August 23, 2021 Posted in How-to
Julie Grace

Originally from The Golden City, Julie has explored the ins and outs of moving and has written all the tips down.

How to Move a Garage

Relocation is one of the three most stressful events in people’s lives. From packing the entire home to saying goodbye to all family and friends, you might not have time to think about how to move a garage. There are about 140 million housing units in the US, and most of them have storage buildings. So, if you’re one of those people, and you’re considering relocating it, you’ll require some guidance to make the whole process easier.

red car parked beside grass field overlay
Getting this kind of object moved isn't the easiest thing to do

While checking the best time to move and organizing the whole process, one thing that shouldn’t slip your mind is a building in your yard. Not only do you have to plan it separately (because you should perform many tasks and have a successful move,) but you should also consider all the necessary paperwork and permits, depending on the state and city you’re living in. However, before you begin with planning and getting organized to move, distinguish types of garages and are all of them movable. How much effort do you have to put in, and is all that work even worth doing? Here are some relocation hacks you could find useful and get the best of this move.

How to Move a Garage – What Types of Garages Are There?

There are more than twenty types of garages in the US, so how do you decide which one you have and if it’s even possible to move it? Knowing exactly what kind of facility you have can be a challenging task, but here are some guidelines that will help you:

  • Type – garages can be attached, detached, carports, barns, portable, breezeway, or workshop.
  • Parking layout – single-bay, double-wide one door, double-wide two doors, car facility with one, two, or three doors, or motor port.
  • Position – front facing, below the house, side of a house, or 90° inward facing.
  • Material – steel, wood, or vinyl plastic resin.
  • Roof material – metal, shingle.
  • Floor – epoxy, tiles, mats, paint, sealers, carpet.
A garage with a closed-door before moving across the country overlay
When you learn what type of facility it is, it will be easier to move from your old location to a new home

Solve the First Issue – How Expensive Is It to Move a Garage?

We all know that the relocation process isn’t free, and figuring out your relocation budget is something you shouldn’t avoid. The reason is that, with a set budget, there won’t be any unpleasant surprises and all those extra costs that could come up when there’s no proper planning. So, the answer to the question of how much does it cost to move a garage is around $3,000-$5,000 for a one-car building. On the other hand, for a two-car one, you’ll have to set aside between $7,000 and $10,000. Now knowing the amount of money needed for this process, last-minute relocation, or even relocating without a job (and not having some savings apart) doesn’t seem like a good idea, right?

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Set a Budget For This Work

When you consider all benefits of relocation and your reasons for the move are valid, the next step is to set a budget and figure out the cost. Relocating facilities across the country from your old location can be quite stressful when it comes to the money needed to set aside. That’s why you should consider the cheapest time of year to move and learn some of the cheaper ways to move. These relocation tips will help your budget and savings.

Decide Should You DIY or Ask For Help From Long-Distance Movers

Relocating buildings isn’t the same as relocating furniture or other household items. This is a larger facility that could easily get damaged during transportation. So, the best solution might be to find a reliable relocation crew that will carefully transport it as part of its cross-country moving services. On the other hand, if you think it’s something you can do on your own (with the helping hand of family and friends,) you can watch the video below and see how other people prepared their garages for relocation.

Get All the Permits and a City Code for Legally Moving a Garage

Relocating garages isn’t the same as building a new one, but you’ll still need to apply for some permits. Think about it as an already built building, but you have to move it from your old property and put it in the future one. Both the first and the second property will be changed, so you better gather everything needed. It’s important to acknowledge that these licenses and permits are different for every state and even city. The fastest way to gather all the paperwork is to visit the municipality website, where you’ll find all information needed.

Another essential thing you should pay attention to is if a structure is allowed to be moved. Check if it’s by the code because the property will change without it, which could become a big problem. Why not have a stress-free move when it’s possible? It will take some of your free moments, but once you’re sure everything is legal, you can begin with planning the whole process unburdened. However, if all this seems like mission impossible and just too overwhelming, you can rely on professional cross-country movers that have years of experience. If you want the professionals to take care of it, it’s best to call more than two relocation companies and check if they will be able to do it.

