$30k build tiny house? Too expensive

[offroad]

Was reading an article where the publisher was proud that the builder of a tiny house only spent $30,000 to make it in a flat bed trailer. And a whole year of nights and weekends. Effectively with his labor $50k total.

That's way too much. Yet the article publisher took pride. Pride in down sizing. Not sure where these people come from who think $30k is cheap.

 

[Bdog1]

Noticed the same deal. But, it's neat to see their ideas all the same. They se kits too for big bucks!

 

[Simran]

This tiny house thing will end up commercialized like so many things. Kripes I'm building out a bus to live in and with the cost of the bus I've estimated to have under 4000 into it when I'm done. Yet I've seen on other sites where guys are spending upwards of 10,000 or more. I suppose it is all in what you want and are comfortable with. In my world the sky AIN'T the limit. The limit is a little closer to the ground. :dodgy:

 

[offroad]

Simran - yours will be so much more. Less is more.

 

[Belinda2]

Gus,
Yours will be so much more and your very smart. I know, I'm glad your here.

 

[Patrick46]

Not sure where these people come from who think $30k is cheap.

keep in mind, that there are some folks out there to whom $30K is a drop in the bucket.

another way to look at it is, $30K is a pretty cheap price (by today's standards) to pay to own your own home these days. (be'sides those who live in vans!)

 

[WheelEstate USA]

I've been involved in building two houseboats in Fla. Tiny homes on floats. Only a few different challenges.



2 pics on left...also did stained glass and glass block design and install.
2 pics on right...two story loft
Bottom right....Me, my Hunter 32X in background.
My Hunter was featured in a Fla Coastal tourist mag ('04) in a story about living aboard. (have copy, but unable to scan/share)

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

They are comparing it to the overinflated price of full size homes. To them 30k seems insanely cheap because a rancher nowadays costs you quarter of a mil in a bad neighborhood.

 

[Belinda2]

Keep in mind that in some neighborhoods mobile homes, RV's, and certain vehicles are not allowed, according to zoning. Therefore, they cannot be classified as a house. So, why do people buy tiny homes for 30K? Because it's the cheapest dwelling in that type of zoning.

 

[offroad]

If it has wheels like this why would zoning not call it a mobile home? Doubt zoning would give you a right to live in it. Without a $100k court battle.

 

[Simran]

I thought about this too; after my original post here. There are those that have never been exposed to real cheap housing. DarGazin made the point that it's still cheap compared to a run of the mill sticks & bricks structure. And hey, if you go to menards to buy everything to build it is GOING to cost you. Building materials are not cheap.
The only reason I'm able to build that bus on the cheap is that I take my time and keep looking for that special deal on what ever it is I need. Doing that has saved me a ton of cash. Used materials can save thousands on even a small build.
Building & city codes are also an issue. We have luxuries in the rural midwest not available to the populations on the right or left coast; just because the demand for these codes has never risen its ugly head. With the tiny home movement there will, invariably, be another round of regs. to go with them. Also I read some time back that mobile home parks were selling out to developers because the real estate was worth so much. This would leave a huge hole in the living arrangements for some middle class people living in those parks.
What to do???
Live in something smaller in someones back yard!!

Keep in mind that in some neighborhoods mobile homes, RV's, and certain vehicles are not allowed, according to zoning. Therefore, they cannot be classified as a house. So, why do people buy tiny homes for 30K? Because it's the cheapest dwelling in that type of zoning.

 

[spd2918]

While $30K seems like a lot, it is not if the house is built to last and at a very high standard. High efficiency appliances, solar panels, etc add up quickly.

 

[Belinda2]

Offroad,
In these zoning areas you can buy a 30k kit home, but you must put in a foundation/basement to the home.

 

[akrvbob]

For an idea of the cost of a small house built with standard 2x4 stick and brink, find a Home Depot that sells the cabin kits. Last time I looked $4000 would buy you a nice 16x20 chalet.

For another idea, go look at any prefabed shed outfit. You can get an astoundingly nice little home for a few thousand dollars delivered and set up on bricks. If there are no building codes and not much a frost line, that's all you need. If there is a deep frost line, every spring you will have to take your Handyman jack and shim the house level again.

If you want a foundation, sauna tubes and some Quikcrete will put your house on piers and no more frost worries.

Even better!! Rent a Cat D3 for a day (yes, even you can run one, they are surprisingly easy to run) and dig out a long trench. Find a cheap used school bus, get it towed into the trench, put it up on blocks, use plenty of plastic vapor barrier, and backfill all around leaving the windows on the south side open and the front and back doors open. Hand shovel some dirt on top but not too much. Instant underground home for less than $5000. That would work great in the desert, but some of the country would be too wet.
Bob
Bob

 

[compassrose]

We will have blown past our original $6K conversion budget by the time we finish up (not by much). Two reasons: cost of building materials have increased a lot since we started the conversion. the second reason is we have upgraded in several places. For example, orginally we were going with plastic laminate custom countertops (we used to build these). Instead, we decided to go with porcelain tile and added a marble mosaic tile feature strip to the back splash. Yes it added to our overall costs but not a whole lot. We felt the added upgrades were worth it because the bus is our only house. But we will be bringing the conversion in for under $8K. Add the cost of the bus shell and we are still under $10K. I will wait until the November Black Friday sales to buy my dishwasher. By doing this, I can save between $200 and $300 on my dishwasher.

 

[Simran]

Geez Bob, I like this idea it's a real barn burner!

Even better!! Rent a Cat D3 for a day (yes, even you can run one, they are surprisingly easy to run) and dig out a long trench. Find a cheap used school bus, get it towed into the trench, put it up on blocks, use plenty of plastic vapor barrier, and backfill all around leaving the windows on the south side open and the front and back doors open. Hand shovel some dirt on top but not too much. Instant underground home for less than $5000. That would work great in the desert, but some of the country would be too wet.
Bob
Bob

 

[Belinda2]

Amazing, Bob!

 

[offroad]

Wondering if that BOBS BURIED BUS meets the FEMA trailer standard. Lol. As compared to sleeping in a car, or in a tent. Given limited resources you make due.

 

[Simran]

I live in one of these farm houses. The total sq. footage of both floors is right at 900. This home was built in 1917 and is an absolutely cute, cozy little house with a covered front porch where, when I'm home, my wife & I sit on the front porch swing and watch the sun set in the summer. It sets on 5 acres with an old horse barn and garage.

gsfish said, "Somewhere around here I have a little government publication from the early 1900's that has floor plans for 'farmhouses'. You would be amazed at how small these homes were."

 

[compassrose]

I have old reproduction "catalog" house books (Aladdin, Sears, Comstock, etc) originally dating from 1890 thru 1930's. A "large" house was barely over 1000 sf. Many were much less. Back then, kids shared a room (shocking) and the whole family shared one bathroom (inconceivable nowadays). Vacation cottages were running around 300 - 400 sf. This is the era when owning a house became "the American Dream". That was a very successful marketing campaign, don't you think?