Woman Power!

I had two customers in the last two days, both women, looking at cabins.   In our conversations I discovered that one can weld and the other one told me that she can do electrical and plumbing.   Wow!

I remember just a few years ago when I would walk into Home Depot, I would get looks from men.   Not approving looks either.   Or wolf whistles.   You know.   That look.   That "you don't really belong here because you don't know what you are doing look".  

Don't get me wrong, I don't consider myself a feminist.   I like to cook, sew, paint, garden, do lady things like that.   But I can lay tile.   I can hang sheet rock, tape and float.   I have installed flooring, both vinyl and wood.   I have even installed a window or two.   Thank you HGTV, DIY, This Old House and Daddy!

It seems like women are doing more construction jobs.   They like it too.

I get 5 women to every 1 man looking at cabins.   It is always the same story - they want one to build out to live in, put someone they know in, use as a guest house, etc. etc.   But always, always a build out.  The cabin build-out fad is still in its infancy.   As mortgage rates and rents rise, people are looking for alternatives and they always find them.   Mainstream hasn't caught on yet, but its just a matter of time.   Tiny Houses, Tumbleweed Houses, etc. are out there, pre-built and ready to move into, but they are still pricey - $50,000 plus.

A storage building, decent size - 16 x 40 can be purchased for around $11,000.
Add windows.
A little framing inside
A door if it does not come with a standard steel 36" door (Graceland Buildings do!).
Add electrical
Add plumbing
Add sheet rock or paneling (I have even seen pretty decent jobs with T-1 11)
Connect a stove
Put a window unit in
Hot water heater (or On Demand Hot Water - prices are coming down and takes much less space)
Sink
Tub or Shower
Bathroom vanity
Toilet
Some Cabinets
You've got yourself a basic, livable house.  
Apartment sized, yes, but cheaper.  
Cost?
Depending on how much DIY, probably around $20,000 - $25,000 or maybe less

Crazy idea?   Think no one else is doing it?   Think Again!   They are everywhere.  I have talked to the people who live in them.  
They are happy.   They are loving their small spaces.  They have money in their bank accounts now.   No mortgage.   Low taxes.   And it belongs to them.