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whole house movers near me: timelines, costs, and how to stay in control
What whole-house moving really involves
Moving an entire structure is engineering, logistics, and patient coordination. Crews survey the frame, add steel beams, lift with synchronized hydraulics, and roll on dollies along a permitted route to a prepared foundation.
- Structural assessment and engineered lift plan
- Permits, police escorts, and utility coordination
- Route mapping around slopes, bridges, and trees
- Set-down, leveling, and reattachment to the new foundation
Expectations and timelines
Permitting can take 2 - 8 weeks. Utility drops and escorts often need 2 - 4 weeks' notice. The lift and roll may finish in a day; final setting and connections may take several more.
Control improves with a written scope, a clear sequence, and proof of insurance and bonding for every party.
Costs and variables
Budget ranges widely - often $15 - $60 per square foot - driven by home weight, route complexity, site prep, and the new foundation. Expect line items for tree trimming, traffic control, and temporary power.
A quiet real-world morning
Last March, after searching "whole house movers near me," a homeowner watched a 1915 bungalow lift at 6:15 a.m. The foreman measured clearance under an oak limb, radioed utilities, and by 8:40 the convoy eased onto the route. Calm, methodical, and successful.
How to choose a mover
- Verify state licensing and recent, similar projects
- Request stamped engineering for the lift plan
- Demand a detailed bid with exclusions listed
- Confirm general liability, auto, and cargo coverage
- Set milestones, holdbacks, and a weather plan
What stays, what travels
Remove brick chimneys, fragile finishes, and attached decks. Secure cabinets and glass. You cut risk, reduce tonnage, and keep finishes intact.
On move day: your role
- Clear access, staging, and overhead lines
- Notify neighbors and schedule parking controls
- Have decisions and payments ready; keep pets boarded
Alternatives worth considering
Lift-in-place to add a basement, partial structure moves, selective deconstruction, or relocation grants can deliver similar benefits with fewer logistics.
Bottom line
With realistic timelines and a qualified team, you retain control, protect the home's value, and achieve a confident, measured outcome - optimistic, but grounded.
