which plan to buy?

[Homegrown Tomatoes]

Just a quick question... I am new to the forums but have spent the last month or so poring over the owner-builder photo gallery and looking at the plans.  My husband and I are debating on whether we should buy the little house plans or the enchilada...  My vote is the enchilada and only build the builder's cottage and an attached sunroom.  We have two pre-school aged kids (girls) and I think we could get by with a pretty small space.  Any recommendations?  Currently we are in Wisconsin, but we are planning on buying land in Oklahoma soon, and our hope is that we will be able to buy land and build debt free.  As it stands right now, we are looking at a $2000 RV that we can live in until we get a small house built.  Eventually, the cottage would be used as a MIL cottage and/or a canning kitchen/office, and possibly in the far distant future even rented out as a little B&B or something.  Your thoughts/recommendations would be appreciated.  We have extensive remodelling experience, but other than a chicken house, this will be our first actual building experience.

[glenn kangiser]

Welcome to the forum- Sorry I'm brief but running out of time today.

The Enchilada will cover all bases and give you much more flexibility.  John gives you tons of info in the set.  Not expensive either in my opinion.

http://www.jshow.com/y2k/listings/43.html

[hunter63]

Hey, Homegrown, how you been?
Anyway, I agee that these plans seem to have a lot more info for the bucks and are priced right.
I just droped in to post a FYI on Lowes Katrina Cottages, and they are much more expensive for what you get.

[Homegrown Tomatoes]

Hey Hunter!!  Good to see someone I know over here!  How are you doing?  As you can see, we're possibly going to be moving back toward home between now and Christmas.  My husband applied for a job that was created specifically for him (a professorship at our alma mater!) and if he gets it, we'll be headed back in time for spring semester.  It finally feels homey here, and we've made friends here, but at the same time it will be so good to get back closer to family... feel like my kids are growing up barely knowing their cousins and grandparents.  We also looked at the Katrina cottages, but boy!  are they expensive for what you're getting!  I looked around quite a bit... I have decided that I am done remodelling for a few years and would rather build something from the ground up the way I want it.  My husband originally wanted to build a cabin like yours (he just really liked the way it looked) but as we got to looking into prices and plans, etc., he decided that he didn't really want to pay what they want for them.  Also, I am stubborn and wanted something flexible enough to let me play with the layout quite a bit.  We really want to move before they sell all the open land around us and build subdivisions... less that 1/4 mile down the road a house on 15 acres sold and they bulldozed it and are putting in a bunch of McMansions, and down at the other end of the section, they're doing the same... the field across the street is the only open space left, and it is my view, so I'd be absolutely depressed if they started putting up cookie-cutter houses across there!  Anyway, that''s where we're at... we liked these plans because of the price and because of the flexibility.  I'll probably end up having to do the roofing because my husband has the most hilarious fear of heights... we replaced a second floor window on Mother's Day weekend, and he was trying to lean out the window and do some work on it and wanted me to hold on to his belt loops.  There was no way he could've fallen out, but he was shaking like crazy.  I got to laughing at him and made him mad, so I ended up hanging out the window with him about to de-pants me because he insisted on hanging on to my jeans because he was afraid I'd fall.  Other than that, I don't think building a house will be a huge problem!  I'm glad you're over here on this forum too!

[blackdog]

HT, I purchased the Little House Plans which are excellent value for the money.   But as Glen indicated the Enchilada will give you much more flexibility.

[Preston]

Hello Homegrown!  just a thought for you, what seems like enough today might not be enough for tomorrow.  If you're going to be building and even possibly think that you may want more space in the future, I suggest building bigger now.  My wife and I started to look at the Builder's Cottage, which then turned into also building Victoria's Cottage and now we're thinking about the 2 story Universal with a bedroom wing like in Victoria's Cottage.  If you're going to spend the time, you will probably be happier if you do it now!  Welcome to the forum, I've learned a wealth of knowledge just from reading what all these intelligent people on here!

[Homegrown Tomatoes]

Thank you all for your replies...  I think we're probably going to go with the enchilada and then modify from there.... that is iff we move!  I hate this feeling of being in between places and hope a decision is made soon!  What do you all think about living in a 24' camper as motivation for getting the building done quickly?    Just looking at the little house plans, I am thinking everything from chicken house to kids' play house (how much fun would that be?!)  For now I have to be content with putting finishing touches on the kitchen remodel started last year and getting our house ready to sell should we need to sell it and move.

[Homegrown Tomatoes]

Oh, and I meant to address Preston's post directly, too.  The whole purpose of this little house will be to live in it while we save money (we don't like debt at all) to build a more permanent house.  My in-laws are planning on living with us part time after they officially retire in a few years, and I want them to have a place to stay.  (Translation: I want my MIL to have her own kitchen!!!)  ANYTHING we could build would be bigger than my in-laws' apartment in Korea, so they will be thrilled at the space that a builder's cottage and sunroom affords them, and they probably wouldn't know what to do with any more space.  For me, I am perfectly happy with a small space, but it is actually my husband who keeps thinking we need to expand it and make it bigger...  but your point is good... we found a dream house plan several years ago, and we are still hoping to build it eventually; we just want to pay as we go on it instead of taking out a loan.

[Homegrown Tomatoes]

After poring over the forums and the gallery for several weeks now, I am so amazed at the sheer variety of what folks have done with their houses.  Makes me excited about trying it myself, though if the tentative move takes place, it may be a little longer than I counted on before we can actually build (about nine months, perhaps? )  Never the less, we'll probably order plans as soon as we know something  for certain about the move.

[glenn kangiser]

Moves can definitely affect how quick things get done.

[Homegrown Tomatoes]

Well, it isn't just the timing of the move... I just won't be a lot of help to my husband in ways of lifting or climbing, etc, for a while... by that time the belly will be getting in the way.  It is easier to have kids underfoot than under your ribcage

[glenn kangiser]

I suspected that.  It will give you something to consider in your room planning,