Houses going for free

FORGET for sale, the new way to move property is offer it for free.

House

FORGET for sale, the new way to move property is offer it for free.

In two months, five Victorian houses have been offered up for free on a website dedicated to finding new homes for anything that's too good for landfill.

The latest listings include a two-bedroom residence in Rosebud and a three-bedroom bungalow in Barwon Heads.

Inspired by reading a story about a Coburg woman listing her home on Ziilch.com.au, Joe Torre, one of the latest to put a house up for nix, is offering his former holiday home in Rosebud.

Mr Torre said some interested parties had balked upon realising they needed to pay to move the four-room house, but added many remained interested.

"A few of them want to take it to the country where they have a property and want to use it for a second home or a shed - they want to refit it rather than rebuild a new house,'' he said.

"People are willing to take it, but they are working out the cartage costs.''

Meanwhile Saima Qureshi, who listed her families three-bedroom house on Ziilch.com.au last month and whose story inspired Mr Torre, is now trying to settle between a handful of deserving parties.

Two couples have been through the house already with both looking at the possibility of taking it for a second lease on life in country Victoria.

"One of them wants to move into the country and they have been looking at environmental friendly homes,'' Ms Qureshi said.

Ziilch director Richard Milne said the unusual market had helped establish the site as a growing local rival to eBay.

"It's novel and it's win, win,'' he said.

"It's ideal for a holiday house, for people who might have a caravan on a block of land in the country - but it is a bit of a niche market.''

The site focuses on attempting to find new homes for old items that still have some use left in them, according to Mr Milne.