Just because we aren't going to purchase now doesn't mean we can't plan.
Yesterday we discussed AmishMadeCabins.com out of Kentucky. The reason why we like this company is out of the many companies that provide smaller cabins (and this company can also do specialty/custom work!) Amish Made Cabins produces quality cabins with a variety of options available. Some of the options are available at no extra cost (see - "pocket doors.")
We looked at the Boone Deluxe cabin yesterday, but as we started making more plans and deciding what to do, etc. we opted to focus on the Appalachian Deluxe, 14' x 40' cabin. The link provided shows a drawing of the plans of the cabin (one of their ideas.) As you can see, the Appalachian Deluxe cabin provides a small closet (upper left, beside the bedroom closet) for a stackable washer and dryer. I can't really see anywhere in the Boone that would accommodate that. Granted, I am sure we could figure out a design, but something else the 14 x 40 Appalachian Deluxe has is a second bedroom. While a second bedroom isn't necessary for use as lodging, it is necessary for additional storage space. We can also put a full-size futon in there for a guest room and use the loft space for storage. The second bedroom is only 9 x 10, but that's a good size for use as food storage/pantry, location for a gun safe, a futon, etc.
Now before you go looking at smaller houses and cabins, you should consider some things like we did last night:
1. Can you live in a smaller home like this year-round for an extended period of time?
Look at the home you're in now. Can you get rid of or store the majority of your items? While the Appalachian Deluxe goes up to 14 x 40, think about adding a kitchen and walls to that. That space reduces. Amish Made Cabins also provides Olympic T designs which is basically taking two cabins and putting them together. If you don't think you could handle 14 x 40, this may be a better option for you. Olympic T is also an option we're considering. Your best bet is to contact Amish Made Cabins and discuss your ideas with them.
2. Measure out the dimensions for your prospective home. This will really put things into perspective. Our current home is around 1600 sq feet, and it's just Andrew and I and our two dogs. 1600 sq feet. Do you know how often we use our spare room? Twice a year. Do you know how often we use our second spare room? It's currently storage and a place to put our dogs when company or a service person comes over. Do you know how often we utilize our entire living room? Never. Start thinking about all of that extra space you aren't using, you are cleaning, and you are heating and cooling.
3. How will you heat and cool a smaller home? Amish Made Cabins offers a tiny "HVAC system" (in easier terms) for heating and cooling, and they also offer a wood burning stove option where they install the chimney and flue (you have to provide the stove and connector pipe.)
4. How will you power a smaller home? Solar power has gotten to the point now that if you wanted to solar power your tiny cabin, it's economical for you to do so. Well, let me say...it is more economical than, say, ten years ago. It's still costly up front, but some states offer tax credits, and think about the money you will save in the long run.
5. Tankless water heaters? Putting a standard water heater in a smaller home just isn't really feasible. Instead, think about tankless water heaters.
6. The cost of the cabin includes delivery up to 200 miles (for this company.) BUT you have to have the land. The site has to be cleared and set up. YOU are responsible for utilities and such to the property.
As you can see there are so many things to consider before taking the plunge. For us, our lease runs out in two years. We would not start doing all of this late November (Georgia weather is finicky) so it would be at least another six months. It's difficult to get a six month lease, so we'll have to lease some place for another year (our current home will be entirely too expensive to do so.)
Do your research on companies, options, land prices, etc. Sometimes you can find land that was originally cleared for a home site, and sometimes land comes up as bank-owned.
It is possible. It's just going to take time and planning.
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Tiny Houses.
We have all heard about "tiny houses." This is basically another step to becoming debt-free. Instead of buying a large home, people are resorting to buying or building "tiny houses" out of shipping containers, sheds, and other plans. Some tiny houses are portable. Others are more permanent.
