House moving - Attempt at photojournalism

[Mitchell]

I recently gave away ($1) an historic house that I owned next to my office. The catch was the owner had to move it ($100,000). Interestingly, the house was built by the first photographer in my county in the 1870's. The move was fascinating to watch and occurred between midnight and 0400.

The house had been prepped months ago and put up on steel beams. A low torque tractor was then attached.
http://clearwaterphotography.smugmug.com/photos/30230120-M.jpg

The proud, new owner watching with excitement and anticipation.

http://clearwaterphotography.smugmug.com/photos/30230118-M.jpg

The tricky part was temporarily relocating all of the lines (power, cable, and telephone) in front of the house. Here they are using the official measuring stick to determine which lines need to be moved.

http://clearwaterphotography.smugmug.com/photos/30230125-M.jpg

Next, the power was shut down and four bucket trucks were used to raise the newly elongated cables over the house.
http://clearwaterphotography.smugmug.com/photos/30230131-M.jpg

http://clearwaterphotography.smugmug.com/photos/30230142-M.jpg

Then the house was on the move...

http://clearwaterphotography.smugmug.com/photos/30230147-M.jpg

Past my office...
http://clearwaterphotography.smugmug.com/photos/30230155-M.jpg

And then down the street to it's new home!!

http://clearwaterphotography.smugmug.com/photos/30230157-M.jpg

It was a fascinating thing to watch. My only regret was having to go to work the next day! Hope you all enjoyed this.

[Ann McRae]

Fascinating - did the house make it to its new location safely? It looks like it is very nice, the new owner got a good deal!

ann

[Mitchell]

Yes, the house made it safely. Deep down, I was concerned that the house might implode during the trip!! The movers did a great job.



Fascinating - did the house make it to its new location safely? It looks like it is very nice, the new owner got a good deal!

ann

[Nir]

Fantastic account Mitchell! Really enjoyed it!

[Dee]

I'd stay up to photograph that event too! The house extended deeper than it appeared from the first photo.

How nice of you to "sell" it for $1!

I enjoyed the photos and the story, this is not something I see everyday, altho to the house movers it's probably old hat.

The bit about the electrical wires was interesting too, something I didn't even think of...

[wholenewlight]

Anything else you want to sell for $1

Like your D70??

:D

Hey, I'll even pay shipping

Seriously, my inlaws helped pay the bill to move their "country church in the woods" to a new location about 20 years ago. I didn't see it happen but did see photos and the process looked similar to your shots. Big job!

[Mitchell]

Now THAT is funny!!:huh

Thank you all for the kind comments. Glad you enjoyed seeing pics from this event.

Anything else you want to sell for $1

Like your D70??

:D

Hey, I'll even pay shipping

Seriously, my inlaws helped pay the bill to move their "country church in the woods" to a new location about 20 years ago. I didn't see it happen but did see photos and the process looked similar to your shots. Big job!

[Mitchell]

Tragically, the house we moved last year burnt to the ground last night. We suspect an electrical fire as an electrician was working during the day to rewire the structure. Sad that after all the time, effort, and money, this great old house did not survive.:cry

[Awais Yaqub]

nice photos but they paid for you for house not for land ? why they transfered whole house to new place intresting images have seen this happeing on TV

[Awais Yaqub]

Tragically, the house we moved last year burnt to the ground last night. We suspect an electrical fire as an electrician was working during the day to rewire the structure. Sad that after all the time, effort, and money, this great old house did not survive.:cry


Oh so sad i am sorry :cry

[photodoug]

Tragically, the house we moved last year burnt to the ground last night. We suspect an electrical fire as an electrician was working during the day to rewire the structure. Sad that after all the time, effort, and money, this great old house did not survive.:cry

such a move would have required insurance to the hilt....will it cover the new owner's financial loss?

[Skippy]

nice photos but they paid for you for house not for land ? why they transfered whole house to new place intresting images have seen this happeing on TV

Hi Awais.....this happens in many countries..... the removal of the house only.

The owner of the land will then build a new house on the vacant land.
These houses will often be moved from one state to another and travel hundreds and hundreds of miles.

So the original owner keeps the Land and just gets rid of the house.
Hope this helps you understand how this works. .. Skippy (Australia)

[David_S85]

What a sad end to an otherwise interesting story and great set of pictures. :cry

[Mitchell]

such a move would have required insurance to the hilt....will it cover the new owner's financial loss?

Yes, the move was insured to the hilt. Unfortunately the new owner says her insurance will not really cover the damage done by the fire. It seems like a total loss at this point.

[ian408]

Tragically, the house we moved last year burnt to the ground last night. We suspect an electrical fire as an electrician was working during the day to rewire the structure. Sad that after all the time, effort, and money, this great old house did not survive.:cry

That is sad and almost a year to the day too.

[boogie]

Thanks for the moving tour. I just love that pink house. Very well done. :thumb

[Awais Yaqub]

Hi Awais.....this happens in many countries..... the removal of the house only.

The owner of the land will then build a new house on the vacant land.
These houses will often be moved from one state to another and travel hundreds and hundreds of miles.

So the original owner keeps the Land and just gets rid of the house.
Hope this helps you understand how this works. .. Skippy (Australia)

Thaks skippy i didn't knew that here land gose with house house are built with concrete and moving house must cost as much as land :scratch

[Mitchell]

Thaks skippy i didn't knew that here land gose with house house are built with concrete and moving house must cost as much as land :scratch

Awais,
Thank you for your interest in this story. This house was built in the 1870s. Homes at that time here in Florida were built on brick supports with no foundation. This home had been moved twice before I purchased two years ago. Modern home sales here now typically include the land and the dwelling in one purchase.

[Mitchell]

Drove by today to get some pics of the house after the fire. This shot doesn't do the damage justice.

http://clearwaterphotography.smugmug.com/photos/84490909-L.jpg

[Mitchell]

Incredible, but the new owner decided to completely renovate and salvage this home. Drove by today to take this shot.

http://clearwaterphotography.smugmug.com/photos/535980752_AUAqX-L.jpg

[Awais Yaqub]

Incredible, but the new owner decided to completely renovate and salvage this home. Drove by today to take this shot.

http://clearwaterphotography.smugmug.com/photos/535980752_AUAqX-L.jpg

:thumb:thumb:thumb:thumb

[ian408]

Incredible! Truly lemons to lemonade story. Nicely done.