One Day Let On The Builder Bundle Blitz Deal

The Builder Bundle Blitz Ends Tomorrow

There is a special (meaning: huge savings) going on this weekend that is the perfect opportunity for anyone interested in building a tiny house, or looking for more information about building tiny houses.

You’ll need to hurry and register before tomorrow night. Monday at midnight is when the huge savings end.

In addition to huge savings on a workshop, when you register for a workshop in your location, you’ll not only be guaranteed a spot but you’ll also get two free gifts.

The amount you’ll save is a more than $100 off the regular price ($120 to be exact). The sale price is $279; the regular price is $399.

The two free gifts include:

• A FREE How-To DVD.
• A FREE DIY Stair Plans.

This is the first time in years that I’ve seen this much in savings on any of these two-day weekend events.

Click here to see all the locations for the workshops that are being offered at this great price.

It’s not just one location. All of the scheduled workshops currently scheduled throughout USA and Canada for 2016 are on included in this sale. Almost every weekend for the entire year is booked at one location or another.

That means you can register for any of the two-day workshops in your area (or the area of your choice) during 2016.

Or maybe you are thinking of giving this as a gift? In the spirit of the holiday season, you can give a tiny house workshop and the additional free items as a gift to someone you know that is interested in building a tiny home.

Remember, the Big Sale ends tomorrow night (Monday, November 30, 2015) at midnight EST.

http://affordablehousingdesigns.com/the-latest/specials/one-day-let-on-the-builder-bundle-blitz-deal/ Joanne

18 Steps To Build A Tiny Home

18 Steps For Building A Tiny House

Information about how to build a tiny house can be extensive. There is quite a bit of information.

You will find tiny house workshops and tiny house blogs contain most of the information you may be looking for.

For the purpose of this article and keeping it short, we’ll provide you with general guidelines.

1. The first thing you should do is decide on a design.

If you are new to construction or on a tight budget, you should keep it simple.

You’ll probably want to avoid dormer windows, complex roof lines, porches, and excessive ornamental features.

There are pre-designed plans to choose from or you may choose to design your own using a program like SketchUp.

Decide if you want to build your home on wheels or on a permanent foundation.

Once your design is set, you’ll need to figure out the materials and tools you’ll need.

2. Find the location where you and you’re home will reside.

If you want a house on wheels, you’ll need to get a trailer that is appropriate for a tiny house. These houses are heavier than a traditional recreational vehicle therefore they need a heavy-duty trailer.

The point of a building a house on a trailer is flexibility of location. There are many options available such as RV parks, the backyard of friends or family, or land that you own as long as your local codes allow it. And you’ll be able to move you and your house whenever and where ever you wish.

If your house will be on a foundation, you’ll need to find a property that permits tiny dwellings.

In some cases, the location you choose to live at may not be suitable for your home while you build it. If this is the case, you’ll need to find an alternate location for your house while you build it.

3. Floor.

The first thing you’ll work on is the floor on the trailer, or the foundation for a more permanent home.

4. Prepare for the utilities.

The drains and wiring that will run through the flooring should be installed at this point.

5. Framing the walls.

Put up the walls and sheath them.

6. Framing the roof.

Beginners should make sure they’ve chosen a simple roof. Roof framing can be a little tricky so you will want to keep it as simple and easy as possible.

After the roof has been framed and sheathed, you’ll put on roofing material to keep the rain out.

7. Wrap the house.

Wrap the house frame. Wrapping keeps the house dry and protected from the elements.

8. Install the windows and the doors.

9. Add the exterior cladding, trim, paint and caulk to keep water out of the walls.

10. Plumbing.

At this point, you are ready put in the drain and supply plumbing pipes.

Then the water heater can be installed.

The waste and potable water tanks can be installed.

11. Electricity.

Rough in electric by running wire through small holes that are drilled in the framed walls. Connect the wires inside junction, outlet, and switch boxes that are set in the walls.

If you aren’t absolutely sure what you are doing with the electrical installation, it may be best to have a professional do the installation. Improperly installed wiring could be a fire hazard.

12. Insulation.

There are various types of insulation that can be used. Do the research, talk to the experts to determine the best type of insulation for your climate and type of home.

13. Interior sheathing.

Once all the plumbing and electrical is done, you will add wood or drywall to the framed walls.

14. Trim and finishing touches.

Now it’s time for the finishing carpentry. That includes adding the cabinets, built-ins, and trim.

15. Paint.

Paint or stain the walls to match your décor.

