For those who want to build their own home, a kitset home could be the perfect solution. They come in a range of styles and designs and are largely pre-assembled. They’re designed to be put up with far less effort than a normal build, and are aimed especially at those who will be able to provide the labour themselves. By using a kitset home, many people may find that they are in fact able to build a brand new home rather than buy one due to the costs saved and the flexibility of the build. There are a few things to consider before you jump in, however.
Types of kitset homes
Kitset homes come in a range of styles. Although we usually picture a log cabin style kitset home, the reality is there is much more variety than that. There are many variations available that use metal and steel, and nowadays there are even kitset homes based around shipping containers! Depending on your location and the type of environment you expect to encounter, you can decide which material suits you best.
In addition to materials, there are also various ways that kitset homes can be assembled. Some require more builder know-how, whereas others can be put together by anyone who is able to put in the right amount of labour. Before jumping in, make sure you’re getting a kitset home that matches your skill level, or you may end up having to pay tradesmen to help you out.
Upsides to kitset homes
- They’re far less expensive than normal homes. Because you buy all the pieces and put it together yourself, you’re saving all the money that you normally would have had to spend on labour for a conventional build.
- They’re quick to put up. Because kitset homes are designed for people to be able to put up themselves, they usually have a fairly intuitive design. As long as you have some labouring experience and follow the instructions correctly, you can get your very own house built up in no time.
- There’s lots of designs to choose from. Before you get started, you can decide what kind of house will best suit your needs and select one that will specifically match it- allowing you to have much more control over your living space than simply buying an existing house.
Downsides to kitset homes
- You have to put in your own labour. Though this is much cheaper than paying for someone else to do it, it costs you your own time, which for some people may not be worth it.
- There isn’t complete flexibility over design. Depending on which kitset home you go with, you may find there isn’t a huge amount that you can really customize. Compared with building a house, where you can dictate the exact specifications you want, you’re somewhat limited by the models that are available to you.
Alternatives to kitset homes
If you decide that a kitset home isn’t quite going to meet your needs, there are plenty of other options available. By going the route of a conventional build, you’ll find that you have much more control over the design of the house, being able to dictate everything down to the furnishings. For those who realise they aren’t really too fussy about the design of the house, buying a pre-existing home may work out better. For others who want to put a house on land they already own, there is always the option of transporting an existing house and relocating it to the section.
Kitset homes offer a variety of ups and downs, but for those who are looking to build a new home without breaking the bank, they are definitely an option that is worth considering.
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