Woman builds DIY home for less than $3500

You guys can't compare this to a camper. I'd much rather stay in that. Real wood.

I liked illustration of inflation...by showing off her 3500 dollar home, and also one from the 50s in the book.

Originally posted by WHYFIGHT
I think what was missed here was the parity of what 3500.00 would build you now versus the picture of what the old book showed could be built for 3500.00. That is truly sad. This is brought to us as a good thing? It's a Hovel. No thank you...

Be thankful for what people are teaching you now. Not what is no longer available. You may need the skills sooner than you think.

Peace

reply to post by jude11


I already possess those skills and a whole lot more. If there is a SHTF scenario I will use them to the benefit of everyone around me. I am absorbing as much new knowledge as i can. I recommend getting all the old nonfiction books you can get your hands on. My statement was regarding the media pushing the small house agenda which coincides with the agenda 21 theory. The media is the tool of the UN and they use it to steer public opinion. Like I say to my dog when there is a stranger near..."watchem boy...watchem".

reply to post by jude11
Yes, I definitely think all of you should live in homes just like that. You could fit 20 of them to the acre and still have room for centralized showers, laundry and even a pool but of course the use of these amenities would have to be rotated on a 24/7 basis. There might even be room for a tree and if we enclosed these one acre living compounds with 12ft chain link fences, you would all be safe and secure.


Yes, I think these would be a wonderful idea for all of you

reply to post by MajorKarma


I do love good satire!

reply to post by rickymouse

I think she's going to have a little problem pulling it down the road though, it is a little too high I think. She might pull a few power lines or cable lines down with that. It appears to be higher than a camper by quite a bit. There are usually height restrictions.

It doesn't appear to even be as tall as a charter coach to me which can be 13'-8", maybe even more.

Even though this may not be a perfect solution for most, I applaud the efforts of most anyone doing more with less.

Originally posted by N3k9Ni
Maybe I'm missing something here. If she doesn't own any land, where is this thing parked? If it's her parent's house, can't she live inside? If it's a house she's renting, why does she need a to build a house?

Don't get me wrong. It's a wonderful idea and I applaud her efforts. I just don't get it.

This is the fundamental problem with the way society and ownership works these days. In most places what she's doing isn't possible unless you own the land. In the UK, this would be considered criminal unless you own the land it is on, and if it interferes with anyone else (to the point of complaints about the view from their bathroom window) you can find yourself being ordered to move it.

The core problem is that Humans have a right to air, light, water and land. That's a fact. These are inherent rights that we are supposed to have access to without payment, without restriction and without anyone deciding who gets them. Being born is the only permission Humans should need for these very basic things. The idea that one Human has the right to own a plot of land and that some cannot have it (afford it) is what is wrong here.

Why do we think it is right, as a species, to deny some the right to the land we are all supposed to have equal access to? No one owns the Earth, just as no one can claim to own water or oxygen.

I have a similar dream as this young woman. I would love to have a plot of land to build my own home on. I even have designs for a shipping container home which would cost me less than 30k to build. The problems arise when looking at land. Most usable land has already been bought by developers, which they then sit on and do nothing with to prevent their competitors from owning. And even if I could get that land, I would have to pay another 20 - 30k in compliance and local authority fees.

Incidentally, this is a growing problem, with more and more young people having absolutely no options for the future unless they inherit. And the economic collapse has made sure that even more millions of people will inherit less from their parents in the end too. People don't realize it, but if parents are struggling now and just staying afloat, the next generation will have even less.

Prepare to see slums arriving in major cities over the coming years. We've been seeing it in London for about five years now as more come here from Europe to work and landlords add on sheds and shacks in their gardens and rent those out too. Then there are the homeless camps that might be tents and tarps now, but will become pallets and tin roofs in the coming years as people loose hope of moving on from that.

I applaud her ingenuity, but this is impractical and not workable for many millions of people out there.

The analogy it's "a crackerbox" ......... well in dire circumstances, it is shelter. Having this somthingy somethingy 'thousands' square foot home does little in the way of being a shelter if the Bank is waiting outside the gate to foreclose... You just as well be homeless, as that will be the ultimate outcome. A small insulated shed/house/cabin is far better than a tent or nothing. Second best would be an RV. I'v always had a Van, one with carpeting and paneling. Not a conversion, just a cleaned-up Cargo Van. Portable, weather tight, and PAID for. If the scenario ever comes (likely) that we are left without shelter, these would be a welcomed alternative. I think that was the whole point of this thread.

