“ What was the simple house construction budget for your home at the farm?”“Did it really write you money ? ”
Ever since starting our Simple House Project serial on the blog , motion like those chance their means into our inbox nearly every 24-hour interval . So do a mountain of other questions about downsizing , growing our own food , canning , and everything else that can go with judge to live a more self - sufficient lifestyle . See : The Simple House Article Series
The mansion under expression this preceding summer .
The house under construction this past summer.
It ’s pretty easy to see that there are a slew of folks that quite simply , well … need to live more dim-witted ! They want to downsize , subjugate their stress levels , have less or zero debt , eat better , and have more time to enjoy life .
One of the with child hindrances to living a more simple life-time is a home that is too self-aggrandising , too cluttered , or a combining of both . It not only cost more to build or buy a declamatory place , but also to maintain it . And that toll is both in time and money !
For us , it made complete sense to downsize to a domicile that had only the blank space we truly postulate . And that is precisely what we tried to achieve with the Simple House Project .
Eliminating unneeded rooms. The floor plan for the Simple House.
No , we were n’t attend to move to a petite house . It just was n’t fair for us . Nor is it for most people . In addition , I am always aghast when I see the price of one of those 200 straightforward foot drone go about $ 50,000 to $ 70,000.00 or sometimes more ! That is a tremendous amount of money to spend for 200 hearty feet . We opt instead to build what we term a “ Reasonable Home ” .
It seems like only yesterday that we issue our very first “ Simple House ” clause to start up the process . The date was actually November 15th , 2015 , and the article was titled : “ Creating A Simple Home Design To survive With Less , well . ”
At the time , we still lived in our suburban home , with nothing more than the dream of downsize . We had 3500 satisfying foot in total . That included a never used living room , a once - a - class used dining room , and fresh sleeping room and cellar infinite . Of naturally , we had to maintain , heat , and furnish it all .
Our goals for the Simple House Project were aboveboard . ( 1 ) make a domicile with only the infinite we needed to be well-heeled . ( 2 ) apply multiple energy - efficient and price - effective building methods . ( 3 ) To build as much of it as potential ourselves . ( 4 ) To share the entire summons on the blog to help others looking to do the same .
Eliminating unneeded rooms . The floor plan for the Simple House .
tight forward 431 day subsequently , and much has change ! During that short time – we betray our old house in the metropolis . We went from living in a house with right smart too much space , to building and live in our 1054 square metrical unit dream home at the farm .
The house in late fall
So what did it cost ? Did it really make our life less feverish ? And did it pull through money in the retentive tally ? Well , the monetary value portion is covered below . But to answer the last two interrogation , it has been nothing short of amazing . We sure do n’t miss the space . We love dwell at the farm , and it has saved on our budget and clip tremendously .
The Simple House Construction Budget
First , a bit of a disclaimer . We realize you’re able to make an indistinguishable home in a hundred dissimilar areas and come up with a 100 different cost . In plus , everyone will have different tastes and methods of building . With that said , hopefully , at the least , this can be a honest mention for others looking to do the same . We included notes in each section for what we did on our own vs. hiring . Obviously , the more you’re able to do yourself , the more you are going to carry through .
The house in recent capitulation
When we commence , our goal was to see if we could build a house that would meet all of our needs , now and into the future , for somewhere between $ 100,000 and $ 125,000.00 . We acknowledge to accomplish that , we would have to be willing to do a lot of the work ourselves . stew fairness is an amazing fashion to keep a household twist budget in check-out procedure . The key is doing dead everything you’re able to and are capable to , and leaving the thing you ca n’t in the manus of expectant professionals . In that aspect , we were very fortunate to work out with incredible professionals .
Although we have many projection in the future tense for the home , the costs below represent the overall majority of the final budget . If you live us , you live that we will never be “ done ” . We simply love projection too much ! Besides , we always require material for the blog . 🙂 As for our goal , as crazy as it go – we end up right smack in the heart . Not too forged a for a pair of rookies .
Permits , Plans , Etc . This include permits for more thing than we ever thought we needed permits for ! Water well , infected , household , house permit inspections . you name it … we needed a permit . We were fortunate on the plan destiny because Weaver Barns handled that as part of the software program . Cost of all permits $ 975.00
Foundation : We opted for a slab understructure . For starters , we simply did not require the space of a cellar . Our goal was to downsize , not regain new sphere for storage . Secondly , and of more grandness , our entire heating system is housed in the concrete flooring of our home . The foundation cost includes the cost of localise in the thermionic valve for heating , as well as our plumbing pipes for drains , septic , etc . toll : $ 21,500.00
DIY insulation saved a ton on the overall budget!
DIY insulation save a short ton on the overall budget !
Complete Exterior House Shell – ( include ceiling , siding , doors , window , etc ) We had the intact case of our family completed for us byWeaver Barns . If we had to have a individual word to name Weaver and the timber of our theatre , it would be : SENSATIONAL .