I first learned of tiny houses back in college. I actually rented one on a horse farm for a "whopping" $400/month. It wasn't much, but it was just me and my dog. I couldn't begin to guess the dimensions of the tiny house. It was basically a log-sided shed. On one end was a door and a small window, and on the other end were two French doors. Immediately when you walked in the house to the right was a shower stall. To the left was a small fridge, countertop and cabinets underneath, sink, countertop, and a smaller stove/oven combo that was large enough for regular cooking. There was a window over the sink. Following the "kitchen area" was a tall dresser and television and another shorter dresser.
On the right side, after the shower stall, was a small wall. Immediately around the corner was a very narrow doorway and a toilet. After the toilet on the outside was a loveseat and a coffee table. In the back right corner, at an angle, was a queen-sized bed. It was the perfect size for a single person or a couple.
Outside, there was a garden area and a deck on the one side of the "house." I have no idea what the cost to build it out was, but I would venture to guess somewhere around $20,000 all-in.
Here is a picture of it:
I first learned of tiny houses back in college. I actually rented one on a horse farm for a "whopping" $400/month. It wasn't much, but it was just me and my dog. I couldn't begin to guess the dimensions of the tiny house. It was basically a log-sided shed. On one end was a door and a small window, and on the other end were two French doors. Immediately when you walked in the house to the right was a shower stall. To the left was a small fridge, countertop and cabinets underneath, sink, countertop, and a smaller stove/oven combo that was large enough for regular cooking. There was a window over the sink. Following the "kitchen area" was a tall dresser and television and another shorter dresser.
On the right side, after the shower stall, was a small wall. Immediately around the corner was a very narrow doorway and a toilet. After the toilet on the outside was a loveseat and a coffee table. In the back right corner, at an angle, was a queen-sized bed. It was the perfect size for a single person or a couple.
Outside, there was a garden area and a deck on the one side of the "house." I have no idea what the cost to build it out was, but I would venture to guess somewhere around $20,000 all-in.
Here is a picture of it:
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| Photo property of AmishMadeCabins.com - Boone Deluxe Permission for use granted by J. White |
When we started thinking about becoming debt-free and what to do in two years (when our lease runs out,) we couldn't decide between renting or buying. One thing we know is that we don't want to live in our area permanently. We actually plan on relocating out west to areas we are familiar with and more to our style. That's not the right word, but you get the idea.
That's when I came across this company: Amish Made Cabins. They have a wide variety of cabin plans and kits and more. They're located in Kentucky so it isn't too entirely far from us here in Georgia. As my husband and I aren't going to be having children, I saw this cabin plan: Boone Deluxe. As you can see from the page (go ahead, look. I'll wait,) the cabin is just big enough for two people and an occasional guest. The Deluxe cabin packages come with more options already installed including the following:
Insulation Package
200 amp Electric Package
Bedroom
Bathroom Fixtures
Cosmetic Dormers
Loft with Ladder
Kitchen Cabinets and Sink
6 Roger Windows
2 Entry Doors
Shutters
Natural Kote Stain
40 yr Metal Roof
Delivery within 200 miles of Shepherdsville, KY
Now I do realize I could just as easily build this cabin, but for all of the above (see the picture again of the Boone deluxe,) it is $28,000 to just over $39,000. As the person buying this cabin, you are responsible for buying the land and having everything set up for it (site prep, what sewer system/septic you plan on having, water, electricity, permits, if needed, etc.) Now for us, we are just shy of 400 miles away from Shepherdsville, I don't know what the transportation fee would then be, but let's look at what you get for $28,000 to $39,000, depending on what size you choose.
Our goal will now be to become debt free, be able to purchase land, and purchase a Boone Deluxe when the time comes. All in all, depending on the exact area we plan on living, we should be able to get 3-5 acres of land where we want for $24,000 - $40,000. All in, we're looking at around $80,000 all-in for a new cabin on 5 acres of land.
When I look at 5 acre mini farms in our area now, you're looking at around $200,000 or more for the same thing....but usually an older house. I realize this is a "tiny house," but it is just the right size for us.
At an $80,000 investment and some time and money to create garden and livestock space, the turn-around profit on the mini-farm once we move could be 25-40%.