Originally posted by Montana
It's usually not too difficult to put up some shelter of some type fairly cheaply. What puts people out on the street is the heat, light and food that also has to go in, and then be replenished over and over. But it is a very nice apartment. Right now I would really like to have that very thing to put my oldest son in. He just lost his roommate soooo...

Daaaaaad!!!!!!!

Exactly what I was thinking, if a large 'packing' crate makes a "good" home I guess I have to stop worrying about the homeless people we have under the bridges here and give them credit as they did one better...... they used FREE cardboard boxes!

Have any of you been south of the US border? There is poverty and people seem to build shacks there where they can. Of course Money comes into the area and drives them further form the area, but still they live in shelters that are home made, anywhere they can squat. India and Brazil are examples of this too. It's by necessity, not choice. At the current rate of decline here in the US, and places like California specifically where Business is in Mass Exodus, leaving little hope of any meaningful economic recovery, it will come down to these third world methods of survival. Of course ..... perhaps that was in the design of FEMA camps at some point, ie. refugee encampments. The future is not looking bright for this overpopulated world. We may see this type of living conditions in our children's lifetimes. Mock this all you want, but you may find yourself in likewise a position. If the Banks don't do you in, taxes might just do the trick. On another current post here, the OP was pointing out how in the UK, taxes were around 75%. We seem to be on the path to socialism it would appear. But.... hay.... the world's ending Dec twenty-something anyway, so it's all moot..lol...

There are fully functional travel trailers on the local Craigslist for far less money than this "home" that was built. I think I'd rather spend the $800-2000 on those and save the time and effort involved in this project.

I think everyone is focusing too much on the $3,500 amount. I think they used that title because it happened to be the name of the book. In this article she shows another one of her constructions which cost around $500.

Tiny mobile office handbuilt on salvaged $300 boat trailer

Her latest craigslist find- a $300 duel axel 18' foot boat trailer- became the foundation for her latest mobile, small shelter. With another $200 and a lot of searching, she found all of the framing lumber, Redwood tongue and groove siding and salvaged doors and windows.

awesome...


thank you for sharing this!


very inspiring


thanks

reply to post by BlindBastards


It's a home alright! Think about it, your room contains everything you need. It is where you spend most of your time. Then, you need your kitchen and bathroom, and that is basically the smallest house with all necessities included. Living room, balcony, extra floor, they are all add ons. Like an OS. All you really need is the hardware, and a UI, and you have an OS.

reply to post by DenyObfuscation


Damn, I was thinking about using the Cartman Hallway Monitor for my avatar! Luckily, I've got another logo...

I see and feel a "throwback" from my own youthful fort building. A place where I then went to call my own and exercise a budding concept of my own ingenuity. If things in this world continue to decline into the abyss that seems to be growing deeper by the day this little dwelling can feel like a mansion. She is smart and learning in leaps and bounds.

I do appreciate people who can do carpentry, do it well and save money in the process. This said, I don't see anything impressive in the structure presented in this thread. My father and I (just two of us) built a house, and also a shack about the size of this lady's house, also from reclaimed material. Nice, but nothing to write home about. I have many friends who did similar things.

reply to post by jude11


I think she's doing an excellent job and at the same time setting an example we all need to learn ..the sheer determination with which she is building her own home with her own hands is simply amazing. It doesn't matter if she is going to rent it out .. or is renting presently .. the point is we have all learned to rely so much on the government for everything ..all comforts ..we've forgotten what it's like to simply live a decent healthy life ... and that doesn't take a big fancy house ...very smart move .. and she's added a wealth of survival knowledge to her advantage .. compared to a lot of people here ..

As far as building codes .. taxes .. and all that ..there are ways around that too ... if you are really determined ..it's not about the house alone ..it's about the ability to struggle and build something like this on such a low budget ..I feel like doing this myself now ..but definitely with a green house attached ..

Originally posted by junglimogli
As far as building codes .. taxes .. and all that ..there are ways around that too ... if you are really determined ..it's not about the house alone ..it's about the ability to struggle and build something like this on such a low budget ..I feel like doing this myself now ..but definitely with a green house attached ..

What if she's not qualified to do the electrical wiring in the house, or otherwise make sure it's safe for her and (in case of fire) for neighbors?

Originally posted by buddhasystem
What if she's not qualified to do the electrical wiring in the house, or otherwise make sure it's safe for her and (in case of fire) for neighbors?

According to her blog she has a friend who helps her out.

Amy, old friend and former union electrician, joined me this fine May day to kick out the electric. I had run the wires, but needed to attach the boxes and a few other whistles. What a joy to flick a switch and have the lights go on and even better to spend the day working with good company.

Seems like they might be bartering services/work with each other.