support the foundation of your house. They are about twice as wide as your foundation wall, and they help to evenly distribute the weight of the house. Footings are also essential in preventing your home from shifting because they must be below the frost line.
The size of the footings you need will depend on the bearing capacity of the soil. For example, if the soil is heavy, you might not need a footing, because the soil will support the weight of your building. However, if the soil is soft and does not support the weight of your building, you will likely need a larger footing.
The pressure on the soil is greatest directly beneath the footing. This pressure is lessened as you move further down. After a similar distance, the pressure drops by half or two-thirds. The soil that is right beneath your footing is the most critical, as it typically gets the most abuse.
To add extra strength to the footing, you can use a transverse steel bar placed in the footing. A transverse steel bar placed at 12 inches over the depth of the footing is usually enough.
Transport the House
Transporting a house is not as simple as it may sound. First, a structural moving company must dig around your home’s foundation and cut openings for steel beams. They will then use hydraulic jacks to raise your house up to 12 feet off the ground. The house will be jacked up over a period of two to three days. They will then place wood cribs beneath the house to support the internal structure. Once the house is raised to the appropriate level, a hydraulic transporter truck will back up to the house and start its journey at one to two miles per hour.
To move the house, you need to make sure that the new location has adequate roads and is not affected by any existing trees or light posts. You should also check the routes of your chosen destination and seek permission if needed. A successful move can be done with a team of specialists. Transporting a house can be challenging, but with the right resources, it can be a great accomplishment.
