What to do? Live in a shed or rv?

Ohio dreamer · #21 05/29/14, 04:07 PM

I'd go the garage route, but then that's what my grandparents did. My grandfather was out of work so he built a 2 car garage on family land (without the garage doors). He, my grandma, and teenage mother lived in that for a year. No interior walls, no running water, but they did have power. They just put up fabric screens to make "rooms". Heated it with a little pot belly coal burner. Cooling isn't needed there....on the side of the mountain under shade trees in central PA. When he retired they moved back and lived there 2 more years till they could afford to buy a house. 55 yrs later we now own that "cabin", it's has always been the family's fall back location.

big rockpile · #22 05/29/14, 09:32 PM

Ok me and my wife was use to living off the land before we moved to this one place.

We had 20 acres well off the road. Had two half Ton Pickups, 2WD. First built a 8X20 Shed with Door and Lock. Put bulk of our stuff in there. Come back built an open Leanto on to it 10X20. Dirt floor no Electric or running water.

First night there Tornado came through blowed hail into where we was sleeping. But we was ok.

Went and bought a 200 gallon Sprayer Tank, fixed Guttering up, with filter going into Tank. Used this for our Water. Used Colman Lanterns. Went got Propane Cook Stove one 100# Bottle of Propane. 5 Gallon Bucket with Sprayer that we could turn the water off and on, Pallet on the ground. This was our shower.

We was both working full time 25 miles away. Idea was to live in Shack and build House.

By the time Winter came House was still far off. First Winter we just concentrated on keeping warm. Next Spring put Floor, Insulation in, put Wall up across Front. Put in a Small Kitchen.

As it was we lived in the Shack for 20 years. After few years got Electric, Phone, on Party Line and Running Water. We built many other Buildings, Fenced the place in. Raised Goats, Calves, Hogs, Poultry, Rabbits, Garden and Orchard.

It was rough went through Tornadoes, Snow Storms, Ice Storms, Wild Fires and road being totally impassible. Loved every minute, could kick myself many times selling it.

You can do which ever you want just pointing out you can make it either way.

big rockpile

Danaus29 · #23 05/29/14, 09:56 PM

When dh was a teen his family ended up living in a metal shed one winter. A really cold winter in the Ohio snow belt. They all nearly froze that winter and had to worry about people stealing their stuff. One shed was rotted by spring so their dad built a cinder block building which is still in use today as a garage. The cinder block building has been standing nearly 40 years.

**Shrek** · #24 05/29/14, 10:20 PM

A neighbor of a friend first built a two story two car garage as a small 3 room house. Seven years later after building their house beside the garage, he unbolted the bottom front wall section salvaging the two windows for use on the sun room of the house and gutted the down stairs kitchen of the garage for the canning kitchen pavilion he built.

When finished they had the bottom portion of the garage as a two car garage with work room and mud bath in the former kitchen area and the upstairs as storage attic..

The garage turned house initially cost them about $22K and the conversion back to garage cost them about $3k with them doing most of the labor but they also realized savings on their $100k house, sun porch and canning kitchen pavilion.

johng · #25 05/30/14, 11:59 AM

I'm thinking Cabin/shed would probably be the most economical in the long run. Unless you can find a really good deal on a RV chances are you will loose some money on it when you sell it. If you fix up a shed where you can live in it. After you move to the property you can turn the Cabin back into a shed. I can promise you, You will never be sorry you have another shed. I don't think you can ever have enough covered area to store stuff.

neverfear · #26 05/31/14, 08:04 PM

It sounds to me like you don't want to do either one, a shed or RV, so here, try one of these.

**Terri** · #27 05/31/14, 09:26 PM

Try and mow around THAT sucker!

It is lovely, though!

fullmetal · #28 05/31/14, 11:04 PM

yea, i agree with the shed idea. i use to work with a guy who lived with his wife in a 12 by 12 shed with a half loft. start to finish expense was just under $9,000. they had lived there 4 years at the time i knew him and they liked it ok

cricket49 · #29 06/01/14, 05:12 PM

Thanks everyone for the great comments!

It looks like the RV route is too expensive since my husband only wants a 5th wheel. So we would have to buy a new truck and a hitch which I had no idea were that expensive and heavy. Also, we would go the used RV route and then you have to trust the people you buy it from. A long story cut short. Years ago we had no money and were looking at used refrigerators and we found one that this sweet old woman had for sale. When we got home we found the freezer did not freeze the food properly. I called the woman and she was no longer a sweet old lady. Basically, she told me to sue her. I have trust issues.....

