Wood framing is a common construction method for homes built today as well as homes built 100 years ago. Regardless of your home’s age, there are a few things you need to plan for if you’re pursuing a lift or relocation for your wood-frame house. Below we’ve compiled five tips to ensure your project goes off without a hitch.
Get an Inspection
Any time you move or lift your home, you should have an inspector come out to make sure the house is resting securely with no issues. This is especially true if you lift or relocate a wood-frame home.
Timber framing is one of the most popular framing methods. Regardless of the size or style of your home, it likely has wood framing, even if it’s an older home. And as your home ages, its bones are likely to become brittle. Hiring a professional to inspect your home before and after moving is a smart choice that can pay off significantly in the long run.
An inspector will discover any potential issues that might affect the structural integrity of your home before or after a move or lift. Paying for an inspection is a small investment that will save you time, stress, and money, especially if there are unknown issues with your wood framing.
Contact Your Mortgage Company
Unless you own your home outright, you’re still under contract with your mortgage company. They technically own a portion of your home, which means you’re legally obligated to contact them when you move your house.
Any time you want to make changes to your home that affect the address on your deed, you need express written permission from your mortgage company. So if you are considering moving your home to a new property, your lender must be in total agreement. And you need the paperwork to prove it.
If your mortgage company does not agree to or sign off on your home’s relocation, you cannot proceed with the project. If you do, your mortgage company is legally permitted to require you to pay the remainder of your mortgage. When planning a move, get clearance immediately so you don’t have to unexpectedly halt plans for your move.
Prepare the Exterior of Your Home
Even if you’re only lifting your wood frame home a few inches, you must take care of a few exterior details to prepare for the lift. You’ll need to remove the obvious things like yard décor and attached decking or fencing that might impede the project. But don’t forget about things that are not in your line of sight. You or your general contractor will need to detach utilities and secure wires and plumbing under your home. Detach your HAVC unit and remove it from its slab. Plan to take care of these things in advance so on the day of your project, things can proceed as planned.
Take Care of Remodels and Renovations
When you’re planning your wood frame home for a lift or relocation, think about taking care of any renovations you’ve been dreaming about. You already have a general contractor working with you. Why not hire them to take care of projects that have been needing to happen for a while now?
As you plan logistically and financially for your lift or move, meet with your general contractor to discuss renovations, remodels, or even additions after the initial project is complete.
Hire the Right Moving Contractor
Moving your wood-frame home is a significant event. As you can see above, you must consider and plan for many factors to ensure your relocation is a success. The absolute most crucial variable when planning for your wood-frame home move is your moving contractor.
Choosing the right contractor makes all the difference in your home lift or move. A house moving contractor is ultimately responsible for making sure your home arrives at its new location with no issues. This is quite a task, which is why you must hire a contractor with integrity and expertise and who you can trust to get the job done.
DeVooght House Lifters has been taking care of wood-frame home lifts for decades. They bring knowledge, experience, and state-of-the-art equipment to every home lift. They walk you through every step of your home’s lift or move and answer all your questions, so you feel comfortable and confident at every junction.
Moving your home can add value, mitigate water damage, and increase your home’s functionality. It’s a smart move that increases your equity and quality of life. DeVooght House Lifters is the ideal choice when you’re shopping for contractors. Their team is knowledgeable, kind, and will execute your lift to the highest standards so you’re happy with the results.
Conclusion
Moving or lifting your wood frame home requires a lot of planning and expertise to ensure the project is done correctly. When you work with DeVooght House Lifters, you can trust your home is in the right hands. Contact our team today to get started planning your wood frame home lift or relocation.