16. Finish electric and plumbing.

Add the electrical outlets, switches, and fixtures.

Finish the plumbing by installing faucets, toilet, and other fixtures.

17. Finish the flooring.

18. Furniture, appliances and decorations.

The last thing before moving in is to bring in the furniture, appliances and home décor that you have chosen for your new home.

This is all just a rough guideline for how to build a tiny house. Each building experience will be similar. This guide will give you an idea of what to expect and at what point to expect to do it.

http://affordablehousingdesigns.com/the-latest/18-steps-to-build-a-tiny-home/ Joanne

Building A Tiny Home

Getting Started Building A Tiny Home

Anyone new or has experience with the tiny house movement likes to have answers to the same questions. The following are some of the most common questions and their answers.

What is a tiny house?

There is no set in stone rule when it comes to the size of a tiny house.

Most people consider a house that is 500 square feet or smaller as tiny.

A small house is considered to be up to 1000 square feet.

The size of the house you choose for yourself should depend on what you need and want.

A tiny house can be on wheels or a foundation. A small house will need to be on a foundation.

How to choose the right tiny house?

The first thing you should do is research.

There are lots of places online and offline to gather information.

• Blogs.
• Books.
• Tiny House Workshops.
• Tiny house plans and designs.
• Visit a tiny house. Do a Google search for tiny house rentals and you’ll find sites that specialize in these types of rental housing.

Ask builders and designers if you have specific questions that you can’t find the answer elsewhere.

Building or buying.

If you decide to buy, you’ll need to contact a real estate agent or a tiny house builder to help with your search.

Find designers and builders in your area.

• Read reviews for the designer and builder to make sure they are reputable.

If you decide to build the house yourself, you’ll need house plans to follow. If you are new to construction, you should register and attend a tiny house workshop in your area.

These workshops allow you to meet other like-minded tiny house enthusiasts and the presenters teach you:

• How to plan to build.
• How to design a tiny house.
• How to choose a trailer.
• How to set up systems.
• How to do framing and sheathing.
• How to do roofing.
• How to install windows and doors.
• How to install siding and trim.
• How to finish the interior.
• How to get rid of clutter so you can live tiny.

Building a house that is safe and durable takes knowledge and skill.

Do you have the place to build your tiny home? It is not always possible to build it at the location where you will reside.

Do you have or will you need to buy some or all of the tools that you’ll need to build the house?

If you decide to have the house built, you’ll need to contact a builder to discuss your design and the building process.

Allow a minimum of three months from start to completion when working on the house full-time. If the house is built on a part-time basis, it will take considerably longer.

Planning to build.

Create a budget to keep track of the money you want to spend. Use it to keep track of all the expenditures.

Find the land where you want to live.

• Will you buy land?
• Will you rent land?
• Will you park your home in the backyard of friends or family?
• Will you park your home in an RV park?

Make sure that the local rules and regulations allow for a tiny house.

Make sure that a tiny house is what you want to live in.

If you aren’t sure and want to give living tiny a try first.

• There are tiny house rentals that you can rent short or long term.
• Buy or rent an RV – a motor home, a 5th wheel or a trailer.

If you don’t want to rent, you could consider buying a tiny house. There are many for sale in online and offline classified ads.

Live in the home until you are sure that residing in a modest home is the right choice for you.

Insurance

Insurance for a tiny home can sometimes be a little challenging. You may want to contact insurance companies and gather information before beginning to build or searching to buy. There are insurance companies that insure very small buildings, but they aren’t as common as traditional house insurance. You’ll want to contact them and compare prices and coverage.

Mortgage or Pay-In-Full

Although the cost of tiny houses is considerably less than what you would pay for a traditional home, there are still costs that you will incur. If you need to borrow money to buy or build your home, you’ll need to research for the best terms and interest rates.

If you are building the home yourself or having it built, be sure you have a good understanding of what it will cost you from start to finish. You’ll need to factor in all the tools you’ll need to buy, the cost of house plans, the cost of land, the materials, the equipment, the interior finishing touches, and the furniture and appliances.

Saving Money

In some cases, it is less expensive to buy a tiny house but you may not be able to find what you want.

Another option may be to purchase a partially built building. Buying a partially built structure will also save you time as you will have a head-start.

Either of these options will save you money if you don’t already have the necessary tools to build a house yourself.

If you are building, you could consider using recycled and scavenged material.