Logic told me from the beginning to go the shed route. We found a company that will come to our site and build the shed. Because of the size we will have to get a permit and septic if we want it plumbed with water. We might try only insulating it and see if we can live in it without water. The only problem I have is how the county will view this shed if we have it plumbed. I have no doubt they will tax it as living quarters since so many people are doing the small house thing. I know they will not change it later when we are no longer living in it and it really is a shed.

unregistered353870 · #30 06/01/14, 10:37 PM

You may not be willing to go the route I would, but the county doesn't have to know you have running water in the shed.

lonelytree · #31 06/02/14, 12:36 AM

Personally, I think you need to rethink your plans. I don't know your budget, building restrictions, etc.... so take this as a different way of thinking Alaska style. I assisted building a 1600 sq ft log home with a full basement and 30X40 shop in 6 months a few years ago, a 1500 sq ft ranch 2003 then added a huge family room and 30X 40 shop and built a remote 20X 32 cabin with dual lofts 6.5 miles from a road and 3.5 hour drive starting in 2006.

1. Survey. Know exactly where your land is.

2. Set a site plan. Driveway, well, house, septic, outbuildings, greenhouse, garden, parking, snow removal, etc.

3. Deforest per site plan. Leave no tree that could hit your buildings in a storm. NONE. They cost a lot more to take down after buildings are up.

4. Set driveway so the well folks can get in. I would put the wellhead in the front yard about 25 feet off the driveway. In the winter they can pull your pump if needed.

5. Get well drilled and tested for quality and flow.

6. IF well tests good, then it is time for a driveway, stump removal, home excavation. This is critical. Get an experienced general contractor involved. You are 6 hours away. You need to find someone with a steller reputation.

7. Septic. Put in a septic for at least one more bedroom/bathroom than you are planning. Back yard. Not in a hole, a flood or freak storm may overwhelm your leach field.

8. The general should be ready to start building. Check on it every 2 weeks max. Be sure to have everything in writing.

9. If you need a place to stay, get a 40 ft container dropped out of the way of construction. Carry loads every trip to lower your moving costs and load the back of the container. You can sleep be the doors or even get a house door off craigslist and build a wall to put it in. Be sure to lock the container doors open. Cook on a Coleman or grill. Use a cook tent. I slept in an 8X8 shed for a year while building my cabin. 4 adults, 2 dogs. You can heat with a 2000w Honda and an electric heater if needed.

10. In about 3 months you should have a home. Skip wasting money on a shed or 5th wheel.

11. If you are able, put up a shop/garage/barn to suit your needs. Then fencing etc...

Pay the extra to have an engineers drawing of your home. That way if you end up with problems, the general should have to fix them.

I wasted a month building an 8X8 shed when I could have had the cabin half finished.
Hope this helps.

Here is what I would do

EAParent · #32 06/02/14, 07:14 AM

Just my two cents worth, but I think I'd go with a tiny house on wheels. You could always sell it later, or turn it into a guest house.

This website has a lot of them in many different price ranges. There are also small houses that you can go dismantle and put up on your own land.

http://tinyhouselistings.com/?s=view...ron=1401710527

Since you have such a long drive from work to the property, you'll likely find something close enough to easily go look at.

Good luck!

cricket49 · #33 06/02/14, 07:40 AM

lonelytree,

Thanks for the list. We already have a survey, soil scientist and a site plan. Looking at clearing 2-3 acres to get a clearer vision of the property. We have to get a better driveway put in now to get to the well site and area where shed/shop will be placed. This shed will not be tiny so it will be a great place in the future to store farm equipment etc. More like a large shed with awnings/lean too.

Also, we are in a rural area with a bigger city about 45 minutes away and in the past 5 years more builders have gone out of business. Finding a stellar builder is harder than I thought since we have been looking into this. We would not build while living 6 hours away since we find it important to be onsite and see what the builder/plumber/carpenter is doing. Building the house is going to be a few years away since our plan is to retire at that time. The shed idea comes into play because we cannot continue to drive that far and stay in a hotel when we meet with people to get estimates, permits etc.

Even if we don't plumb the shed we can still have water since we will have a water hydrant brought down from the well. Just have to use a hose which should work fine.

eaparent,

We have looked at these tiny houses and one company thats builds these is located only a few hours from us. However, they are expensive for the size and heavy when hauling them. They are cute and homey but cost wise we can build a large shed/barn for less money.

wwubben · #34 06/02/14, 08:06 AM

Build a shed the size of a two car garage and stay in that for the time being.You will need it later to store your equipment.

CJ · #35 06/03/14, 08:44 AM

I would go the RV route. Just inspect it to make sure all the appliances work and the roof doesn't leak. Sell it when you're done. If you don't have a truck to haul, just hire someone to move it in for you.

My main reason? Property taxes. While you may need that shed later, you certainly won't need it fully insulated with appliances, windows, plumbing etc, but the tax man is going to get you on those!

Kaos · #36 06/04/14, 07:13 AM

IMO,
Financially the answer is easy...
You live in the shop until your home is built.
Unless you find a steal on a camper, you are going to lose money that route.

ChristieAcres · #37 06/04/14, 12:18 PM

I recommend a different alternative. Build a carport, one you know will be used later. Then, either buy a 5th wheel, travel trailer, or big motorhome. Park the RV in the carport. Once you get your home built, you can either sell the RV, or you already have it stored under cover, and keep it for recreational use...

