Jamaica Cottage Shop

Hand-crafted cottages and sheds created by Vermont artisans in the post-and-beam tradition.
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SALE ENDS 9/19/22

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Most home buyers are generally young people in their early thirties. Millennials are the first generation to put sustainability first. The building techniques used in newer homes demonstrate how. Therefore, energy efficiency is at the top of their list of must-haves. Additionally, Millennials are aware of the fact that energy-efficient houses are more comfortable and safer for their families. Pair that with higher market value and this building style makes a whole lot of sense. We have tips to show you how to build your home as energy-efficient as possible. Read on to find out more!


Custom built insulated prefab cabin with woodstove flashing.
Insulated, double pane windows and a 9-lite steel door are energy efficient options for cabins that need to be comfortable year round.

Passivhaus and Efficient Design

'Passivhaus' is a phrase you may have encountered when looking into energy-efficient homebuilding technologies. The Passivhaus Standard, developed in Germany in the early 1990s, encourages design that reduces energy consumption of dwellings. To dramatically reduce energy consumption prioritizing the design process instead of fancy renewable energy devices is key. The emphasis is on altering the way we construct the home. Thinking about methods to drastically reduce air leakage, eliminate thermal bridges, boost insulation, and make effective use of windows throughout the design stage is beneficial.


Even if you don't have the money for Passivhaus certification, you may still try to adhere to its principles. Using triple-glazed windows helps achieve this. Building an airtight house will go a long way toward reducing energy consumption. Four-Season Kits come with Insulation and Vapor Barrier. Alternate insulation options include these top-notch insulation products which combine insulation, vapor, radiant, and air barrier protection. . A well-insulated home ensures you don’t waste as much energy to heat or cool your home throughout the year.


Consider the Climate

When building an energy-efficient home learning all there is to know about the weather conditions at your building location is important. Sun, wind, and light are all factors to consider. These factors will help you make an informed choice on the orientation of your house. When it comes to the sun, know where the sun sets and rises so you can determine the best position for your future home. In addition, keep an eye out for any existing or potential barriers that could obstruct passive solar gain on the site. For example, nearby tall trees or other houses will block sunshine from reaching your home. If you want to go the extra mile, you might want to invest in a windmill. This will allow you to generate power on your own if the conditions allow for it. 


The predominant sky conditions throughout the year: overcast, clear, or partly cloudy, should also be taken into consideration. This information will come in handy when deciding how to illuminate the inside of your house for ultimate energy efficiency. It is possible to reduce your electrical consumption and reliance on artificial lighting by taking advantage of natural light.


Vermont Cottage Kit built on a sand dune
This small cabin was built in a desert setting on a full foundation

Smart Home Devices

Making an energy-efficient house efficient by incorporating smart home products can save you money on energy bills in the long run. Though these products are often more expensive, they are a long-term investment. Furthermore, they will also improve the safety of your house. Typical smart home items for an energy-efficient house include motion sensors, light-bulbs, and pro­gram­ma­ble ther­mostats. A smart device that will make your home a more safe space, while also making it more efficient is a CO2 alarm. There are also other air-quality devices on the market.


Solar Panels

Using a solar panel system might have a huge impact on your property. The cells in some more modern panels operate without the need for direct exposure to sunlight, which is something you can further look into. This implies that even on overcast days, you could produce some power to operate common appliances and lights in your home. Though they’re not a cheap investment, solar panels may save you money looking forward. In some locations, if you're lucky enough to create more power than you consume, you might be able to sell it back to the utility company. 


Solar panels offer an energy efficient way to power this tiny home.

Have a Garden

If your site is large enough you may design a lovely garden. Starting a garden at home, whether it's an outside plot or merely an interior herb garden, has several sustainability-related advantages. Because of their ability to absorb carbon dioxide and other air contaminants, plants are very efficient and natural air filters. As a trade-off they provide us with cleaner and fresher air. Plants will also minimize soil erosion at your site. Furthermore, healthy ecosystems are powered by pollinators like bees. You can help pollinator-friendly plants and flowers thrive in your garden even if you only plant a few square feet of them in your yard. On the other hand, the value of your property may be greatly increased by a well-designed garden. Homes with strategic landscaping sell more quickly because of the increased curb appeal, improved air quality, and increased biodiversity.

