When Sha’rel Moore and her husband, Brandon, bought three acres of abandoned land in northwest Iowa in 2024, they dreamed of creating a home where they could raise their growing family. The property already contained an old farmhouse, but the couple soon realised that restoring it would cost more than they could afford. Rather than abandon their plans, they found an unusual alternative, a 1920 farmhouse located just four miles away. The previous owners had built a new home and were willing to sell the century-old property for $12,000. The Moores decided to buy it and undertake the extraordinary task of moving the entire structure to their own land. Once relocated, the farmhouse became the foundation for their dream home, although extensive repairs and renovations were still needed. The family’s restoration journey later attracted hundreds of thousands of followers online, turning their ambitious home transformation into a widely followed project.
Why the Iowa family moved the entire farmhouse four miles
The decision allowed the family to preserve the character of an older home without taking on the cost of rebuilding from scratch. Moore told AOL that the farmhouse appealed to the family because of its spacious rooms, high ceilings and original details, but relocating it was only the beginning of the challenge. Once renovation work began, the family discovered structural damage that had not been immediately apparent. The problems added both time and expense, illustrating the difficulties that can arise when restoring a house more than 100 years old. Despite the setbacks, the Moores continued with a largely hands-on approach. They eventually estimated that around $80,000 had been spent on repairs and renovations, considerably more than the original purchase price but still part of their effort to create a permanent family home.
The Iowa family moved the entire farmhouse four miles (Image: Iowa Public Radio)
Why the family documented the renovation online
Moore initially began sharing the project on social media to keep her husband’s family in Washington state updated, particularly his 90-year-old grandfather. What started as a way of sharing progress with relatives soon attracted an international audience, with hundreds of thousands of people following the farmhouse’s transformation. The family also wanted to show a less polished side of home renovation. Rather than presenting an expensive, professionally managed makeover, Moore documented the work, unexpected problems and do-it-yourself projects involved in bringing the property back to life. The timing made the project even more demanding. Moore was pregnant with the couple’s third son during the renovation while she and Brandon were also raising their two older children. Support from viewers became an unexpected part of the journey, with followers regularly checking in on both the family and the house’s progress.
Preserving the farmhouse’s original character
While modernising the property, the couple remained determined to retain its historic features. They carefully removed and stored the original woodwork, with plans to refinish and reinstall it rather than replace it with newer materials. The family also hopes to restore the historic outbuildings surrounding the house. The goal was never to follow a particular interior design trend. Instead, Moore said the family wanted the house to feel warm, comfortable and lived in while keeping costs under control. After moving in, they began shifting their attention from major construction towards landscaping, exterior work and smaller personal touches. For the Moores, relocating the farmhouse ultimately became about more than finding an affordable building. It gave a century-old structure another life while allowing their family to create the home they had originally envisioned on their own property.