Hello everyone =)
I’ve been interested in houses/apartments/construction/home technology/buying/renting, etc., for a long time.
I’m 25 years old, fully employed, have home savings contracts, live very frugally, and earn… well, let’s say a comfortable middle income. I save a good amount every month to make my dream of owning a home come true. I’m a woman, and I’m handling everything financially on my own.
For the past three years, I’ve been occasionally looking for apartments and houses in need of renovation (sometimes more intensively, sometimes less) in a very rural area.
Over the last year, I realized that I’m more open to the idea of “buying/building a house.” I have more freedom now… I can shape it the way I want… using new technology.
Some time ago, I started reading about Isorast and Argisol. It sounds very appealing—a kit house. I’m skilled with DIY projects. We could do quite a bit ourselves: building walls, electrical work, heating, windows, tiling, plumbing…
But I still worry that a new build might be too much to handle. What are your experiences? What would you generally recommend? And what do you think about kit building systems like Isorast, which boast excellent insulation values—to mention one positive aspect?
Thank you =)
I’ve been interested in houses/apartments/construction/home technology/buying/renting, etc., for a long time.
I’m 25 years old, fully employed, have home savings contracts, live very frugally, and earn… well, let’s say a comfortable middle income. I save a good amount every month to make my dream of owning a home come true. I’m a woman, and I’m handling everything financially on my own.
For the past three years, I’ve been occasionally looking for apartments and houses in need of renovation (sometimes more intensively, sometimes less) in a very rural area.
Over the last year, I realized that I’m more open to the idea of “buying/building a house.” I have more freedom now… I can shape it the way I want… using new technology.
Some time ago, I started reading about Isorast and Argisol. It sounds very appealing—a kit house. I’m skilled with DIY projects. We could do quite a bit ourselves: building walls, electrical work, heating, windows, tiling, plumbing…
But I still worry that a new build might be too much to handle. What are your experiences? What would you generally recommend? And what do you think about kit building systems like Isorast, which boast excellent insulation values—to mention one positive aspect?
Thank you =)
Hello,
basically, you should know what you want. If you can afford it financially, owning your own home is definitely a great thing.
That would be something like building with Lego bricks.
Don’t imagine it’s that simple...
With the right partner by your side, that’s no problem. And by the right partner, I mean of course an architect.
OK, and that’s about it. Or where else does it offer advantages? Insulation value isn’t everything...
Regards
basically, you should know what you want. If you can afford it financially, owning your own home is definitely a great thing.
T001ewr schrieb:
Some time ago, I looked into Isorast and Argisol. Sounds very tempting... a kit house like that.
That would be something like building with Lego bricks.
T001ewr schrieb:
I am skilled with crafts. We could do quite a lot ourselves. Putting up walls, electrical work, heating, windows, tiling, plumbing...
Don’t imagine it’s that simple...
T001ewr schrieb:
But the fear that building a new house might be a bit too much stays.
With the right partner by your side, that’s no problem. And by the right partner, I mean of course an architect.
T001ewr schrieb:
... which have excellent insulation values – just to highlight something positive.
OK, and that’s about it. Or where else does it offer advantages? Insulation value isn’t everything...
Regards
Hi there, thanks for the responses. I was abroad on business, so my reply is a bit late.
Basically, I think I know what to expect with a new build. Two years ago, we completely gutted and rebuilt an old farmhouse. However, from a financial perspective, I haven’t gained much experience, and that’s exactly where I’m not sure if I can really estimate things correctly.
The insulation value isn’t everything—of course, it was just an advantage. I actually like the modular system and the fact that it comes as a kit. It’s not a prefabricated timber frame house; I have solid ceilings and walls. Isorast offers a suitable block for every requirement.
What about this expanded polystyrene (EPS) material if I want to install things like wall cabinets in the interior (e.g., kitchen)? Won’t I end up pressing or denting the corners or something similar when I attach them to the masonry?
Basically, I think I know what to expect with a new build. Two years ago, we completely gutted and rebuilt an old farmhouse. However, from a financial perspective, I haven’t gained much experience, and that’s exactly where I’m not sure if I can really estimate things correctly.
The insulation value isn’t everything—of course, it was just an advantage. I actually like the modular system and the fact that it comes as a kit. It’s not a prefabricated timber frame house; I have solid ceilings and walls. Isorast offers a suitable block for every requirement.
What about this expanded polystyrene (EPS) material if I want to install things like wall cabinets in the interior (e.g., kitchen)? Won’t I end up pressing or denting the corners or something similar when I attach them to the masonry?
G
germanissima18 Jul 2011 00:26Hello!
We are in a very similar situation to you. We are also currently in the planning phase, which means I started researching and taking notes a few weeks ago. Now that I have gained a bit of understanding, I have to say that I have developed a huge respect for the whole construction process. That’s why your post honestly impressed me quite a bit. I think it’s great that you’re approaching this so courageously and want to take on such a project at a young age. We are in a similar situation, but a) we are quite a bit older than you (especially combined) and b) we have two, or rather one and a half, income earners.