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Knowing how your food is produced can make you feel confident in its wholesomeness. Many are turning to old-fashioned farming as a way to get in touch with how their food is grown. Plus learning these skills can be quite an enjoyable lifestyle. An abundance of home-grown veggies, fruits, meat, and honey rules! Lastly, it goes without saying, nothing's cuter than farmyard animals like chickens, piglets, and sheep. That is where planning a mini-homestead for urban farming comes into play.


City dwellers and those with minimal backyard space might think this lifestyle is impossible. In reality, this is false. Each year mini-homesteading and urban farming enthusiasts find new ways to make their dreams come true. Read on for some tips to plan out your mini-homestead for urban farming with the help of some post and beam buildings.


How Much Space Do You Have?

If you are in this situation, you can put together a scaled-back homestead. With a bit of planning it's a snap. First, you should measure out the space you have to work with. Next, decide what areas you want to use for this purpose. Do you want to use both your front and back yards? Or are you going to designate your garden and livestock shelter to one corner?


What Animals Are You Going to Raise?

Once you have figured out the layout of the land, you can decide what kind of animals you will raise. Most people who venture into urban farming start with chickens or other fowl like quail or ducks. That's because they take up a small amount of space. Plus gathering fresh eggs is a bonus. Quail are a bit quieter than chicken, ducks and geese, making them ideal if you have close neighbors. Our 4x6 Coop is a great beginner building with a tiny footprint, perfect for the smallest of yards. A roomier selection would be our 8x8 Coop, enclosed with hardware mesh, it's airier for free range birds. 

The more adventurous homesteaders will enter the realm of sheep, goats, pigs, or llamas. Of course, these types of animals will need more space. Your yard might not have enough room for a barn-styled shed or run-in. Don’t rule it out quite yet. If there is a specific reason you want to raise a particular animal, you might be able to make it work. For example, yarn spinners might want to have some sheep around. In other instances, a yoga teacher might find it beneficial to keep dwarf goats for their goat yoga classes.


A Run-In Basic or Vermonter provides shelter in smaller footprints for these types of animals. Stick with birds or bunnies if space is too cramped or if you don't have a good reason to have larger animals. 

8x10 Storage Shed with double doors and Ramp

Before commiting to any specific livestock, check with your municipality first. Some types of animals might not be allowed, and you will want to avoid any trouble with your neighbors. If you decide to keep animals, be sure that you can commit to properly caring for them. Providing adequate shelter is an absolute must. Have a plan for feeding and grooming them. 


Fruit, Veggies, and Honey

While you raise chickens, you could have a garden growing too. Strategically placed raised garden beds need little space and provide flexibility in placement. Anything you can do to save space, and increase efficiency of your next growing season will help provide a larger harvest.

8x14 Weston Potting Shed painted gray with white trim and Charcoal Gray Roof

When planting consider the following:

• Geographical location and climate - pick out plants that thrive in your local environment.

• Your skill level - if you are a beginner, choosing plants that are easy to grow will be encouraging.

• Try companion planting - research the different types of plants that compliment each other. This gardening technique can deter pests, attract pollinators, and improve the fertility of the soil in your beds.


A Greenhouse is a sturdy little building that can be used for storage and getting your seedlings started. Another option is to choose a multipurpose building like the Weston Potting Shed. This shed comes with an open side for gardening, and an enclosed side for storage. If you are keeping bees, some people opt for a small shed. Keeping the hive protected from predators will ensure a long life for your colony. 

Our 8x10 Greenhouse is a great building to get a headstart with planting

Set up a Farm Stand

Once you start collecting eggs and growing an abundance of food, you will probably find that you have more than enough. Instead of letting all of that good food go to waste, you might as well share with your neighbors. You can set up a farm stand in your front yard where people can buy your fresh eggs and other goodies. You can preserve the food you grow by pickling and turning it into jams or salsas to sell too. In New England, it is common to find a small shed set up with a tin can for collecting cash on farms. Soon you will find that your products are in high-demand.


We love how this farm in Vermont set up this vending booth for selling honey and other goods created. Once delivered, they added shelving to their Saltbox shed. Now they simply open the solid pine double doors when they want to sell. 

5' JCS Built 2" thick Pine Double Doors on 4x8 Saltbox. Interior view. Black Turn Latch.

Community Gardens & Farms

We understand many people reading this might live in an apartment without access to land. That is ok. You can still live out your farming dreams. Many communities in cities have shared community gardens or farms where you may be able to rent a small plot. In many cases, volunteers are encouraged to help out in exchange for some freshly grown goods. The great thing about a community garden or farm is that you can cooperate with other people involved. You will lean on their expertise and learn as you go. Also, if you need to go on a vacation, a luxury many farmers forego, you could probably time trade with another member. This way everyone makes sure their plots are taken care of during an absence. It is a win-win situation really.


