House DIY: Building a home from the scratch can be a tremendously rewarding process. Adding to those one-of-a-kind of finishing and constructing exactly what you want, knowing that you did it all on your own only adds to the pride of homeownership. Although it may appear that building a house on your own is an unachievable dream, there are various ways to do so without breaking the bank.
House DIY write for us construction is more popular than ever, and it may be surprisingly inexpensive as well, especially if you already own land. HomeLight looked at some of the best do-it-yourself home construction possibilities, ranging from building a tiny house on your own to hiring a contractor for the big-ticket things but finishing the details yourself. We also talked to seasoned brokers and real estate agents about the best ways to build a house on your own.
House DIY For Shell Homes
You should ideally go see a contractor put up a shell that can really speed up your building process while still allowing you to undertake most of the work yourself for customers who don’t want to deal with concerns like laying a foundation or framing. The contractor comes in and lays the foundation and frames the house, then leaves the rest to you to finish.
The cost of a shell home varies greatly depending on square footage, location, and the number of subcontractors you’ll need to engage.
Container Homes
Shipping container homes are slowly becoming popular and for a good reason. They can be one of the most economical housing options on the market, with the average prices ranging from $3,000 to $5,000, especially if you can handle the majority of the finishing work by yourself.
Before buying a container home, house DIY builders should make sure they have enough land and room for it, as well as work out how to get the container delivered to their location. While most states now allow container houses, check with your state and county to see if there are any limitations.
Tiny Homes
The small home revolution shows no signs of slowing down, and if you already own land, creating your own tiny house is a cost-effective option to establish your own personal space. Depending on the type of tiny house DIY you want to build, prices might range from a few thousand dollars to more than $100,000.
If you decide to go tiny, make sure you have a solid building plan in place and also the necessary supplies and tools. And if you’re going to put your small house on a trailer, make sure it’s one constructed expressly for tiny houses; otherwise, you’ll have issues with the building stretching and perhaps being destroyed every time you move it.
Home Kits
Your new home is delivered to your door, ready to assemble, using house DIY kits.
If you’re not sure how to gather everything you’ll need to build on your own or simply want to get your new house built quickly, a kit home may be a smart option. Prices usually vary based on the size of your home, but they are typically at least 20% less expensive than regular contractor-built homes, and often even less if you can do all of the work yourself.
Construction can be done rapidly, with some builders completing homes in a matter of weeks rather than the months that standard projects take.
If a home kit appeals to you, make sure you properly examine what is included in the kit before purchasing it, as plans for different kits can differ significantly. Some kits don’t contain foundation or roofing components, so double-check what’s included before purchasing. You’ll also need to throw in additional expenditures for subcontractors if you don’t have experience with things like plumbing or electricity, as well as ensuring your kit home fits any zoning standards in your area.
You’ll save a ton of money if you build your own home instead of buying an existing one or hiring a contractor to do it for you, no matter which method you go to. You may build a house DIY on a budget and modify it to meet your lifestyle.