The package included the roof , siding , doors and window and was a limiting of their Cedar Brook model . The packet included the labor erecting the firm on our foundation . They also worked great with us when it came to letting us do certain matter ourselves to save on the budget . The package can vagabond anywhere from $ 50,000.00 to 80,000.00 free-base upon all of their near endless options usable . Cost : $ 59,000.00
Electrical – The electrical was extremely straight forward . It is after all a belittled , dewy-eyed home excogitation . We go with all direct lighting to save long - terminal figure on electric . We include progress - in electric outlets in our base . Cost $ 3900.00 ( see more itemized price below )
Well : If we lived in the urban center , the well and infected categories would have been much cheaper ! But we roll in the hay living on the farm , and these two category were a must . We had to practise our well ( 250 + feet ) , install a well pump and infected organisation . monetary value : Drilling $ 4985.00 , Pump $ 350.00 , Septic System : $ 8800.00
plumbery – $ 3800.00 : We were fortunate to have a not bad pipe fitter – and he was so helpful in define us up with the floor rut organisation . With such a small house and all of the pipes locate in one - quarter of the house – plumbing cost were extremely fair .
The on-demand water heater that serves two purposes – a hot water tank and our furnace. One side will send out hot water through tubes in the floor in the winter to heat the home efficiently without a single duct. The other side heats our hot water
Heating System AND Hot Water Tank : Probably one of our best decisions and one of our favorite things about the house . Our heating organization and hot H2O tank are one in the same . We belong with a double , tankless piddle system that heats the floor on one side , while the other side render our on - demand hot water . The heat energy through the floors has been incredible – both in heat and cost ! No duct work necessitate at all in the house . And to never run out of hot H2O … incredible!Cost : $ 3500.00
- One extra note on the heating system of rules . It has been incredibly vigor - efficient to lock , and has saved hugely on heating flyer . Our gun poster in the middle of the wintertime is around $ 100 . That is warming , body of water and gas cooking .
The on - requirement water fastball that serves two purpose – a hot water tank and our furnace . One side will send out blistering urine through tubes in the floor in the winter to heat the home expeditiously without a single duct . The other side heats our hot water
Cooling System : We opted for a split high - efficiency Mitsubishi AC system that also requires no canal study . sustain zero duct work saved vainglorious on the overall budget . It ’s also great for keeping rubble in the house to a minimum . The system is designed to cool 1200 + square feet , and cools the home promptly when necessitate . Cost : $ 3000.00
Interior Walls : BIG SAVINGS HERE . There is zero wallboard in our planetary house , it is all shiplap that we installed ourselves.(see our clause : The Beauty of Shiplap ) . It plump up well , and we love the look . Entire monetary value of Walls and Trim : $ 2200
Interior roof : Another huge deliverance ! In place of wood or drywall for the overleap ceilings , we used galvanized metallic element . We absolutely make love the flavor and it keep us nearly $ 7500 if we had used wood or dry wall . And no , it has not make a decrease in our cell phone reception , and does not make the place cold in the winter , or hotter in the summertime . Can you tell we get those questions a lot?Cost : $ 1500
Saving on the Simple House Construction Budget – building your own barn doors.
Insulation : We about fell over when we receive quotes for blowing in insularity . The vaulted ceiling alone quote was over $ 8,000.00 . We did this task ourselves , using a premium 12″ heavyset batt detachment for the ceiling , and thick 2 x 6 insulant for the wall . and spent a sum of $ 1500 to insulate everything . Cost $ 1500.00
Ceiling sports fan : This was a must for us . We want to have a destiny of air and openness throughout the star sign , so we have three big rooter in the main area , and in the bedroom and loft . Cost $ 1250.00
Interior Doors : We create slither barn door for all of our rooms . It keeps the hallway and door space wide loose and we have sex the look . We built each doorway using our homemade plans , and we found anincredible barn threshold track computer hardware systemon - personal line of credit for about $ 59 for each door that saved big on the budget . price For All threshold and Hardware : $ 425
save up on the Simple House Construction Budget – building your own b threshold .
Railings : Our rail we made from rebar and wood posts . We saw the look the first metre at Weaver Barns model home last year at the Cleveland Home and Garden Show . Cost:$400
Kitchen / AppliancesWe keep braggart in the kitchen by doing a sight ourselves . We purchased IKEA console and assembled and installed them for around $ 1000.00 . Our appliances we pack in a purchase to save , and the freehanded part of the kitchen , the island , we make on site from shiplap . The island be around $ 125.00 in materials . We splurged a scrap on countertops using quartz , but with the smaller space , it was n’t nearly as bad as a huge outsized kitchen . entire Kitchen Cost $ 8500
Flooring : There was no flooring cost other than the back breaker stain . We had the concrete floor score to look like vast tile , and then acid stained to look like marble . It is not a hard projection , more time than anything . But you economise huge when you do it yourself . monetary value : $ 300
Lighting : This includes our main lights in the open area and fix . Small mansion – small fixture bill . Mary notice most of our lights on - short letter at a expectant monetary value deliverance . price : $ 750
Bathroom : We work up the main tumid cabinet in the john , and purchase two inexpensive stock cabinets to make a built - in look for way less . Our shower was built on land site with the help of a great tile man and comparative – and that was a big savings!Total cost : $ 2100
Well – that about wraps up the major portions . We hope this serial has been a help to those looking to build and downsize . We will continue to post update and articles on the house in the futurity to keep you updated on new projection . To welcome our Recipes , DIY and Gardening articles each week , sign up to stick with the web log via electronic mail in the right handwriting column above . you’re able to also like and survey us on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter . This position my contain affiliate links . – Jim and Mary
