Everything You Need To Know About Building Your Own Kit Homes

By Author: Ben Wall
Total Articles: 40
Comment this article

With so many information available over the Net about building kit homes, it can get difficult to distinguish facts from fiction. People who’ve built their own kit homes will have different experiences and opinions on the matter which is why it is recommended that you do your own thorough research so you can get a first-hand look at how the actual building process is and understand every aspect of it before you go ahead with your building plans or if you should even build one yourself at all.

For most first-time homeowners, building their own kit homes is infinitely preferable than the cookie-cutter homes real estate agents tend to shove down their throats every chance they get. There’s just something to be said about being able to say that you built your own home with your own two hands, not to mention the bragging rights you get entitled to. In addition, what could be harder than assembling pre-made panels that are shipped directly to your preferred site, especially since it comes with an instruction manual for you to follow? Check out samples of kit homes and you’ll see why handy homeowners get psyched to build ...
... their own and why it is considered the ultimate DIY project.

Well, if only it was that simple and easy. Kit homes are generally defined as houses that are pre-designed and pre-manufactured off site then shipped to your preferred site to be assembled by either the homeowner or hired contractors. Depending on your agreement with the manufacturers, kit home inclusions can vary, which means that the prices vary as well. A common myth is that you will save more money with kit homes than a traditionally-built home but this isn’t often the case. It is recommended that you learn more about kit home inclusions so that you get an idea of what will make your kit homes fit your budget or at least enable you to save a significant amount of your hard-earned cash.

First off, kit homes appear cheaper but the price just usually includes the shell of the house, so to speak. You will still have to put in everything else like the plumbing, the cupboards and the light fixtures. Maybe some enterprising and inventive soul will come up with a truly complete kit home package that already has everything in it one day but that may not be for a few more years so until then, when you get a kit home, remember that the price is about one-third of what the manufacturers can supply and about two-thirds is what you control.

It may also be helpful to note that a kit home package accounts for just about one-third to one-fourth of the final cost of a completed home. You can know more about kit home prices QLD when you check out sites like valleykithomes.com.au online and get to ask experts what you need to know about budgeting for your own kit homes.

The next thing you need to know is that there are basically four types of kit homes: log homes, panelized homes, timber-framed homes and geodesic homes. Lately though, there have also been newer types that have emerged like steel-framed homes and knowing exactly what type you want to build will enable you to find one that fits your budget and meets your requirements. While constructing your kit home, this is where you will find the real savings because for one, certain things are already laid out for you like the roof, walls and floors. You save on time because these have already been pre-cut and pre-assembled for you so that all you need to do is put them together. Depending on the type of kit home you choose, assembly can be anywhere between several hours to a few days with a small group of people as opposed to a week that it takes with a big crew and a traditionally-built home.

There are also significant savings to be made on man-hours when it comes to building your own kit homes since they can be built at just about 37% of the total number of hours it usually takes to build a traditional home. Check out some popular kit home designs and floor plans at the Valley Kit Homes website and find your dream home in no time. Other savings you can make include being able to make changes to your kit home at little or no extra cost because you can customize them prior to having them delivered to your preferred site.

So if you do decide that you want to build your own kit home, here are a few tips on how you can go about it smoothly, without too much stress:

1. Familiarize yourself with your local building codes
It’s one thing to be able to build but to build within specified boundaries is another. Since kit homes are a bit unusual and different from your standard homes, they will have some unusual requirements that must pass local building codes so before you have your kit homes shipped, download the necessary permits and codes and send them the company so they can make your kit homes according to the codes.

2. Do your research on your preferred sites before having your kit home delivered
Kit home manufacturers will usually tell you what you need to do to prepare the site for construction so make sure you’ve done your research and that you know everything there is you need to know before your kit homes are delivered.

3. Read the manual
Each kit home comes with an instruction manual specific to the type of kit home you ordered. Never skip any steps and if you are not sure about something, call the manufacturer. Never attempt to make your own decisions or quick judgments as mistakes can be a costly affair. If you can’t always keep the manual on you at least have someone be in charge of it during construction.

4. Make sure you are totally and completely committed to the project
You need to understand that you will have to spend every waking hour to make sure the project is completed until you have a “turn-key” product. You must also realize that while the work is going to be extra hard, the satisfaction you get at the end should make everything worth it. Check out the ValleyKitHomes website for more details on what you need to know about building your kit home and finally having the home of your dreams.