• Recycle and scavenge with caution.
• Not all materials are good enough quality for your home.
• Allow extra time for your build as it will probably take more time to find what you need.

What will it cost?

The cost of building a home varies.

If you can find all or most of your materials for free or at a highly discounted price, the final cost of your home will be much less than if you bought all your supplies from a retail store.

The size and design of your home will affect price as well. The more detailed and elaborate, the higher the costs will be.

On an average, a modest tiny house will cost approximately $20,000 to $25,000 in the USA (a little more in Cdn dollars).

Possible locations.

Zoning regulations and building codes will play a big part on the final location of your tiny house.

As every location has different laws, it is up to you as the individual that will be building to find out what is allowed and not allowed for your local area.

Places for consideration could include:

• Land you own. Using land you own may not work if zoning and building restrictions are already in place and do not allow for a tiny structure.
• The backyard of friends or family. Locating your home in someone’s backyard would most likely be a temporary arrangement and shouldn’t cause too many problems. If the intention is to reside there long-term, it may be more complicated to arrange.
• An RV park. As tiny houses gain in popularity, more RV parks are allowing them.
• A tiny house community. There are some tiny house communities throughout the country. More are in the plans.

http://affordablehousingdesigns.com/the-latest/building-a-tiny-home/ Joanne

Single Home Buyers and Tiny Houses

Tiny House Design Plans for Single Home Buyers

It can be difficult for a single person to buy a house. With the rising cost of housing, it has become increasingly difficult. Fewer and fewer single people have been able to make the leap from renting to owning. Until now!

If you are willing to compromise (in a good way) on the amount of living space, you can own your home.

Over a number of years, there has been a growing trend towards living tiny. There are numerous benefits to buying or building a little house that both single people, married people, and families have realized.

There is a holiday special with great savings you may want to take a look at.
Builder Bundle Blitz Sale

The pros far outweigh the cons.

Cons:

• The living area is small; in some cases, much tinier than traditional homes.
• * Some locations have restrictions on the size of houses allowed in certain areas. You’ll need to research the rules and regulations for your location of choice. There may be some restrictions when it comes to small houses.

Pros:

• The cost of living is less than what it costs in a large traditional home. When there is less space to maintain (heat in the winter, cooling in the summer), the utility costs are less.
• The cost of buying or building a very small home is less than what it costs to buy or construct a large home. You would be able to completely own your home (no mortgage) much faster.
• You have more choices for location of your house. *
• You have the option to build on a foundation or on-wheels so that you can move anytime you want, anywhere you want. You could even take your house with you on a vacation.
• As the cost of living is considerably less than what you accustomed to, you will have more money to enjoy life. You’ll be able to afford more and nicer vacations. You’ll have more money to save for education, retirement, or the things you love to do on a regular basis.
• Small houses take very little time to tidy and clean. That means you’ll have more time to enjoy life instead of spending hours cleaning your house.
• A small house doesn’t require a large lot unless that is what you would like. As with inside the house, when there is less area to maintain, it takes less time for upkeep leaving you more time for what matters.

All this means that the option of tiny houses is the best decision for any single person, married person, couples or small families. There is much more to life than the cost of expensive home ownership.

These days there are many more tiny house design plans and tiny home builders than there were a few years ago. You can find designs that are very simple to luxurious and elaborate designs that rival the luxury found in larger homes.

Before buying or building, you’ll need to decide on what you need and what you want in your home. Many of the storage and living options are built into these types of homes. The reason for that is the need to make the most efficient use of the living area.

Think about the square footage that you will need to live comfortably and happily. When we say tiny, that usually means a place that is 500 square feet or smaller.

When discussing modest housing options, it could include a very small condo or apartment that is a viable option, but you would not have the outdoor space that you would with a tiny stand-alone home that you own.

The point of owning and living in a tiny house is perfect for investment purposes, saving money, saving time, and enjoying life.

http://affordablehousingdesigns.com/the-latest/single-home-buyers-and-tiny-houses/ Joanne

Stay At Home Parent and An Affordable Home

How To Be A Stay At Home Parent

It’s not often these days for one parent to have the ability to stay at home with the children. More often than not, the family can’t afford to do without the second income. That is because of the cost of living. The cost of a mortgage or rent, the utilities and incidentals, and the cost of food adds up. We all got to have a place to live and have food on the table.

Many parents would love to be able to stay home while their kids are young. They would love to be there to witness all the momentous events and occasions. Unfortunately, too many parents miss out on the “firsts”; watching them grow and learn.

