Assembly is Required for These Kit Homes

CNBC ^ | December 23, 2011 | Colleen Kane

[decimon]

Despite seemingly endless interest in decorating, landscaping, buying, staging and selling houses, actually building a house is a mysterious process that is mostly left to professionals. But for some homeowners, buying and in some cases assembling, a prefabricated home holds appeal.

A kit home can streamline the process of custom-building a house. While the prices aren’t bargain-basement, kit homes can cost less. Keep in mind that these homes cost more to build than just the sticker price on the kit. Buyers might have to pony up for windows, cabinets, fixtures, contractors, subcontractors and other features and services, in addition to purchasing the land where the house is located. The total cost to build the house, minus cost of land is called the turnkey price.

[SatinDoll]

Deer stand - darn! You beat me to it.

[mylife]

Teardrop trailers are cool.
I have been meaning to get one for years for weekend trips.

[Oratam]

They are cute. One could start a beach colony with a few of those.

[Chode]

absolutely...

[cornfedcowboy]

Sears would deliver them via train car back in the 20’s. Very common in Iowa.

[Eye of Unk]

I have seen a lot of kit homes, people call them “connex” containers.

[Conservative4Ever]

High rise. Love it and where is this place?

[going hot]

actually building a house is a mysterious process that is mostly left to professionals.

Dewalt compound 12" miter saw, a couple of air nail guns for studs and sheet goods, and a coiled roofing gun, pretty much makes short work of the mysterious process.

[passionfruit]

Ha! I was just in the kit home where Richard Nixon was born the other day!

[donmeaker]

Perhaps you are just down the freeway from me.

An interesting library, though I have never been to an uninteresting presidential library. I always liked Nixon, in part because of his honor in not contesting his first election, and in part because he signed some of my orders.

How many of the statues of world figures did you recognize? I was very surprised at the lack of stature of Nikita Khrushchev.

[donmeaker]

tinier houses...

http://www.yeahdave.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/port.jpg

[Viking2002]

Hey! My brother-in-law owns that trailer park! LOL

[Viking2002]

As someone who has spent the last few years in the researching and planning stages of building a log home, the prospect of doing it is not only daunting, but mind-numbing. There is no 'easy' way of accomplishing it. And for those liking the prow front with a steep roof pitch, they have no idea what they're asking for until they consider the post-build responsibilities. For one (or two), I won't be the one going up a ten foot ladder to change the light bulbs and clean the windows in the great room.

[Ellendra]

actually building a house is a mysterious process that is mostly left to professionals.

I'm kind of getting stuck on this phrase. There's a gazillion books out there that'll walk you through it, step by step. I'm in the process of getting the permits in order to build my own house, and I'm finding the government red tape more baffling than the building process.

[decimon]

Problems noted but I have seen some beautiful cedar log houses.

[decimon]

I'm in the process of getting the permits in order to build my own house, and I'm finding the government red tape more baffling than the building process.

I don't doubt it. Just closing on a house is a legal circus so building one must be a real trip.

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

Bump for later

[Political Junkie Too]

-PJ

[Professional Engineer]

Cool pickup and teardrop!

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Lots of cool custom ideas here.

Including ideas for outdoors like on a patio or something.