May 21, 2021 by freelancer

FEATURED BUILD:
VERMONT CABIN

Our timber frame cabin kit is probably our most popular housing choice amongst our customers. This small home design comes with a full loft making it spacious enough for a family to have room to stretch and to avoid being on top of each other. The simplicity of the design is attractive with its shiplap pine siding, metal roof and the mortise and tenon framing makes this cabin kit very strong once the construction has been completed.

Today we wanted to give a shoutout to our customer, who goes by Matt M. He built his cabin kit with his family in Tennessee. He purchased the 20×40 Vermont Cabin and added the 8×40 covered porch kit to the order. Because the family was going to be using this as a vacation home, they decided they would not need a full basement and chose to install a concrete foundation as the base for the treated sill plate to sit on. Some people install radiant heating in this type of foundation as an energy efficient way to stay warm in the winter.

Before they started building, they drew up a rough floor plan of where they wanted interior walls to go for bathrooms and closets. The rest of their layout was an open floor plan for fun family gatherings. We are sure they will load up the loft with bunk beds, or partition it off into separate bedrooms later. They also worked with their local town clerk to find out what was required for a permit. Once all of their ducks were in a row, the concrete slab foundation poured, and delivery of the cabin kit was accepted, they were ready to start the next steps of their building adventure.

They rented a crane for a couple days to assist with the raising of the timber frame. Those 8×8 posts and beams are very heavy! It was very important to make sure all proper bracing was in place before lifting each bent. This was probably the most challenging part of the building process so having the extra, professional help was extremely beneficial to safely getting the wall framing erected.

Once the frame was up the loft flooring was installed. Then came the shiplap pine siding, double pane windows, doors, and rough sawn pine roof sheathing. Instructions for each step of the construction process for setting up a three-season cabin shell were included in the step-by-step building plans. They purchased the three-season kit so the vapor barrier and roof sheathing could be installed as they built their cabin. They opted to insulate their building with closed cell spray foam, a very energy efficient choice for retaining heat in the winter and cool air in the summer. They went for our classic 29-gauge corrugated metal roof in Evergreen for their cabin and porch roofs.

Kitchen and Stair System of the Timber Frame Cabin — This spacious kitchen in this Vermont Cabin will provide space for family meals and entertaining.

Finishing touches included a stair system, a functional bathroom with a washer and drier, kitchen area for family meals, and plumbing and electrical systems. They installed a heat pump This is another a heating source that is growing in popularity because it also provides air conditioning during hot months and uses electricity. Some people choose to hide their concrete floors with tongue and groove pine decking. Matt’s family chose to flaunt it by applying a luster finish for a cost effective and easy to clean flooring solution, and we have to say it looks amazing!

Fun people enjoying their Vermont Cabin built with a porch — Timber frame cabin kits can be a bonding experience when the whole family helps with the build.

Now that the building is complete Matt’s family will have a getaway that they can pass down for generations. If times get tough, or if they want to make some extra income, they can rent their cozy cabin to vacationers. In the end their Vermont Cabin will be one of the best investments they could have made for not only future equity but for enjoyment too. Watch our Cabins, Cottages and Home Additions playlist for more post and beam building inspiration.

April 19, 2021 by freelancer

HOW TO FINANCE A TINY HOUSE OR CABIN

If you’re planning to build a tiny home kit, a small bunkhouse cabin, or a little cottage house but are finding that the credit market nowadays is quite complicated, then you’re not the only one. Although the country has been hit with a nationwide slump, there are many signs that the market is steadily growing and getting more and more stable. That said, there is never a better time to obtain financing for your post and beam home than now.

One of the necessary things you should consider before getting financing for your micro house kit is your budget. Why? Of course, your budget will determine your amenities and location. Knowing at least a ballpark will help you stay within your means or think of creative ways to afford everything you want in your dream home.

Once your budget is established, you can then search for different ways to finance the project and ask questions like where would I find a good lender or what is a secured loan? That said, you should take note that building a timber frame cabin is very much different from renting one.

Why You Should Find an Experienced Lender

Not all lenders are experienced or comfortable with tiny home lending. Therefore, it’s wise to choose a lender that has experience in construction lending. This is important because the lender can tailor their funding method to help you understand your options and guide you to avoid some common pitfalls.