More often than not, the parents have no idea how to make it happen. How one of them can afford to become a stay at home parent, so nothing changes and no one is content with life as it is.

What if I told you it is possible?

The first thing you need to do is determine what you can afford on one salary. Start with your biggest expense and work on the plan from there.

A mortgage on a large traditional house usually takes up a good chunk of take-home pay. Lowering your mortgage payment would go a long way to easing the demand on expenses.

Consider downsizing from a large house to a small or tiny house. You will be amazed at how that one decision creates a snowball effect to reduce most of the other expenses your household incurs.

A tiny house doesn’t have to be simple. There are many plans to choose from or you could design your own tiny house to suit your exact needs.

Think about it like this, a tiny house is equivalent to an affordable home.

• When you live in a small house, there is less square footage to heat and cool. That means considerably reduced utility costs.
• The cost of insurance would also be less.
• Your property tax would reduce because your house is not as large.
• Your cost of living is reduced therefore you don’t need as much income coming in.
• Also, you may also have more money to pay down and pay off any debts you may have.

In short, you save money with:

• A reduced or non-existent mortgage.
• Lower utility costs.
• Fewer insurance fees.
• Reduced property tax.

If you have owned your home for awhile, you may have enough equity in the house to buy a tiny house outright – meaning, no mortgage!

Also, when one parent stays at home instead of working, you’ll save money on:

• Transportation costs – fuel and parking expenses.
• Extras – breakfasts, lunches, coffee, gifts for co-workers, dining out or bringing home supper.
• Luxuries – cut back or eliminate things like a manicure, a pedicure, hair highlights, a massage, and the maximum amount of cell/text messaging minutes.
• Coupons – you could help cut the expenses of food and accessories by using coupons. One coupon on its own may not help much but when you add up all the pennies from all the coupons, it can add up to considerable savings.
• Childcare – Childcare is expensive. Probably at the top of your expenses list.

By reducing all these expenses, you will have eliminated a good portion (perhaps all) of the need for the second income.

Making adjustments to your expenses could mean the difference between following your dream of living in an affordable home and staying home with your kids or having two incomes and not enjoying life with your children while you can.

http://affordablehousingdesigns.com/the-latest/stay-at-home-parent-and-an-affordable-home/ Joanne

Black Friday Tiny House Builder Bundle

Tiny House Workshop Building Sale

Tumbleweed has joined the Black Friday sale with a
Tiny House Workshop Builder Bundle Blitz promotion.

The huge sale starts on Friday, November 24 and runs through until midnight (EST) on Monday, November 30, 2015.

The Black Friday special includes:

With the purchase of a Dream Big, Go Tiny workshop ticket, you’ll get the following:

A FREE How-To DV.

A FREE DIY Stair Plans.

Better yet, the workshop ticket price was put on sale over a month ago and they are carrying that sale forward with this offer.

For this week only, you’ll get the workshop at the sale price of $279 (the regular price is $399), plus the DVD and stair plans for free!

The total value of this sales package is $485,
but your price will be $279.

http://affordablehousingdesigns.com/the-latest/specials/black-friday-tiny-house-builder-bundle/ Joanne

Magazine Issue #35

35th Issue of Tiny House Magazine

The latest issue of tiny house magazine has been published.

As always, it is full of great information and images.

This issue is a 81 pages long with lots of great articles.

You should get it within a few minutes of placing your order.

Place your order here.

http://affordablehousingdesigns.com/the-latest/magazine-issue-35/ Joanne

Emergency Preparedness

Are You Prepared For An Emergency?

I know that this article is a little off-topic for affordable housing designs but it is a subject that applies to everyone no matter if they live in a big house or a small house. A disaster is not discriminate; it can strike anywhere at anytime.

We have all heard about the damage that is done from tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, tropical storms, and more. We all know it can happen to anyone, at anytime. Few of us are prepared for the aftermath of a disaster if it strikes where we live.

I’ve often thought we should have an emergency kit and emergency food supplies set aside…just in case. We usually have food that doesn’t need an appliance to prepare which would last for a few days so I was never really worried about food. But what about first aid, water, and food that would last beyond a few days?

Now that we’re no longer traveling full-time in our RV and have a home, we need to get a kit together. This is especially true because we live in an area that is prone to earthquakes.

What if we are unable to get to a store?
What if amenities that we are used to going to on a daily (or every few days) for supplies were closed?

