Shelter-Kit to the rescue!
The budget for first project for a 16x24 timber frame cabin went ridiculously off the rails. The budget was increasing exponentially and we came to the realization that we would have to scrap the entire project. It was devastating but we did not want to get in over our heads with a mortgage for a cabin, knowing we wanted to build a retirement home in ten+ years.
Over the next few months, Maurice started to send me ideas for affordable cabins. I tentatively started to do research again and happened upon a Bob Vila article about houses you could buy and build yourself. The ultimate DIY. It was in that article I saw the Shelter-Kit Z034 model. It was listed as $30 per square foot. Bonus!
Shelter-Kit is a company based in Warren, New Hampshire. I sent them an email and called, too many times, to ask questions about their project. After showing the idea to Chris and explaining that we could definitely complete the project ourselves we decided on the Morgan.
We went back to our friends at Community National Bank and started the process for a construction loan in mid-February. The planned timeline would be to start design of the Shelter-Kit cabin and have it ready to go for mid-June, after school was out for the year.
Obviously, the timeline was annihilated by a couple of factors. Our primary loan officer retired. That is good news for him. However, when our paperwork was passed to a colleague it was the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak and everyone was scrambling to refinance. Our new loan officer was overwhelmed and she tried the best she could to get our loan back on track. Right now, we are projected to close on the construction loan in late April.
Meanwhile, I have purchased everything possible for the kitchen and bathroom, aside from a refrigerator. Wayfair has been an awesome resource.
Len, from Shelter-Kit, has been absolutely amazing. He has been going back and forth with me about designs, dimensions, etc. so that everything will be ready to go when the loan goes through. He has been the shining light at the end of the tunnel and kept me positive and excited about the project.