Moving Your House

That isn't a typo: I did actually mean to write about moving the house, not just moving house.
We all did a serious double-take the first time we drove up towards the Sunshine Coast and saw a whole lot of movable houses -- removal houses, as they are called -- on the side of the motorway that are for sale. Ok, I'd seen those programs on TV where they use big trucks and move houses to new locations, but I recently discovered that buying a house that's ready to move to your selected location is a regular way of house buying here. (Well, I don't actually know anyone who has done it, but I do know a builder who recently connected up a house for someone who bought one of these.)
A website for a company that is involved in this type of business states that house removal has been around in Australia since the early days of colonial history. At that time houses and buildings were transported by horse and dray.
According to this company houses are categorised according to the following: Queenslander and Colonial (Built prior to 1946) houses, Post War (Built between 1946 and 1960) and Semi Modern (Built from about 1960 onwards) houses.
 

Queenslander / Colonial	Post War	Semi Modern

One example of a house that is for sale is a three bedroom post-war house that costs between $60,000 and $100,000. Of course, there is small print, which states that the price includes the house and a provision allowance for delivery within 100kms and restumping 600mm out of ground based on a level site and standard soil conditions.I love this bit..."Extra costs will apply if the house is required to be cut into sections smaller than standard...or transport over water."

The advert states:

"Three Bedroom Post-War. This is a very solid and spacious post-war home with robes in each of the three good sized bedrooms. The kitchen is clean and tidy and in good original working order. The solid weatherboard construction home has plenty of character with great looking polished timber floors, and timber casement windows, and be sure to check out the huge living area. Plenty of room for all the family, and a timber porch provides a welcome entry. Just connect to services on your new site and move into or rent in no time at all. Inspections by appointment, so call to arrange yours now. Area (Approx): 144m2."

For someone who has an unwanted house on land, the relocation of the house is an alternative to demolition. The demolition is expensive and creates waste that needs to be removed. If you sell the house instead, you save on those costs, and can make money instead.

Inside Our New House

We are really starting to feel settled in our new home -- although there are still some bits and pieces to do (aren't there always?).

It is wonderful to have some extra space. I've unpacked some boxes for the first time since we moved to Australia -- that's just over 2 years. It was wonderful yesterday to have friends around for lunch and use serving dishes (including some that belonged to my Gran) and plates that had been packed away for years.

The kids now have their own rooms, after choosing in our previous house to share a bedroom and have a separate room as a playroom. It's great to see how much pride they're taking in their new rooms and Kai especially is so keen to keep it tidy and orderly...in her own way, of course (long may it last!).

Kai's Bedroom

Slade's Bedroom

Phillip and Cheryl's Bedroom

Downstairs there is lots of space, which is especially great as Phillip's now working more from home. It means that he avoids the extra travelling time and it's a little easier for us to communicate about work with me doing some of us admin.

Lounge

Diningroom area

Front Door and Diningroom Area

Extension of the Kitchen and Phillip's Desk

Kitchen and Door to Patio

Garden from Slade's Bedroom Window

The estate that we're living in has a communal pool, gym, BBQ area and picnic area, the entrance to which is just across the road from us (you can see the gate in the picture above).
We're also very glad to have a separate laundry -- our appreciation is especially after having an ironing board/ironing pile etc in the open plan lounge/diningroom etc and the washing machine in the garage in our previous house. It's great to have a separate room with a door that leads outside to the washing line.  

Laundry

We are still renting so it's not our own home, but we do feel like we're quite settled here.

Moving House

The packing is in it's final stages as we get ready to move over the weekend. We are all looking forward to being closer to school so the commute will be a whole lot shorter (about half the time)!
We are also excited about the new house that we're moving into. I have a picture of the outside -- will get pics of the inside once we get the keys tonight.
We are moving some small bits and pieces in our cars tonight and tomorrow, and then we've hired a van to do everything else on Sunday. Thank goodness for the friends who've offered to help!

School

Slade and Kai have settled in so well to their new school, which has been a great relief to us. It's always hard to do something new, and being such a big decision it's a little nerve-wracking as a parent!
We chose to send them to a private school called Sheldon College. It's in Thornlands, which is closer to Moreton Bay from where we've been living in Calamvale.
They are both enjoying making new friends and the range of new activities to which they're being exposed. There is quite a big emphasis on drama, sport and music during school hours. Slade has a string instruments music class this term and has chosen to try the violin, while Kai is enjoying singing and has chosen to be part of a choir that does a number of performances during the year.

They're also getting involved in extra-mural activities. Both kids are doing swimming and Kai is also doing dancing. Slade got thrown in the deep end (literally) with swimming when he went to do an assessment and was lumped together with the squad swimmers practicing their butterfly! He coped very well and has continued in squad swimming.
I was so proud of Slade, who, having got lost on the second day at school, quite confidently asked a teacher (that he didn't know) to help him find his classroom.
We have really being struck by how friendly everyone at the school is. Parents, teachers and pupils alike. As new students to the school, they've had other children looking after them and making them feel welcome. And we've already got a few play-dates in the pipeline.
So together with the change in schools, we'll be moving house at the end of the month. It'll mean that we won't have a 30min plus commute, which includes a stretch along the motorway leading to the city. We are all looking forward to that!
We are also very excited about the house that we've found to rent. It's in an estate/complex in Redland Bay, which is on Moreton Bay. The estate has a communal pool, tennis court, gym, BBQ/braai area and picnic area. The house itself is a wonderful double storey with four bedrooms upstairs and a big living area downstairs. We are really excited to have the extra space. The property prices in the area are pretty reasonable so if we're happy living in the area at least we know it's affordable to buy too!