Your individual plot might not have enough space for a shed. If this is so, you may be able to work with your community to get some post and beam buildings set up. Working together to build a small barn kit or greenhouse is very rewarding. Plus, the finished buildings can benefit the entire group.


8x12 Saltbox Storage Shed with Fenced Garden

Conclusion

Urban homesteading can be a very satisfying lifestyle. You will learn many valuable skills that will improve your quality of life. Plus, you might be able to make some income by selling the goods that you grow. Don’t know where to start? Check out our Barnyard Bundle, a curated selection of DIY building plans with homesteading in mind.


If you want to delve deeper into the world of urban farming, here are some additional resources you can check out:


Guide to Urban Homesteading â€“ Find more quick tips to get your gears turning.

Urban Agriculture Tool Kit â€“ From the USDA and contains practical information to help you do it right.

How to Start a Backyard Farm â€“ Learn how this household set up their farm on one acre of land.

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Planning the organizational flow before you start putting stuff in your garage is a helpful task that can be done fairly quickly. You can easily draft an interior set up with graph paper and a pencil. Or use your favorite graphic design software to sketch up some props to layout on your floorplan. 

 

We have created a couple quick layouts for garage and workshops with our 24×24 GARAGE as the example. Feel free to apply any of these layouts as inspiration for your current or future garage project. 

 

LAYOUT 1 – GARAGE AND BASIC STORAGE

 

This 24×24 garage has two bays for two vehicles. There is still plenty of room to store other stuff like bikes, kayaks, recycling and your winter tires. Shelving, a tool rack and a GARDEN CLOSET free up floor space and keep everything tidy too. 

 

LAYOUT 2 – GARAGE & WORKSHOP

 

With this set up there is space for one car, and a full sized work bench, along with shelving and racks. There might be room for other stuff, but it might be a tight squeeze if you need room to move around your workspace. If you want room for your bikes still, you will love the next layout….

 

LAYOUT 3 – GARAGE & WORKSHOP WITH BONUS STORAGE

When you add an OVERHANG or ENCLOSURE to your garage, you can create an attached outdoor storage or work space. In this example we moved the bikes and kayaks under the overhang for quick access. Plenty of workbenches create ample space for woodworking projects or car tune ups. And there is still room for one vehicle and storage for tools, recycling, winter tires and shelving. Build out a storage loft above for stashing away building materials or seasonal decorations. 

 

Want to see more layouts?

What would you put in your garage?
Let us know. 

 

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One of the biggest challenges that THOW owners face is finding a reliable place to park their homes. Buying a plot of land for your home base is an excellent idea. But if you are yearning for a nomadic lifestyle, you may want to keep your options open.



8x20 Tiny House on Wheels Turn Key
This tiny home was a custom build for a customer who was going to live on a farm.

You can save cash by hitting up friends and family when you are in between spots. However, you don’t want to overstay your welcome. We put together this list of resources where you can find places to park your tiny house while exploring the world.


Parking at Campgrounds

Tiny House on Wheels with a porch, built for off-grid living.
This tiny house on wheels was custom built with lots of extra insulated windows, and a cross gable roof line.

Most campgrounds across North America offer RV lots. Because tiny homes are similar to RV’s, they can usually utilize campsites. Most campgrounds provide short-term rentals during late spring through early fall. But some places will do long-term rentals all year long. Campgrounds are affordable, safe, and usually have all of the amenities close at hand.


Electrical and running water hookups are common for RV sites. And most campgrounds have dumping tanks for getting rid of waste. Or use common bathroom areas to save on wear on tear on your tiny home plumbing system. On-site laundry machines, a general store, Wi-Fi, swimming pools, and access to fun activities are some deluxe features you might find in a campground too.
In some cases, you might be able to do a work exchange with the campground for free or discounted rent. It could be office work, cleanups, or filling in for vacationing workers.


Parking at Farms

Working farms are other areas where you might exchange labor for free rent. We have sold tiny homes to several farmhands. While many farms provide housing for their workers, it isn’t always ideal. Those who crave privacy and comfort may prefer to rest in a four-season tiny home on wheels during their spare time.


https://wwoofusa.org/ offers a database of over 1500 organic host farms looking for a helping hand. Many farms need help in planting, harvesting, livestock care, maintenance, deliveries, and administrative tasks.


tiny home village
A tiny home village or RV lot can be an option for long term parking.

