BEFORE YOUR HOME ARRIVES
Land & access requirements.
Prepare a clear route, a firm base and room to unfold. Here’s what to check before your expandable home arrives.
Truck & delivery access
Check the whole route from the public road to the unloading position.
Entrance width & overhead clearance
Measure the narrowest gate and driveway points, and record low branches, entrance arches and other overhead obstacles. Your transporter will confirm the clearance needed for the truck and its load, including the shipping container if it travels to your site.
Corners, slopes & turning space
Check the turn from the road into the gate, tight bends, steep gradients and sudden changes in slope. Allow space for the vehicle to manoeuvre and leave after unloading. A wide gate alone does not guarantee that a long truck can make the turn.
Road & driveway strength
The access route must carry the loaded vehicle. Flag bridges, culverts, soft verges, loose surfaces and recently filled ground. Prepare unsealed access before delivery, and reassess muddy or waterlogged areas after heavy rain.
Send route photos and measurements to your transporter before booking. Ask them to confirm the required width, loaded height, turning space and ground capacity for the vehicle they will use.
Unloading & positioning
Plan where the vehicle stops, where the equipment stands and how the home reaches its base.
Forklift, crane or both
Unloading may require a forklift, a crane or both. A crane is useful when the home must be placed over an obstacle, onto raised supports or beyond the truck’s reach. Give the lifting contractor the confirmed packed weight, dimensions, lifting information and distance to the final position so they can select suitable equipment.
A firm, level working area
Reserve space for the delivery vehicle, lifting equipment, crane stabilisers and the installation crew. Identify underground pipes, tanks, drains and nearby excavations. The contractor should confirm that the ground can support the equipment and establish a clear working zone.
Overhead lines & obstacles
Show overhead cables, trees, fences and adjacent buildings in your site photos. Where power lines affect the route or lift, arrange clearance planning with the electricity provider and lifting contractor. Keep people who are not involved outside the unloading area.
Agree where the home will be removed from its shipping container: at a suitable handling yard or at your site. Confirm who handles this stage, onward transport and final placement before the shipment arrives.
Room for the expanded home
Mark out the finished home, then leave working space around it.
Allow both wings to open
Use the expanded dimensions when checking the available land. Keep both sides and the space above clear for unfolding and installation. Leave additional room for the crew, tools and access around the home; the finished footprint is only part of the space needed.
Include your selected additions
Mark the entrance direction and allow for steps, decks, verandas, roof overhangs and external equipment. Check distances to boundaries, nearby buildings, trees and service routes before preparing the base.
Expanded home footprints
| Size | Modern Length × width | Classic Length × width |
|---|---|---|
| 20 ft | 5.90 × 6.38 m | 5.90 × 6.30 m |
| 30 ft | 9.00 × 6.38 m | 9.00 × 6.30 m |
| 40 ft | 11.80 × 6.38 m | 11.80 × 6.30 m |
Standard home-body dimensions. Add space for working clearances, roof overhangs, decks, verandas and local setbacks. Confirm final dimensions for your configuration.
View floor plansUse your confirmed configuration drawing for the final set-out, including any roof or veranda package. Your installer should confirm working clearances before delivery.
Ground, foundations & services
Have the supporting base and service connections planned before delivery day.
Clear, level & stable
Remove vegetation, stumps, debris and obstructions from the installation area. Prepare level supports and address soft, sandy or sloping ground. Arrange drainage so water flows away from the home instead of collecting underneath it.
Choose a suitable base
Depending on the site and local requirements, options include prepared compacted ground, concrete piers or pads, a concrete slab, or concrete-free foundations such as engineered steel piles. Have your local installer or foundation professional confirm the support positions, bearing capacity and anchoring for the selected home and soil conditions.
Prepare water, power & wastewater
Plan the supply routes and connection points with your local electrician and plumber. Confirm how wastewater will be handled, and identify existing buried services before groundworks. Keep service trenches and pipes clear of the planned vehicle route and lifting setup.
Confirm local permissions
Check land use, boundary setbacks and any planning or building approvals with your local authority. Permanent installations usually require permits; local rules may treat a home kept on a trailer differently. Arrange any permission needed for road occupation or temporary access before delivery.
We provide installation manuals and videos for setup. Coordinate your local transport, lifting, foundation and utility work alongside production and shipping so the site is ready when the home arrives.
Before delivery day.
A final check with your local team.
- Route, gate and overhead clearance checked with the transporter
- Container unloading method and lifting equipment confirmed
- Expanded footprint, orientation and working space marked out
- Base, support positions, drainage and anchoring prepared as agreed
- Utility arrangements and required permissions in place
- Delivery time, site contact, weather and ground conditions checked
Get a quote for your expandable home.
Tell us your preferred model, layout and destination. We’ll prepare an itemised quotation for your home and shipping.