Buying a Removal Home in Townsville

Price the move before you buy the house

Removal homes can be great value: a finished timber house, often with character you can't buy new, for a fraction of a build. The catch is that the sale price is only part of the cost. Moving it, new stumps, tie-downs, reconnection, stairs and site works all come on top. Get the move quoted first and you'll know whether it really is a bargain.

What gets checked before you commit

Send the listing or photos so the house and your block can be checked for:

• Can it travel? Height, width and route decide whether it moves whole, roof-off or in sections.
• The frame. Termite damage in bearers, joists and the bottom of wall frames.
• The roof. Rusty iron or tired battens may need replacing, especially if the roof comes off for transport.
• Wet areas. Bathroom and laundry floors are often the first to show water damage.
• Asbestos. Common in homes built before 1990, and it changes how the house is prepared.
• Cyclone rating. Older houses usually need tie-down and bracing upgrades for Townsville's wind rating.
• Your block. Access, slope, soil and whether a trailer can get in.

Working out the real cost

Add these together before you compare a removal home with building new: the purchase price, relocation and permits, stumps and footings, tie-downs and bracing, plumbing and electrical reconnection, stairs and verandahs, any repairs the checks turn up, and site works on your block.

Sort your finance early

Many lenders won't lend on a removal home until it's on its new site and signed off. You may need to fund the purchase and the move up front, or arrange a construction loan. Talk to your lender before you buy.

Common questions