Tiny House Parking in Villages & Mobile Home Lots

Thoroughly cleaning out your building is a top winter greenhouse maintenance tip. Freshen up your greenhouse by giving it a Tiny house villages are popping up all around the nation. The people who set up these small communities handle zoning and permits to develop the land for this purpose. Hookups for utilities should be standard, but always confirm what is included with the monthly fee before signing a lease. Mobile home lots have been around for a long time and are well established. Tiny home villages are less common but will provide a homier vibe while you are surrounded by other THOW enthusiasts. Lots can usually be found via newspaper classified ads, craigslist, or in directories.


Directories

If you are flexible directories can provide ever-changing lists of available lots.


• Tiny House Villages - this website offers a directory of over 250 lots that cater to tiny living. You can filter by price, location, and lifestyle requirements.

• Tiny House Hosting Facebook Group - This online community averages 50 posts a month. Many people seem to be searching for places, while others are sharing their available lots. It can't hurt to ask for parking opportunities in specific areas.

• Tiny House Communities - A small, but well curated list of nice places to park.


Conclusion

As you explore these parking options, document your travels with a journal. Keep track of where you stayed, how much you paid for rentals and utility costs, and rate how much you enjoyed each location. You can use this information to decide if you want to return or remember which areas to avoid. Having contact information for your hosts can be very useful if you find yourself in a tight spot and need to find someplace quick. Grow your community, be neighborly to those you meet along the way, and you shouldn’t have trouble finding places to park.



Did we miss a resource that you think we should share? Let us know!


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When the air starts to feel crisp and morning frost layers the ground, that means it’s time to start thinking about heating your home. I know many in New England hold out on touching their thermostats for as long as possible. But for Northerners, snow and freezing temps are inevitable. There are only so many layers of long johns, alpaca sweaters, bunny slippers, and knitted throws that can be adorned before frostbite starts settling in. Luckily, with all the innovation happening in sustainable home heating technology, there is no longer a need to torment your household with a 60-degree thermostat limit from December through February.


10x14 Florida Room four season interior with woodstove addition

Why You Should Want to Use Sustainable Heating Methods

Electric and heating bills are usually the most costly utility that homeowners need to pay on a monthly schedule. As the temperatures drop below freezing, these expenses spike! And seriously, nobody appreciates increases in their monthly bills. Switching over to energy-efficient heating systems can lower your costs. Not only that, but most states offer programs and rebates to help you save money and get started.


Utilizing newer appliances that come with an energy star rating will also cut back on your carbon footprint. These heaters burn fuel more efficiently, reducing harm to the environment and slowing down the use of non-renewable resources.


These two reasons seem good enough to me, but I have one more. Comfort. Understandably, many budgets don’t always provide the luxury of thermostats bumped up to 70-degrees. With a sustainable heating source, you may find that you can treat yourself to warmth without killing your wallet. 


Run-Down of Heating Methods

Heating sources usually fall into three categories: wood-burning, fossil fuel burning, or electrical. These are some of our favorites that we use in our buildings.


Wood Burning Heat Sources
2x3 Ready to Assemble Wooden Pellet Box
This pellet box is stored close to the pellet stove for simple and quick refueling.

Wood stoves and pellet stoves are very popular, not just in New England but everywhere. Nothing beats the dry heat of a wood-burning flame, especially when it is in a fireplace. Fireplaces are not known to be energy efficient. Since they are open, plenty of oxygen feeds the flames making firewood burn quickly. Picking out a wood stove or pellet stove will be a better choice if you want to save money and spare some trees. Toasty vibes will still thrive with either choice.


According to Efficiency Vermont, firewood is cheaper than pellets, but pellets burn much slower. They mention that there isn’t much of a difference in savings between the two. Because pellet stoves require electricity, if you live in an area with frequent power outages, a wood stove is a better option for you. Just remember, you will need a shed to store the cords of wood needed to get you through the winter. Pellet stoves also have advantages: they need to be fueled less often, and the pellets are made from the sawdust of milling operations, helping reduce waste. Store your pellets indoors, as they are sensitive to moisture. The Pellet Box is a great place to store fuel for your stove, and it can double as attractive furniture.


In our tiniest of custom houses, we have even installed solid fuel marine heaters. These are basically itty-bitty woodstoves that can burn sticks, pine codes, and leaves. One of our happy tiny home dwellers let us know that they keep a tiny house on wheels pretty warm, but having a backup heat source helps.