Regarding your question: I think the decision about what you want and what you can afford financially is always up to you. We want to build ourselves, so a prefabricated house or something similar is not an option for us. Therefore, I can’t really say much about kit homes. Except that it does sound a bit like Lego, as E.Curb mentioned. (Just a little joke. Actually, I think Lego is great—we have quite a few boxes of it ourselves!!!)
Well, nothing else comes to mind right now. It’s already pretty late...
Wishing you continued success and see you next time here in the forum.
Best regards,
germanissima
We are in a very similar situation to you. We are also currently in the planning phase, which means I started researching and taking notes a few weeks ago. Now that I have gained a bit of understanding, I have to say that I have developed a huge respect for the whole construction process. That’s why your post honestly impressed me quite a bit. I think it’s great that you’re approaching this so courageously and want to take on such a project at a young age. We are in a similar situation, but a) we are quite a bit older than you (especially combined) and b) we have two, or rather one and a half, income earners.
Regarding your question: I think the decision about what you want and what you can afford financially is always up to you. We want to build ourselves, so a prefabricated house or something similar is not an option for us. Therefore, I can’t really say much about kit homes. Except that it does sound a bit like Lego, as E.Curb mentioned. (Just a little joke. Actually, I think Lego is great—we have quite a few boxes of it ourselves!!!)
Well, nothing else comes to mind right now. It’s already pretty late...
Wishing you continued success and see you next time here in the forum.
Best regards,
germanissima
Hello Germanissima,
thank you for your post, it made me smile a bit (in a positive way).
Thank goodness someone understands what I mean ;D
Yes, I’m familiar with the reactions like “What? Why do you want to build at 25 already?!” or “Back then, we were already a couple.” The second sentence actually comes from my dear mom. But there is a great saying:
During your life, you will pay for a house anyway:
Either your own – or your landlord’s.
I prefer the first option.
For me, it really started with looking for an apartment:
- definitely not a block of flats (help, like a prison)
- WHAT, 250€ (about $270) monthly service charge? For such a small apartment??!!
- Only 70m² (about 750 square feet) without a balcony or garden?
- Sloped ceilings? Never!
Okay, then I gave up on the apartment idea and started looking for a house… a nice farmhouse… large plot… to renovate.
- Extremely nice house fits all criteria, but way too expensive
- Very run-down house… nice plot, but renovation costs of at least 150,000 (about $165,000) are unavoidable
- Some things I can’t realize… (maybe possible, but is the cost and effort realistic?)
Hmm… in my head it feels like a whirlwind.
The idea of a new build / kit house seems really good to me.
I take a bit of my dad as a role model here.
My parents’ house is very large (I would never build that big) – 280m² (about 3,000 square feet) with a granny flat.
And he built it himself, at 22 years old (he had been married to my mum for one year, and my brother was on the way). What I think is great: even back then, he paid attention to triple glazing, thick insulation, and such.
Until today, no modernization was needed on the house except the fireplace, which was replaced by a soapstone stove.
My dad always says I could manage financially. I’ll have a few days off soon, so we will seriously sit down and crunch the numbers, then make an appointment with the bank. We already did this back when we were looking at an apartment – it helped me a bit.
Regards
thank you for your post, it made me smile a bit (in a positive way).
Thank goodness someone understands what I mean ;D
Yes, I’m familiar with the reactions like “What? Why do you want to build at 25 already?!” or “Back then, we were already a couple.” The second sentence actually comes from my dear mom. But there is a great saying:
During your life, you will pay for a house anyway:
Either your own – or your landlord’s.
I prefer the first option.
For me, it really started with looking for an apartment:
- definitely not a block of flats (help, like a prison)
- WHAT, 250€ (about $270) monthly service charge? For such a small apartment??!!
- Only 70m² (about 750 square feet) without a balcony or garden?
- Sloped ceilings? Never!
Okay, then I gave up on the apartment idea and started looking for a house… a nice farmhouse… large plot… to renovate.
- Extremely nice house fits all criteria, but way too expensive
- Very run-down house… nice plot, but renovation costs of at least 150,000 (about $165,000) are unavoidable
- Some things I can’t realize… (maybe possible, but is the cost and effort realistic?)
Hmm… in my head it feels like a whirlwind.
The idea of a new build / kit house seems really good to me.
I take a bit of my dad as a role model here.
My parents’ house is very large (I would never build that big) – 280m² (about 3,000 square feet) with a granny flat.
And he built it himself, at 22 years old (he had been married to my mum for one year, and my brother was on the way). What I think is great: even back then, he paid attention to triple glazing, thick insulation, and such.
Until today, no modernization was needed on the house except the fireplace, which was replaced by a soapstone stove.
My dad always says I could manage financially. I’ll have a few days off soon, so we will seriously sit down and crunch the numbers, then make an appointment with the bank. We already did this back when we were looking at an apartment – it helped me a bit.
Regards
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