There’s a reason why more Australians than ever are choosing to live in tiny, portable homes. In the midst of a global housing crisis, portable homes represent an affordable and convenient solution for many potential homeowners.
Plus, there’s the fact that portable homes can be moved with relative ease. The ability to literally pick up your home and move it anywhere you want is an enticing prospect for many individuals.
That being said, the process can be challenging and expensive if you aren’t prepared. That’s why we made this guide.
In it, we’ll be discussing some tips to move your portable home. That way, the process is as easy as possible.
Get the Necessary Documents and Permits
If your portable house is over a certain size, you will need certain documents and permits to move it. The specific documents you’ll need ultimately depend on the locale you’re moving to.
For example, in Victoria, you will require a Class 1 permit application if you’re going to move prefabricated buildings. If you need to apply for a permit in the state you’re moving to, then you can do so through this resource here.
Secure Your House
Keeping all your furniture in your portable home during the move would certainly be easier. Unfortunately, it’s quite dangerous and illegal. As such, you will need to pack up all of your belongings and tape cabinetry doors, drawers and other moveable parts such as the shower screen .
Then you can either rent a moving vehicle yourself or hire a company to take care of your belongings. Make sure you also ensure that all windows and doors are properly locked.
Disconnect All Service Lines
Is your portable home connected to water, phone, or electricity service lines? If so, then you will need to disconnect these services before the moving day.
You can do this by contacting utility companies. They will send out a professional to help you.
If your house is setup off-grid, you will have to remove the composting toilet chamber, disconnect the rainwater harvesting gear and turn off the main switch to power off the solar system.
For safety while traveling, you will also have to detach the gutter.
Find a Qualified Delivery Company
Finding a qualified delivery company is perhaps the most important part of transporting your portable home. This part of moving can often mean the difference between a flawless move and a damaged portable home.
So how do you find a qualified delivery company? First, make sure they’re experienced in this type of delivery. The more years they’ve been in the business, the more expertise they can bring to the table.
Next, make sure you check the reviews online first. This can give you a better idea of what the average customer’s experience has been with the delivery company.
Lastly, make sure that they can handle the dimensions of your portable home. Some delivery companies can only handle tiny homes.
Transfer the Portable Home to Its New Location
Now it’s time for the big day. Make sure to get an accurate estimate from the delivery company in terms of when your portable home will arrive.
In the meantime, you will likely need to find temporary lodging while it’s being transported.
Tips for Saving Money
Moving, in general, can be quite expensive. When you factor in transportation costs, hire help, and security deposits, it all adds up.
As such, if you’re physically picking up your home and moving it, you can expect it to be a costly affair. That’s why in this section, we’ll be discussing some of the ways you can save a little money when moving your portable house.
1. Get a Portable Home Designed for Transportation
As we mentioned before, you will likely need permits to move your portable home if it exceeds size restrictions. However, there is a workaround for this problem.
Most of the time, these homes need to be placed on a flatbed truck which can get expensive. But if you cut down on the size of the home, then you don’t need to put it on a flatbed.
Instead, you can get a delivery company to tow it for you. All you need is a temporary registration plate to be attached to the trailer. This can all be done legally without a permit.
The caveat is that your home needs to be tiny. Luckily, builders like us here at Aussie Tiny Homes specialize in building portable homes that fit these strict size regulations.
2. Try Not to Move Across the Country
It shouldn’t come as a big surprise, but the further you move, the more expensive it’s going to be. Since most portable home moving companies charge per kilometre, if you move all the way across the country, then it’s going to be a costly affair.
So what should you do if you need to move your portable home across the country? The best option is to look for a company that offers transparent, affordable rates.
Here at Aussie Tiny Houses, we pride ourselves on being as upfront as possible when it comes to delivery prices. Check out this page to learn more about the shipping costs that come with moving your portable home.
3. Make Sure the Moving Company is Insured
Even when it’s done correctly, tiny home transport can be a risky venture. You never know if your home might be damaged by a reckless driver.
As such, you want to make sure that your moving company can provide you with the forms needed to insure your house during the move.
It might be a little more expensive to insure a portable home. But in the event that something happens to it, you will be thankful that you did.
Looking for a Portable Home? Contact Aussie Tiny Houses Today
We hope this guide helped you learn some tips for how to move a portable home. Remember that the ease of your move will ultimately depend on the delivery company you go with.
Here at Aussie Tiny Houses, we pride ourselves on the deliverability of our portable homes. We only partner with experienced towing companies to ensure that your property is delivered in a timely and safe manner.
So if you’re ready for the tiny home of your dreams, contact us today, and we’ll help you find the perfect option.
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