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nomadic housing

Best option for temporary home with climate control

Posts: 88

Location: St Charles, MO

posted 2 years ago

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I have recently purchased my land and I'd like to move onto it sooner rather than later, as well as sell my current house sooner than later. But it's going to be a little while until I have a home designed and built. What do you feel my best options are for this? I'd like the option to be under $30k with a good resale value, and must have the ability to have heat and air conditioning. I also need enough space for my son and I to have somewhat separate quarters. My first thought was to buy a used RV. Someone else mentioned a yurt. My only concern with that is resale and I will have to build a large deck for it to sit on. What about a bathroom? I've thought about getting a few containers as well. I have a feeling there are other options out there so I thought I'd see what the community had to say.

William Kellogg

Posts: 459

posted 2 years ago

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Unfortunately this is a bit of a contradiction.

Anything with a good resale value would need an endorsement for the energy efficiency and safety of the structure. These tiny homes are a good value but finding one for $30,000 is unlikely but not impossible.

Anything DIY will not really fit the description and therefore not have a good resale. However it could suit your immediate needs and serve as an "artist retreat" or something along those lines later...

William Kellogg

Posts: 459

posted 2 years ago

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Future Art studio is really what I meant to call it, which could be assigned some value, and as long as you build a main house later, it would then be considered an accessory structure.

Justin Gerardot

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Location: north west Michigan

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posted 2 years ago

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How about buying or building a shed then insulating and adding AC and a wood stove. It could be a future shed or guest house

"We will never be truly healthy, satisfied, or fulfilled if we live apart and alienated from the environment from which we evolved." -Stephen Kellert

Justin Gerardot

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Location: north west Michigan

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posted 2 years ago

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For the bathroom I would probably just use a bucket style composting toilet until I built anything 'approved' by the people who think they have the power.

"We will never be truly healthy, satisfied, or fulfilled if we live apart and alienated from the environment from which we evolved." -Stephen Kellert

Anne Miller

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Location: USDA Zone 8a

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posted 2 years ago

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Justin has suggested exactly what I was going to suggest.

Get one of the big box store sheds like Tuff Shed.

Then fix it up inside as you want.

This could be as simple as bunk beds, a camp stove, a sink that drains into a bucket, a bucket toilet, and a window AC.

When you build that dream home this shed would be used for storage or guest quarters.

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Dan Fish

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Location: Sierra Nevada Foothills, Zone 7b

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posted 2 years ago

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The military makes huge insulated and climate-controlled tents. They are probably relatively inefficient compared to insulating a tough shed but I am sure they have a pretty good re-sell value.

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Amy Gardener

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Location: 5,000' 35.24N zone 7b Albuquerque, NM

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posted 2 years ago

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Another shed-like idea for brainstorming: shipping container. Is your son old enough to help with the building? It's raining here so I checked Craigslist in your area. Sure enough, someone's selling containers.
For some brainstorming pic's, check out the 20' containers made by Tiny House Container
or Google "shipping container tiny house images".

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John C Daley

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Location: Bendigo , Australia

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posted 2 years ago

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Build basic and then improve.
It works for many people trying to stretch things.
I would start with 1 room- sleeping basic kitchen and a toilet shower room which will grow to a small bathroom
Then add 3 more walls and build a bathroom in it etc.

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Jay Angler

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posted 2 years ago

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Is your land in an area where temporary or long term rental accommodation is an asset? Think travelers or hunters? Or will you have a need for space for relatives to visit, or a mother-in-law suite sort of building?

If the first options might be appropriate, thinking of the temporary home as future income generation might affect your decision.

The second options might simply save your sanity!

If not, I'd definitely be looking at some sort of tiny home on wheels. Good luck whatever you try.

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Douglas Alpenstock

pollinator

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Location: Canadian Prairies - Zone 3b

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posted 2 years ago

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In a lot of jurisdictions, a 10'x10' shed on skids falls under the radar of the powers that require permits.

If you had a 10x10 and insulated/finished it as a living area, and added two more (workshop and storage) facing a common area with a bit of a gazebo roof, I think you'd have a pretty workable setup.

William Kellogg

Posts: 459

posted 2 years ago

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With a $30,000 max budget, I think the old garage with overhead apartment concept has worked well for a lot of people, as temporary housing with a permanent value also.

Anne Miller

steward

Posts: 16099

Location: USDA Zone 8a

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posted 2 years ago

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One of our members made two living space idea that might give you some ideas:

Trailer Conversion:

https://permies.com/t/133368/Tiny-Bug-Grid-Boondocking-Camper

Tiny home:

https://permies.com/t/53706//Northern-Climate-Tiny-Home-Wheels

One of our members is doing a shipping container home:

https://permies.com/t/161748/house-build-total-newb

I hope these will give you or others some ideas.

Invasive plants are Earth's way of insisting we notice her medicines. Stephen Herrod Buhner
Everyone learns what works by learning what doesn't work. Stephen Herrod Buhner

Aimee Lee

Posts: 4

posted 1 year ago

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Maybe like this? It looks great if you ask me.

"Life isn't about finding yourself; it's about creating yourself." - George Bernard Shaw

William Kellogg

Posts: 459

posted 1 year ago

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Also your zoning is a big factor in what type of building to use because often with residential zoning, no accessory structures can be built before the main dwelling.

With agricultural zoning you can usually proceed with accessory structures at any time.

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