If you manage to find a lender like that, consider yourself lucky. But if you are struggling to find one, there are countless lists of lenders on the internet specializing in financing for cottages or tiny homes. Some lenders allow pre-qualification so you can see the loan products they offer and figure out what is the most suitable for you. Your local bank is a great place to start, or visit our financing partners page for other possibilities.

When you find a company to work with, building a good relationship with that lender can help them determine how much they can lend you when they are weighing options for the financing. Now that we have established all of that, here are some ways for you to finance your post and beam home.

Home Construction Loan

This is one of the most common types of home financing you can get for your project. Of course, when you compare it to a conventional construction loan, there is not much of a difference between them.

However, your lender must have experience in financing cabins or tiny homes, as mentioned earlier. Why? Even though conventional construction loans and loans for cabins are pretty similar, there are some critical differences between them, like differences in payments and timing. Tiny home lenders may also have another list of requirements.

Furthermore, in addition to having a home construction loan, you can ask your lender for a one-close loan or a construction-to-perm loan. This is a loan that will finance your construction and automatically convert to a regular mortgage with monthly installments to pay.

When you’re planning to build your own tiny house kit, it might be more challenging to get a loan. Lending officers are wary since they are giving money to someone with no construction experience (unless you happen to be a professional builder). When such is the case, the lending officers will carefully evaluate your scheduling, planning, and budgeting before giving you the approval.

Home Equity Loan

If you’ve been living in your current house for a long time and have managed to build significant equity with your regular mortgage payments, you can draw out an equity loan from this and have yourself an excellent way to finance your log cabin kit. If you’re planning to have a builder do the construction, you can talk directly to your builder. This is so you can draw a schedule, get an estimate of costs and contract specifications.

Builder Financing

Like how car dealers have in-house auto loan financing, there are also builders out there who are offering their services with financing. Not only that, if you talk to a builder directly, there’s good room for negotiations when it comes to financing. Many people will recommend that you go for a reoccurring PayPal payment so they always get their payment on time.

If you’re paying the builder through cards with cashback perks, you can gain points to save and earn some airline mileage and other bonuses.

Rent-to-Own

In some cases, you might be able to obtain funding for your project with a rent-to-own or leasing solution. This will typically work well if you are looking to finance a prebuilt cabin that won’t be used as a year-round residence and is built on skids instead of on a permanent foundation. This can be a great option if you are working on your credit score and have trouble obtaining a traditional loan. Typically, a rent-to-own company does not do a credit check which can make the application quick and easy.

Conclusion

Tiny home financing is more uncommon than you think, but it also isn’t that rare. However, if you want an experienced lender to help you finance your dream home, it might a bit of research to find a company to work with. It’s highly recommended to find a lender who deals with tiny home construction experience so that you can tailor it to your project, as well as give you some contacts if you’re looking for a builder.

Author: Tiffany Wagner

March 5, 2021 by freelancer

PLANNING, TIME FRAME & COSTS: WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE TAKING ON A CABIN BUILD

Before beginning to build a tiny house or cabin kit on your property, there is a lot you need to know. There is quite a bit of cabin building planning you will have to do if you want to ensure things go smoothly. You will also have to consider the time necessary for completion so you can prepare well. Most importantly, you must think about your budget. The truth is – the process of building anything begins way before you pour the foundation. And if you carry out the planning phase well, everything after the foundation will be much more exciting. The lack of planning and budgeting may result in costly mistakes later during the construction phase that you most certainly want to avoid. Here are a few very important points you will want to cover before you begin your post and beam home build.

Stage 1 – Know What You Are Getting Into

We can romanticize building our dream homes as much as we want; the reality is that the process, while rewarding, is also time consuming and challenging. First of all, you have to carefully consider every step to see if this is for you. To get more information, consult with a friend or family member who has gone through the process of building their own home. Even better, talk to a professional contractor who can walk you through the ropes. Once you know what you can expect, you will know if building your house from scratch is the right option for you.

