In a farm yard just west of Regina sits a small white house that may be one of the best deals on the local real estate market in recent memory.
It’s free, but there’s a catch. Owner Dan Poissant will only give it to someone willing to move it off the property or dismantle it.
Forgotten by time and neglected by the HGTV-fueled DIY craze, the rust-colored rugs, cream-and-wood-trimmed cabinets, and floral-print furniture place their last update somewhere around the 1970s or 1980s .
“Put this thing on a slab and with pretty minimal modifications you’ve got a great workshop. Or a small barn. Or a warehouse for a creepy doll collection,” Poissant wrote in the Reddit post touting the deal.
“Ground house on a tree. Private cigar bar and podcast studio. The possibilities are not endless, but there are probably many more.”
The house belonged to Poissant’s grandfather, who died 10 years ago.
After Poissant’s father passed away a few weeks ago, the family decided to give the house to someone who could use it or the materials it was made of.
Poissant said the family didn’t want the house to become another dilapidated farmhouse that crumbles and goes to waste.
“It’s also a responsibility to keep it upright and not a hazard on the farm,” Poissant told host Stephanie Langenegger on CBC’s The Morning Edition. “Sometimes you have to be a little pragmatic about these things.”
The two-story, four-bedroom home is in pretty decent shape, aside from the dated decor, Poissant said.
The living room at home. (Dan Poissant/Reddit) Poissant’s family farm kitchen. (Dan Poissant/Reddit)
Poissant remembers many family Christmas, Easter and New Year’s parties at the home, but he said it no longer served any purpose for his family.
Moving a home is relatively common, according to Garnet Lusick, who has been moving buildings in Saskatchewan for 47 years.
“I’m so busy that half of this year is already booked.”
Lucyk charges according to the size of the building and how far it goes. There are also costs for working with power lines.
Moving a house like this can run up to $20,000, but it can still be an economical option, Lutsik said.
“Some people can’t believe it can be done and how easily it can be done.”
Lucyk said the process has gotten a bit more complicated, with the paperwork involved tripling over his years in business. However, the power lines are higher than they were, which makes things easier, he said.
Lucyk, who once moved Moose Jaw’s Mac the Moose to its current location, said he moved houses as large as 740 square feet.
Poissant said in his post that he doesn’t mind the building being torn down to divert the material, but there is one caveat.
“There’s probably no money in the walls. But if there is, a division of the honor system?’
LISTEN | Poissant spoke with Stephanie Langenegger about his proposal on The Morning Edition:
The Morning Edition – Sask3:07 Want a Free House? We heard from the Saskatchewan owner about the one link attached
Do you want a free house? It might be old and in need of some TLC, but a Saskatchewan man has a farm to give away if you want to move it. We will hear from him about this offer.
Add Comment