So, I started looking into how a preparedness kit is made. I had no idea where to start.
What do we need in the kit?
How do we keep the food from spoiling?
How can we store food so that would last more than a few days?

In my research, I came across a few businesses that are specific to those needs which makes things much easier to build a food preparedness kit.

I was impressed with one of these company’s. Augason Farms has managed to take a natural food source and make it so that it will be available long-term. I thought I’d share this find with you so you would have a good source for an emergency food kit too.

The following is a partial description from their dehydrated carrots:

Total Servings: 29 per can
Can Size: Large, institutional size can with lid
Net Weight: 2 lb 6 oz
Shelf Life-Unopened: Up to 25 years*
Shelf Life-Opened: Up to one year*

That is exactly what I was looking for. Something that I could place into an emergency preparedness kit and keep it there without the need to change it on a regular basis.

http://affordablehousingdesigns.com/the-latest/emergency-preparedness/ Joanne

Tiny House Workshops Sale

Tiny House Workshop Sale Price

Tumbleweed currently has all of their workshops that are scheduled from December 2015 going forward into 2016, ON SALE. There are 24 days left to register for any of the following tiny house workshops for the sale price of $279.00 (the regular price is $399.00).

Click Here for the sale page.

The majority of these workshops are located in the USA; there are a few scheduled in Canada.

The locations and dates that are on sale are:

Austin, TX
Colorado Springs, CO
Madison, WI
Sacramento, CA
Boston, MA
Raleigh, NC
Vancouver, BC
Orlando, FL
Washington, DC
Phoenix, AZ
Minneapolis, MN
Boulder, CO
Berkeley, CA
Jersey City, NJ
Seattle, WA
Nashville, TN
San Diego, CA
Dallas, TX
Colorado Springs, CO
Toronto, ON
Chicago, IL
Santa Cruz, CA
Boston, MA
Atlanta, GA
Santa Fe, NM
Portland, OR
Los Angeles, CA
Salt Lake City, UT
Ann Arbor, MI
Charlotte, NC
Philadelphia, PA

January 16 – 17, 2016
January 23 – 24, 2016
January 30 – 31, 2016
February 6 – 7, 2016
February 20 – 21, 2016
February 27 – 28, 2016
March 5 – 6, 2016
March 12 – 13, 2016
March 19 – 20, 2016
April 2 – 3, 2016
April 16 – 17, 2016
April 30 – May 1, 2016
May 14 – 15, 2016
May 21 – 22, 2016
June 4 – 5, 2016
June 11 – 12, 2016
June 25 – 26, 2016
July 9 – 10, 2016
July 16 – 17, 2016
July 23 – 24, 2016
July 30 – 31, 2016
August 20 – 21, 2016
August 27 – 28, 2016
September 10 – 11, 2016
September 17 – 18, 2016
September 24 – 25, 2016
October 1 – 2, 2016
October 8 – 9, 2016
October 15 – 16, 2016
November 12 – 13, 2016
November 19 – 20, 2016

These are all the workshops that are currently scheduled for the remainder of 2015 and all of 2016. They are all available for you to register at a discounted price but the sale price will end at the end of this month (November 2015).

http://affordablehousingdesigns.com/the-latest/specials/tiny-house-workshops-sale/ Joanne

Partially Finished House For Sale

Partially Finished Tiny House Sale

Here is a partially finished 160 square foot tiny house that is for sale. It is located in Brantford, Ontario, Canada.

Included in the sale:

One loft bedroom.

One bathroom.

Two propane heaters

Water tank with gravity fed hoses and rough in for a water pump.

LED lighting powered by a battery.

Two doors.

Insulated.

Laminate flooring.

Full loft that connects each side of the house.

Upgraded suspension. Dexter E-Z flex equalizer suspension.

New radial tires, axels, and rims.

The finishing touches can be completed to your liking:

Exterior siding.

Interior plumbing.

Interior Drywall.

Bathtub, shower, and toilet.

Electrical panel.

Click here to see more about the Brantford house for sale.

The owners plans to move to another province and live in the house fell through. He no longer needs the house and has it for sale.

The asking price is $7500.00.

He’s willing to throw a brand new whirlpool counter top propane gas grill into the deal.

This is the perfect opportunity for you to buy a partially completed house and finish it with what you like. It’ll save you time and money. Most of the basics are done which gives you a great head-start.

See other tiny listing houses for sale here.

http://affordablehousingdesigns.com/the-latest/for-sale/partially-finished-house-for-sale/ Joanne