REMOVAL INFO

CHOOSING YOUR HOME

When selecting a home for your land, carefully consider how it will blend with the nature of the area, other houses in the neighbourhood and any covenants or local council regulations. The local council that governs the area where you wish to relocate your home will take into consideration the aesthetics of the house and may not approve inappropriate houses due to the fact that they could negatively affect the value of nearby properties.

Having said all this, provided the home can be restored to a similar condition to other houses in the area, it is unlikely that local council will not approve the house for your block of land.

WHAT IS MY APPROVAL?

Before a house can be relocated, it must have approval from the council in which it resides to be taken away or demolished. This is your removal and/or demolition approval. If you are purchasing a house privately, it is wise to ensure that it is a condition of your contract that the house has been approved for removal before you pay. When you purchase a home from Mackay & Sons House Removals, this approval is not necessary, as local council zoning has already approved the land for storage of houses. This means half your work is already done! It is also necessary for the house you are relocating to be issued an approval from the relevant local council to allow it to be relocated to the desired site. This is known as your building approval.

Council requirements and conditions do vary but the following is a list of things the council will probably require before they can issue an approval for you to relocate the house onto the desired block:

• Colour photographs of the house;
• Plans showing the present location of the house;
• Preliminary site plans indicating the approximate position of the house on the new site;
• An inspection of the house;
• The filling out of an application form and payment of application fee;
• Structural engineers reports;
• The fitting of new roof and guttering if required;
• Cyclone rated roofing;
• Household pest spraying;
• Soil testing of the new site:
  Highly reactive soils such as alluvial/clay and black soil could mean significant extra costs in foundation work. If you haven't yet purchased your block of land, you should consider soil types and the positioning of your home before you buy.

If you are buying a house from Mackay & Sons House Removals, it is part of our service to assist you in obtaining your building approval by helping you organise for your local council requirements to be carried out. Some of the fees associated with this procedure are also included in the cost of your home. It is difficult to incorporate all fees as prices vary from council to council and not all conditions apply in every case.

FINANCING YOUR PROJECT

Until recently, the removal home was generally available only to the home buyer who did not have to borrow to finance their dream. Today it is possible for even first home buyers to purchase a removal home and enjoy the great savings and other benefits of this housing option.

Unfortunately, however, financial institutions do not tend to release funds until the completion date, meaning when the home is erected on the new site and has passed a final council inspection deeming it fit for habitation. Therefore, you may need to look at a few different options such as:

• Using the equity in your block or another property to obtain finance;
• Speaking to your bank manager regarding whether they will agree to release funds in stages as per your contract;
• Source the funds using a guarantor then convert to a low interest home loan upon final inspection.

Before you spend too much time investigating a removal home, we strongly suggest you investigate your financial options. This way you can avoid any possible disappointment or delay. Mackay & Sons House Removals are able to offer you assistance in obtaining finance by introducing you to a representative of the National Australia Bank who will evaluate your financial situation.

COSTS OF A REMOVAL HOME

When you purchase a house from Mackay & Sons House Removals the contract price includes:

• Delivery within 50km of where the house is currently situated
• A credit towards the re-stumping of the house, the amount of which varies between the different houses
• The payment of police escorts, pilot vehicle escorts and shire council road bonds associated with Extra Ordinary Traffic Permits
• Full insurance cover from the signing of the contract to the time the house is lowered onto its new foundations and tied down

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

In addition to providing you with a price to deliver and stump your house, Mackay & Sons House Removals are also able to arrange for your plans to be drawn up and assist you in obtaining your approval. Although we will be as accurate as possible when providing clients with estimates, some prices cannot be finalized until the plans have been drawn up. Firm quotations can be arranged on purchase of house and discussions with relevant contractors.

OTHER POSSIBLE COSTS

• When your draftsperson has completed drawing plans for the house, some of the drawings will relate directly to the re-stumping of the house. Depending on stump height, depth, materials used and the suburb the house is being delivered to, the re-stumping may amount to more than the value included in the contract.
• Moves outside a 50km radius; allow $33/km for a house travelling in one section and $45/km for a house travelling in two sections
• Buildings with above standard travelling heights will need a local power authority or optus escort at an extra cost
• if during the course of a removal there is a need to lower traffic lights or trim trees, this is organized through the relevant council and is also an extra cost to the owner
• Machinery hire fees such as dirt work etc
• Cost of providing accessibility to new site for truck and trailer
• Local council completion bond
  Owners are required to pay a bond to ensure that submitted and approved plans are adhered to and all nominated work is completed. The amount of bond varies with each council. Bonds can be secured with cash, but more often a bank guarantee is used. These, however, can take some time to set up so it is a good idea to discuss the payment of this bond with your financial institution.
• Costs associated with other conditions stipulated by council, which will vary with each individual home

WHY CHOOSE A REMOVAL HOME?

Buying, moving and renovating a removal home is a process that does take time. However it is still a fast way to be in your own home. In addition, older homes - Queenslanders, colonials and workers cottages in particular - can't be built for the price you can buy a removal home. It is also impossible to achieve that genuine look and feel of yesteryear when you build new. Removing a home is an environmentally friendly option, as essentially you are recycling old timber. The resale value of classic old homes is substantially higher than newer homes.

When you buy a removal home, you have the option to make it just livable, or carry out complete renovations or anything in between, depending on your taste and budget. There are so many possibilities!

Mackay & Sons House Removals would like to remind you that the removal/renovation process can be stressful. However, our experience in the industry tells us that if you are patient and allow yourself to enjoy the experience, the rewards are magnificent.

Good luck in your search for the perfect home, from the team at Mackay & Sons House Removals!