We bought our property a few months ago... It already had a pole carport, well, electric on property, approved/inspected septic, and RV hookups (including septic). I initially thought a single wide mobile would be good for temporary living, but considered the cost (moving them is expensive...). Then, we would have to sell it and have it moved off when we were done building our home. Here's what we decided to do:

We bought a 34' motorhome, currently also have a camper, and DH will be building us a 400 sq ft cabin. That building will include a large closet, my office, and a utility room. Later, it will serve as a guest cabin. Once our home is completed, we have the option of selling the motorhome or keeping it. The same thing for our shipping containers. We can modify them after we use them for storage... I am hoping by then, to convince DH to utilize both 40' shipping containers in a shop building design.

Having a roof over an RV, like a carport, will be great during the Winter... You could always fix up that little shed, make it like a guest cabin. An extra RV can be used for guests...

MO_cows · #38 06/04/14, 01:49 PM

I would go with a used RV for several reasons. Exempt from zoning. Already has the plumbing, wiring, fixtures, everything needed for living in it, plus a 12 volt side that can run off a backup battery. Lack of a heavy duty truck isn't a deal breaker to move it one time. Make delivery to your site part of the purchase deal, call in a favor from someone who has enough truck, something. When you no longer need the RV, you should be able to sell it for close to what you paid if this is only a 2 year project or so. Or, keep it for travel, to use a guest quarters, etc. Like others have said, putting it under a carport or some type of roof will greatly extend its useful life.

If you build a shed, garage, etc, you will spend a lot of extra money and work to make it livable. And how much extra expense and hassle will it create when the house eventually goes up and the water, septic, electric, etc. all have to be moved from the "temporary" building over to the house?

ChristieAcres · #39 06/04/14, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MO_cows

I would go with a used RV for several reasons. Exempt from zoning. Already has the plumbing, wiring, fixtures, everything needed for living in it, plus a 12 volt side that can run off a backup battery. Lack of a heavy duty truck isn't a deal breaker to move it one time. Make delivery to your site part of the purchase deal, call in a favor from someone who has enough truck, something. When you no longer need the RV, you should be able to sell it for close to what you paid if this is only a 2 year project or so. Or, keep it for travel, to use a guest quarters, etc. Like others have said, putting it under a carport or some type of roof will greatly extend its useful life.

If you build a shed, garage, etc, you will spend a lot of extra money and work to make it livable. And how much extra expense and hassle will it create when the house eventually goes up and the water, septic, electric, etc. all have to be moved from the "temporary" building over to the house?

Yes, we bought a used motorhome, and it cost us only $4,250 (since then, I have looked up the same year/make/model/condition and they are easily twice this figure). Since we sold a 19' travel trailer, got $2,200 for it, rolled that into the motorhome, we only had to come up with $2,050. It was even a better deal, since we actually profited on our travel trailer by $1,200. All said and done, we really only paid $850.00 out of pocket, in reality. If you get a used RV, that could use a little TLC, remodel it a bit, you can actually profit on it! We have done that every time

So, picture us... We buy the motorhome, park it, and it took only a few hours for DH to set it up completely. We have water, power, and septic hooked up. If we wanted to park it under a carport, we could live in it while we built that carport... So, in literally one day, we had an instant temporary home. We have hot showers and can still cook all our meals from scratch. Since temporary housing is solved, this frees up our time to get everything else done. Containers next, then DH will build a log pump house and also log well house. After that, he will build the 400 sq ft log cabin. Once that cabin is finished, we focus on the retirement home building...step by step, while we live very comfortably!

jwal10 · #40 06/04/14, 02:55 PM

That is why you build it as an attached garage, or unattached with a breezeway/patio between if wanted. An insulated garage can be used for a lot of things, fruit house, summer kitchen, canning kitchen, extra bath to keep the house cleaner and a nice shop. Don't install a full kitchen, just outlets and a sink along bath wall. Only need 1 temporary wall down the middle of the garage to divide it, can even be permanent if you want it divided anyway. All utilities are right there, just a Y on septic and a T for the waterline. Electrical box is best in garage anyway, just run wiring into house when you build. You can even insulate and finish just the studio, the rest later if wanted/needed. Unless you don't have the money, even for a garage/shop, anything costs something. This garage can be built for the price of an RV and a carport over it. Ever live in an RV for an extended period? They weren't built for hard use. Unless special built it will have a hard time keeping warm and the humidity down. Very hard to keep rodents out. A garage is permanent and adaptable, easy to build and finish out. It can be done in stages as money is available after the shell is built, add to as possible. 24'deep x 28' long will give enough room for a garage stall for car, shelves along one wall with a small loft at the front , 4' x 12'. This leaves 14'-16' x 24' for a hotel room like studio/bath/kitchenette along the full 24' depth with a walk in door out the back or side, to a patio....James