Could We Build a Kit Home?

Reader Contribution by Jennifer Kongs
1 / 2
2 / 2

The Small Home, Big Decisions series follows Jennifer and her husband, Tyler, as they build a self-reliant homestead on a piece of country property in northeastern Kansas. The series will delve into questions that arise during their building process and the decisions they make along the way. The posts are a work in progress, written as their home-building adventure unfolds.

After MOTHER EARTH NEWS ran an article on selecting a DIY kit home, I have been intrigued by the idea. Many of the homes are energy-efficient— which is important to Tyler and me — and come in a range of size options. We plan to be as involved in the building process as we can be, and a kit home seemed like it would be a good fit for our limited construction skills. (Tyler likes to say that we know just enough to muck up a job. I have a bit more confidence.) The structure of a kit home goes up quickly, there is little waste at the construction site, and it would allow for us to customize our home without going, well, totally off the wall.

Online Store Logo
Need Help? Call 1-800-234-3368