Building a dream home often culminates years of planning, saving, and dreaming. It's a chance to create a space uniquely yours, a sanctuary from the world's hustle and bustle.

However, for one couple, Dave and Melanie Moor, their journey to create a peaceful refuge in the country turned into an unimaginable nightmare due to a simple yet costly mistake.

What was meant to be their perfect retreat quickly spiralled into a stressful and expensive ordeal.


In 2021, the Moors invested $300,000 in a five-acre block in Camperdown, western Victoria, to relocate a pre-existing home onto their new property.

Trusting in the council's expertise, contractors, real estate agents, and conveyancers, they believed every detail had been meticulously checked and approved.

However, six months after the home was connected to utilities and received council approval, the couple was shocked to discover that their dream home had been built on the wrong block of land.


The original owner had divided the property into two lots, and while the Moors had purchased block one, their home was mistakenly erected on block two, which belonged to someone else.

'We didn't think it was true because the council signed off on everything, so we thought it was a scam,' Mrs Moor told A Current Affair.

'It's the pickle of all pickles.'


The error was not just emotionally devastating but also financially crippling.

The couple faced the prospect of shelling out an additional $200,000 to move their home to the correct lot.

To make matters worse, they had already sent a shipping container filled with precious possessions and family heirlooms to the site, which they could not access without trespassing.

'This was going to be our forever home, and now it's our never home,' Mr Moor lamented.

The couple's health conditions compounded the stress of the situation; Mrs Moor suffers from a rare form of motor neurone disease, and her husband has stage four liver disease.

The dream of a tranquil haven had become a source of incredible stress as they scrambled to find a solution.


Fortunately, after much negotiation, their neighbour offered a lifeline by agreeing to exchange land titles, allowing the Moors to own the block their home was on legally.

The Moors agreed to cover the $50,000 fee for transferring the title, far less than the daunting $200,000 they initially faced.

While the Moors' story has a somewhat positive resolution, it serves as a cautionary tale for anyone embarking on the journey of building or relocating a home.

Verify all documents, get agreements in writing, and hire a licensed surveyor to confirm boundaries before construction to avoid costly mistakes when dealing with property.

Stay actively involved in the process, ensure proper insurance coverage, and have a contingency plan for unexpected costs.

The Moors’ experience highlighted the importance of vigilance, as even well-planned projects can go wrong without proper precautions.



Have you or someone you know experienced a similar situation? Share your stories and advice in the comments below to help others navigate the complexities of home ownership and relocation.