Time Considerations

Before making any decisions, you must understand that building a house takes time. If you haven’t already, you must find an appropriate location. There is no way of knowing how long that can take, but it can be anywhere from two months to two years. Next, obtaining all the necessary permits is a must. Finally, when the time for building comes, know that it takes about seven months on average. So, if you need to move to a new home quickly, building your new house may not be a suitable option. Some of clients purchase a small shed to camp out in while they are building their permanent home.

Budgeting is Crucial

First and foremost, you have to be realistic about how much you can afford to spend. Then you have to calculate how much it will cost to build a structure in question. So, in the end, you will essentially balance out your wishes and desires and your financial capabilities.

You will likely have to get a loan for construction and a mortgage, or obtain financing for a project that will be built on existing land. During this phase, you should also figure out how big of a loan you can qualify for. You can do that by visiting a bank that will gladly provide you with information on how much money you can get based on your income and other financial obligations.

This stage will also involve calculating how much various elements and features of your new cabin will cost. The budgeting plan should also include the cost of the land, designer, contractor, building materials, and once the rough work has been over, interior features and appliances. If the land does not have water access, waste water removal or storage and electricity these will also need to be accounted for. This is a time-consuming and not at all simple process, so it can take more than a year before you finally sign a contract with a building company.

Various Additional Costs

If you need to customize the design of the house to fit your lot, it will cost more. If you don’t even have a lot yet, keep in mind that about 20-25% of the cost of the new home will go to the land purchase. Should you need the help of a real estate agent when searching for a piece of land, put their fees in the calculation as well.

In addition, you will likely need a place to store your belongings during the transition. While portable storage containers are an excellent solution for short-term storage, remember that they too cost money, and you need to account for it in your budget. Better yet, get a shed and you will have permanent tool and garden storage once your permanent home is built.

You may forget other expenses during your planning phase, for example, furniture, garden equipment, internet, and media wiring. There are also additional monthly expenses such as property taxes, insurance, and lawn-care services.

Stage 2 – Buying Land

The location of the land is important, and so are its features. You have to discuss with your contractor if there will be any additional expenses, such as digging a well and putting in a septic tank. It’s essential to know if there are power and water hookups on the site or you need to add them. You want a piece of land that will require as little work as possible before construction begins.

Also, before deciding anything, see if the location is suitable for your family’s needs. Are there any shops nearby? Is it close to a school? Will the amount of traffic pose a threat to your pets and kids? Try to get a feel of what it’s like to live in the area. Consider your lifestyle and interests. If you like spending time outdoors, will you have an opportunity to do so, etc.?

Stage 3 – Deciding on Design

A house plan is not only a drawing. It’s a set of directions that will get you your dream home. To choose the right house plan, begin by deciding on the size of the home you need. Consider the number of bedrooms and bathrooms you need. Also, ask yourself if you are planning to grow your family. Do you need a guestroom?

As for the floor plan, think about your lifestyle. If you entertain a lot, maybe you will need a more modern open concept style with a vast living room. For every decision you make, weigh the pros and cons. Decide on the things you can and can’t live without. Having a good and experienced designer by your side will help you make the right choices.

If you start with a small design and find you need more space you can always add accessory dwelling units in the future.

Stage 4 – Hire a Reliable Contractor

Finding the right builder for your project is crucial. If you fail, you may end up dissatisfied with the result. Therefore, do thorough research. Check how long local builders have been in business and if you like the job they have done so far. Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you want, and if you notice the contractor is evasive, consider it a red flag and move on. Ask for referrals, and make sure you contact the previous clients or read online reviews. We have a list of recommended assemblers who you can talk to for a quote.

These preparatory stages are as exciting and exhilarating as they are stressful and arduous. However, if you consider planning, time frames, and costs carefully before beginning to build a cabin on your property, you will ensure the construction itself is smooth sailing.

Author Bio: Greg Dawson is a DIY enthusiast with a lot of experience in content writing for companies. He enjoys sharing his DIY projects on his social platforms and writing step-by-step tutorials on how to do them. His work allows him to combine his two passions – DIYing and writing about it and other topics. In his free time, he enjoys gardening. At the moment, he is transforming his garden shed into a new workshop for his new projects.

FEATURED BUILD:
VERMONT CABIN

Mortise and Tenon Porch Kit

Stair System Kit - for Vermont Cabin