Sustainable Electric Heat Sources
Heat pumps are a very energy efficient heating and cooling solution.
A few heat pumps installed on this Vermont Cabin will keep it comfortable through heat and cold.

Our favorite electrical source for a tiny house is a heat pump. Why? Not only do they provide heat but they also offer air conditioning! Tiny house enthusiasts residing in the South will absolutely enjoy their heat pump for the year-round comfort it provides. Northerners will also appreciate the three days out of the year that AC is a must. Not only are heat pumps built to be energy efficient, but they can run on solar power for a triple win!


Fossil Fuel Heat Sources
Heating inside of a tiny house on wheels.
Pairing an electric or propane heater with a solid fuel marine heater ensures that the pipes won't freeze in this tiny house.

While fossil fuels are not a renewable resource, furnaces and boilers have come a long way in terms of resource conservation and efficiency. We typically resort to propane heaters as a backup rather than the main heating source in our tiny homes. You can pair a wood stove with a strategically placed wall-mounted propane heater. Installing these types of heaters in bathrooms or anywhere near plumbing pipes is a good idea to keep them from freezing. This can be essential when you aren't around to feed your wood stove, say when you want to take a tropical vacation.  For larger cabins, you may want to consider an oil-burning furnace with baseboards.


Other Ways to Efficiently Heat Your Home

If you are building a brand-new cottage there are additional ways to achieve lower heating costs. If you aren't ready to replace an older unit these tips can still be useful for getting the most out of what you already have. 


Smart thermostats are definitely a great solution. Zoned heating systems programmed room-by-room keep your heat down in under-used areas of your house. Base it on your schedule, frequency of use, and temperature preferences. 


Insulation is another way you can lower your heating costs. If you are building one of our cottages, consider ordering a four-season kit. These kits come with everything pre-cut to fully insulate your building. Or shop around for other types of insulation that you can install yourself. Our four-season packages also include double pane windows and insulated doors. Windows can provide passive heat during the day since they allow sunshine to come in. 


Interior of a 16x20 Vermont Cottage with four season options.
Making sure your new cottage is fully insulated will keep heat from escaping in the winter. A 4-Season kit will achieve this.

Conclusion

There are so many benefits to switching to a sustainable heating method that we can’t help but be excited about them. Lowered costs, limiting environmental impact, and keeping cozy all year are reasons to be happy. If you want to look for ways to efficiently heat your home, begin with this interactive map. To see which programs are available to you, click on your state.


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Our Gibraltar is an affordable tiny home that can be purchased as a four-season kit.

Once you have your mind set on your next building project, whether it’s a tiny house, deluxe shed, or large, two-car garage, you will need to figure out how to pay for it. If you, like many, are someone whose pockets aren’t overflowing with cash it is still possible to reach your post and beam building goals. All it takes is some creativity, planning, patience, common sense, and time. But there are also a number of budgeting tricks, and hacks that can get you ahead of the game. We're sharing with you our top tips for financing a new building. Try putting all, or just a few, of these tips into practice and you might end up with a Jamaica Cottage Shop village in no time!


1. Automate Your Savings

Setting up a savings account is a no-brainer, but we are all tempted to spend our paychecks on new clothing, electronics, cars, and restaurants on top of our usual bills. Moving a portion of your funds into a savings account makes spending that money a little less convenient. It forces you to think about frivolous purchases, since you probably have to take a few more steps to access that money. Most banks have systems where you can transfer a set dollar amount on recurring days. Have your bank account transfer money into your savings account every payday: we suggest trying to put away 10% of your income into your savings account. If that big a percentage sounds daunting, start with a smaller amount. A little is better than nothing, and maybe seeing your savings grow over time will motivate you to put away more!


If you are lacking in the willpower department, you might consider opening a secondary bank account at an online bank. That money will be out of sight and out of mind. Plus, it will be even less convenient to make withdrawals since a transfer to your main checking account will probably take a few days instead of a few minutes. If you think this is a good option, make sure you compare banks beforehand and choose one that offers the highest interest savings account you can find!


2. Start With the Small Stuff

The Homesteader is a budget friendly tiny home option that comes as a either a frame only, complete, 3-season or 4-season kit.
If you start with a 3-Season Kit your upfront costs will be a bit less than getting a 4-Season Kit, buying you time to save up money to finish the cabin out.