I highly recommend looking at tiny houses and such. As they become more popular, the prices stay reasonable, and the options are even better.
That's when I came across this company: Amish Made Cabins. They have a wide variety of cabin plans and kits and more. They're located in Kentucky so it isn't too entirely far from us here in Georgia. As my husband and I aren't going to be having children, I saw this cabin plan: Boone Deluxe. As you can see from the page (go ahead, look. I'll wait,) the cabin is just big enough for two people and an occasional guest. The Deluxe cabin packages come with more options already installed including the following:
Insulation Package
200 amp Electric Package
Bedroom
Bathroom Fixtures
Cosmetic Dormers
Loft with Ladder
Kitchen Cabinets and Sink
6 Roger Windows
2 Entry Doors
Shutters
Natural Kote Stain
40 yr Metal Roof
Delivery within 200 miles of Shepherdsville, KY
Now I do realize I could just as easily build this cabin, but for all of the above (see the picture again of the Boone deluxe,) it is $28,000 to just over $39,000. As the person buying this cabin, you are responsible for buying the land and having everything set up for it (site prep, what sewer system/septic you plan on having, water, electricity, permits, if needed, etc.) Now for us, we are just shy of 400 miles away from Shepherdsville, I don't know what the transportation fee would then be, but let's look at what you get for $28,000 to $39,000, depending on what size you choose.
Our goal will now be to become debt free, be able to purchase land, and purchase a Boone Deluxe when the time comes. All in all, depending on the exact area we plan on living, we should be able to get 3-5 acres of land where we want for $24,000 - $40,000. All in, we're looking at around $80,000 all-in for a new cabin on 5 acres of land.
When I look at 5 acre mini farms in our area now, you're looking at around $200,000 or more for the same thing....but usually an older house. I realize this is a "tiny house," but it is just the right size for us.
At an $80,000 investment and some time and money to create garden and livestock space, the turn-around profit on the mini-farm once we move could be 25-40%.
I highly recommend looking at tiny houses and such. As they become more popular, the prices stay reasonable, and the options are even better.
Welcome...
Welcome, friends...and strangers who we hope to make friends...
I created an "About Us" page above so you can learn a bit more about the blog and why we created it. Long story short, we want to get back to simplicity (and purity.) Before I go on, I should say I don't mean "purity" in the Biblical sense of the word. I just mean purity as in what we eat, how we treat others and how we treat ourselves. We absolutely will NOT post religious nor political posts anywhere on this page. We love and respect all of our friends no matter what their religious or political beliefs are.
We are a married couple who live just outside the metro Atlanta area. We have two dogs, and we have no children. This blog is here to show you that we can (or maybe cannot) go from suburbia and debt to living OUR American dream and homesteading lightly. We both have full-time jobs in metropolitan areas...for now. We would be happy to post tips, things we've tried, things others want us to try, etc. so you can see what works for us, what doesn't work for us, and hopefully, if all goes well, be an inspiration to others.
That being said, relax, enjoy, and have a great day.
- The Registers
I created an "About Us" page above so you can learn a bit more about the blog and why we created it. Long story short, we want to get back to simplicity (and purity.) Before I go on, I should say I don't mean "purity" in the Biblical sense of the word. I just mean purity as in what we eat, how we treat others and how we treat ourselves. We absolutely will NOT post religious nor political posts anywhere on this page. We love and respect all of our friends no matter what their religious or political beliefs are.
We are a married couple who live just outside the metro Atlanta area. We have two dogs, and we have no children. This blog is here to show you that we can (or maybe cannot) go from suburbia and debt to living OUR American dream and homesteading lightly. We both have full-time jobs in metropolitan areas...for now. We would be happy to post tips, things we've tried, things others want us to try, etc. so you can see what works for us, what doesn't work for us, and hopefully, if all goes well, be an inspiration to others.
That being said, relax, enjoy, and have a great day.
- The Registers
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