A man is doing a project in the workshop before calling a long-distance moving company overlay
Getting all paperwork needed for this process is an essential part

What Is the Best Way to Move a Garage – Declutter the Entire Structure

One in four Americans says their facilities are too cluttered and wants to get rid of stuff they don’t use anymore. We build these facilities for housing cars. But somehow, all other items from your house end up precisely here, and after years, clutter is a reasonable consequence. Until the relocation day comes near, the view is completely normal, right? But, when the packing comes as a task on your relocation to-do list, that view changes, and all you see is a bunch of unorganized and useless stuff. So roll up your sleeves and start with decluttering. If you already prepared your house for sale, then you’re familiar with the process. The most important thing is staying focused and finishing it as soon as possible (not doing it for days.)

If you think that the smaller the place is, the less it will take you to declutter it, and after that, pack it, you’re wrong. It depends on how much stuff you have in there, but in some cases, the decluttering process is more tedious than doing it inside your home. Imagine all that old stuff you left because you wanted to give it a second chance, and it never happened? Packing pots and pans that you’ll never use again, or wrapping up a computer that isn’t working for years now, just isn’t worth your effort. So, once you decide which items are going with you and which will be sold or donated, you’ll leave. Check the website Goodwill, where you can help those in need.

A man standing in a cluttered garage before cross-country moving overlay
A view of your filled structure will change after the decluttering part

How to Effectively Pack Garage – One of the Questions to Be Answered for a Successful Move

If you don’t know how to tell your friends you’re moving to a new house, you can contact them and ask them to give you a helping hand in the process. It’s an excellent opportunity to spend some quality moments with your crew, and if you don’t want to say goodbye to each of them separately, this is something you should do. Maybe some of your friends know packing tips, and not only you’ll do it quickly, but it could become an experience you’ll remember for an extended period and always mention it when you get together with your friends.

If, on the other hand, you can’t pull this off, you should consider asking for help from professionals. Check first if a relocation company is legitimate and then contact them for a packing service that will make your life easier.

The First Step Is to Get the Right Equipment

Before you even start protecting and packing your belongings from a facility, you should gather all the needed materials and supplies. After you get enough boxes, packing paper, and also a bubble wrap, make piles of similar items and pack them together. For example, if you have Christmas ornaments and some other decorations, you can put them together in one box and label it (you can write exactly what kind of items are inside.)

When it comes to wrapping up your stuff from a building, the essential thing is to protect them safely. You probably already are familiar with this, but it’s better to mention it since there could be some expensive tools or even vintage pieces of furniture you wish to move.

Check Which Items Can’t Be Moved

Preparing for cross-country movers doesn’t mean you just have to contact them and let them do the rest. Check if you have the following items in the facility that movers won’t move:

  • Hazardous materials,
  • Flammables,
  • Perishable food.
A gray flip lighter overlay
Get rid of all items movers won't move from your house and garages

How Do You Lift a Detached Garage

Safety should be your primary concern if you decide to relocate the facility on your own. However, some help will be needed, and the best option is to contact a professional contractor to inspect the place first and ensure it’s in good condition. They will examine the walls, floor, and roof and decide if the structure can survive the move.

Once the place is inspected, you can get some measurements and prepare the new home. Luckily, you don’t have to build anything – just set a foundation and ensure it is dry once you arrive with the structure. To safely remove the construction, you should make a canal around the facility with an additional pair of hands. Then lift it on rails and finally place it on the truck.

Follow Some Additional Tips on How Can You Move a Concrete Block Garage

After you counted the cost of relocating the structure from your old home and all the work you have to put in to make it successful, here are some additional tips you should consider if you’re doing it yourself:

  • Strengthen the structure,
  • Make sure the pathway is clear.
A constructor is drawing on paper for the long-distance moving overlay
Like with every structure, it takes some steps to make it secure for the transportation

Consider All Other Options From Professional Long-Distance Moving Services and Make the Whole Move a Breeze

The whole process of preparing, emptying, and reinforcing the facility for the move could take a lot of the free moments you meant to dedicate to some other tasks. That’s when you should consider all the services a reliable relocation crew can offer you. From storage facilities where you can keep your belongings or reliable auto transportation for your four-wheeler. These services will take a lot of your mind, and you can dedicate yourself to other stuff that has to be done for the relocation process.

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