One way you can budget your build is to figure out how to minimize your upfront costs and expand your project as you go. Pick out a smaller design, or get a stripped down version. Some people opt to start with a small shed, for example. They might camp out in that while they are saving for a Vermont Cabin. Later on, when they move into their larger home, they can rent out their backyard cottage to pay off their projects.


Another idea is to try starting with a three season structure instead of buying a fully decked-out, turn-key cabin. Then you can buy insulation, interior wall sheathing, ceiling sheathing, and insulated windows. These items add up, but can be more manageable if purchased as needed. We also sell frame-only kits, which include the framing material. Buy siding, roofing, floor decking and doors as you go.


3. Half Now, Half Later

Did you know that we can get your project into production with a 50% deposit? This is an excellent option if you have most of the funds needed to get started, but need a few months to get the rest. The remainder isn’t due until right around the delivery time. Having a deadline can be very motivating for earning cash or finally getting around to applying for a loan. Contact our sales team. They can take your deposit over the phone.


4. Take Advantage of Supply and Demand

This small firewood storage shed doubles as recycling storage. This multipurpose function provides additional value.
Buying a woodbin in the winter might mean savings. Plus you will have it ready for next years firewood supply.

Changing seasons can mean savings! You may find that you can get great deals if you buy during the winter. This is because the demand drops quite a bit when the weather is chilly. People simply aren't as enthusiastic about starting outdoor projects when there is snow on the ground. Past patterns show that winter pricing on kits and prefab sheds is usually the lowest during the cold, snowy months. When spring rolls around, everyone is eager to get started on their projects. This means pricing for materials goes up and so do labor costs to pay employees’ overtime.


5. Follow Our Promotions

The best way to keep up to date on our sales is to join our Funky Chicken Newsletter. That's going to be the first, and in some cases only, place where we are going to publish new sales, discounted items, and coupons. Our Facebook business page will also be a good resource. If you don’t want to get emails from us, you can bookmark our sale flyer. We update that link every couple of weeks, so you can always peek at that to get pricing on our kits and fully assembled designs.


6. Barter for Services

In many places, you might be able to trade services you offer for painting, carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work. Someone who owns a construction business might need someone to design their business cards, or an electrician might be searching for someone to do some landscaping around their property. It might be hard to find people willing to do this, so look for community groups specializing in time trading.


Three friends work together to get their barn painted.
Turning your barn build into a community effort can be fun.

7.Bribe Your Friends and Family with Pizza

If you are buying a kit, you might be able to have a barn building party with your friends and family. Offer a tasty meal and fun music to entice your social circle to help. This could save money on carpentry costs. Just don’t forget to return the favor if they ever need a hand.


8. Apply for a Grant

This small, 3x5 foot shed, was purchased to use as a food pantry to help community members in need.
A local food pantry was in need of a shed, so they applied for grants and promoted other fundraising efforts.

If your building will be shared with your community, or you're constructing it for non-profit use, you may be able to apply for funding. For example, if you are setting up housing for Veterans, you could get involved with non-profits that focus on affordable housing. Energy-efficiency grants may also be available for homeowners who need help weatherizing their houses. While this won't necessarily pay for a building kit, it could take care of an expense that is holding you back. You can try searching a grant database if you don’t know where to start or check your state’s official .gov website.


9. Use a Credit Card

We wouldn’t say that this is a top tip, but there can be some pros when using a credit card, especially if you are savvy with money. Putting a big purchase on a new credit card that has a 0% interest term with no fees can help you delay the costs. If the card also comes with a good cashback program, you can use those rewards to pay for things you might need for your cottage or shed later on. Make sure you can sustainably make monthly payments, and plan ahead for when the 0% interest period expires. That's the time when you'll want to pay off the bulk of your purchase. If you aren't careful with remembering the final pay off, you could end up in debt! We recommend this option for people who have predictable incomes and can budget to make sure they have enough saved at the end of the 0% interest period to make a large payment.


10. Utilize Our Financing Partners

We've partnered with a handful of companies that offer solutions for purchasing fully assembled buildings and Pre-Cut Kits. You can finance some, or in many cases all of your project by working with these partners. If you are in the process of improving your credit score, the rent-to-own option will make it possible to purchase a fully assembled building without a credit check.


Conclusion

Our community is made up of people from all walks of life, and they are some of the best resources we have for finding clever ways to finance post and beam buildings. We hope that these budgeting tips and tricks will help you on your path to building the cottage, shed, garage, or tiny house of your dreams. Let us know if you have other tips for budgeting and financing your project that we can pass on to our readers. It's our mission to make our products as attainable and accessible as possible to everyone!