Building a Log Cabin on a Budget

No doubt about it, building a log cabin would create a dent on your savings. Although there may be some way to get money to build your dream house, like a home loan, it would always be best not to bury yourself in debt. There is no harm in being practical and save whatever you have for other equally important things. Building a log cabin for starters is already one way of being practical, since it is cheaper to do so than have the more standard concrete houses we know of. To save even further in the design and building of this dream log home is an even greater idea if possible. The good news is, it is indeed possible. How? Below are some tips to help you save money and still have that home.

Even during the designing stage of the log cabin, you may already start saving. When you are already thinking of the design, and saving is your priority, it would help to bear in mind that the more corners you consider to have in the foundation, the more windows would be needed, the more complex and intricate the roof system becomes and the more exposed rafters will be called for which will result to more costs. It would then be best to make the design of your choice as simple as possible. You may start with the floor plan. Luckily for any person interested in having a log home built, the Internet has become a vast resource for very specific needs that pertain to this matter. You can get from the Internet everything you will need from design to what furniture to fill it with. You can browse online samples of these floor plans and find one that is closest to your design in mind. You may then send it to your choice of log cabin company which in turn will give you advices on how best to save money and then give you a quote for their log home kit price. Make sure you have them incorporate your requirements to prevent problems in the future.

The next and the greatest way to save, is by building the log cabin yourself. This may not be a good idea for those who have a full time job but if saving money on creating this house is the foremost thing in your mind, then you may find ways to get the time to do it. You can take a leave of absence if you want or get a close relative to do it for you with you just managing the construction by being there now and again or through calls while working. One good way to do it yourself is again by getting a book on how to do it or even browsing online and choosing from the many references available there that gives instructions on how to do the construction of a log home by yourself. Another idea, which seems to be the best one, is by consulting a log builder and getting his services on an hourly rate for consultation purposes only. It is a good idea to be able to do things right from the beginning even if you have to spend much, than experience the problem later on and all the money you have already spent will go to waste if you have to restart all over again.

One good way also of saving money is by doing your own general contracting. This is the second greatest way to save, the first one being, the building of the home yourself. Actually, there are plenty of log home owners who became their own general contractors. This is however not an easy task and would involve many headaches. All the money you managed to save will be used up in this stage of the house construction. Having to deal with local officials for building permits may be cumbersome, subcontractors may be difficult, there could be late, wrong or lacking deliveries of materials, weather may be uncooperative and some suppliers or subcontractors may take advantage of your lack of experience. If you can handle all these things, then you are likely to save 15% of what you would have spent if will you have a professional do it for you. That is a lot of savings. Again, you may consult the Internet, firstly, to get an idea which book to buy that will give you the necessary assistance in log home construction and secondly, to give you the necessary websites that contain step by step instructions on how to build your log home for free. You may also get the services of an experienced home builder for consultation purposes only.

A long list can still be filled by ways of saving money when you do your own design and construction of your log home. To put it simply, the following ways can be of help. First, it is a good idea to choose financing companies just like you are shopping for furniture. You may get a list of these companies for free in the Internet and choose from there. Likewise, you should be able to select wisely your choice of home builders that you will get for consultation purposes. You can get referrals from people you know or visit the websites of the home builders and check out the homes they already built.

To save more, you can opt to use carpets on your floors rather than hardwood, which is more expensive. It is wiser to make use of roof trusses that are manufactured rather that have exposed rafters and beams. This can save you roughly $10/sq.ft. You can further save by selecting or purchasing practical items to fill in your new home like a stove instead of a fireplace, the plumbing materials, your doors and windows, your kitchen needs and many more. It is up to you which things to buy that will be easier on the budget. After all, this can be temporary. When the time comes that the expenses incurred during the log cabin’s construction have already been fully paid and money is again aplenty, you may start replacing the fixtures and furniture and get the ones with greater quality that would best fit your log home.