With the cost of real estate these days, people have gotten creative in property ownership. From the soaring popularity of tiny homes to manufactured ones, there are more ways to own a house than ever. One unusual and increasingly popular types of homes are shipping containers.
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Yes, shipping containers.
According to HomeGuide, the average cost to build and install a container home is $25,000 to $250,000. While thats no small chunk of change, its significantly less than youd expect to pay for a traditional house in most parts of the country. Lets explore the costs associated with shipping container homes so you can decide if one is right for you.
First off, lets more accurately define a container home. A container home is a house thats built with one or more shipping containers. Shipping containers are designed to transport cargo across the world on ships, so theyre built to be extremely durable and weather-resistant, making them solid foundations for a home.
Shipping container homes are not the same as manufactured homes. Unlike manufactured houses, shipping container homes must meet traditional building codes. Successfully constructed, a shipping container home may last 25 to 30 years without needing significant maintenance. Of course, that duration is dependent upon how well you treat it and the local climate.
Building a shipping container home is a lot of work, and depending on the features youd like, it might not be that much more affordable than building a traditional home. Buying a pre-built shipping container home wont give you the same custom experience, but itll probably save you a lot of money.
The average pre-built shipping container home costs between $20,000 and $50,000 from a company that specializes in these types of home. Obviously, thats significantly less expensive than a traditional home or building a shipping container home from scratch.
That said, there are fewer investment benefits of a shipping container home. The market likely isnt going to rise dramatically for these types of homes any time soon, so theres less high-end investment opportunity. You trade affordability for a stagnant investment.
As we mentioned at the start, HomeGuide estimates that a shipping container home costs anywhere from $25,000 to $250,000 to build, and will take anywhere from three to six months to complete. The wide net is because there are many, many factors that impact how much a shipping container home will cost.
Heres a look at some of the primary factors that impact the cost of building a shipping container home.
While you can certainly build a home with a single shipping container, you dont have to settle for a studio apartment. Shipping containers are 8 feet wide by 8.5 feet high and are available in 10-foot, 20-foot, and 40-foot lengths. Containers cost $1,200 to $10,000.
The average cost to build a shipping container breaks down to about $150 to $350 per square foot, depending on the features you incorporate. You can build a shipping container home thats greater than 2,000 square feet, just expect to spend more the larger the home gets.
For reference, the average cost to build a house is a little under $400,000, so even if you build a larger shipping container home, youre probably doing it for cheaper than it would cost to build a new traditional house.
There is a shipping container home industry, which means you can buy prefabricated containers or entire container homes for a set price. Prefab container homes generally cost $120 to $300 per square foot. Customer-designed homes are more on the $250 to $400 per square foot range.
Generally, prefabricated containers are single-story and single-container. Custom homes can be configured to include multiple stories and be laid out any way you like.
Prefab containers are popular as extra structures on the same property to be used as a home office, in-law suite, or rental unit. In most states, a single-container unit qualifies as an accessory dwelling unit (ADU).
If you already own the land where you want your shipping container house to sit, thats great! Youll save some money. Otherwise, expect to spend anywhere from $5,000 to $18,000 per acre of land.
Because shipping container homes are typically placed on a permanent foundation, you also need to ensure that local regulations permit you to put a shipping container home on your land. That will entail land surveys and work permits to prep the land for construction.
Land surveys cost anywhere from $200 to $1,200 while land clearing, permits for new construction cost $500 to $2,000, and excavation will cost between $2,500 and $9,000. If you have to grade the land, expect to pay a little more.
In many cities, you cant build shipping container homes, so make sure to check local zoning regulations before starting your project.
Sure, a shipping container isnt exactly silly putty, but theres a still a lot you can do design-wise with a shipping container home, especially if youre building it fully custom. Hiring an architect will cost 8% to 15% of the construction cost, but will help you create a home youre truly proud of and that meets all of your specific needs.
Building the actual home involves many expenses that will have a significant impact on the final cost. Expect those costs to include:
Shipping container homes tend to be smaller than traditional ones, so you may opt for smaller appliances to maximize the space in your home. You can save some money by getting a smaller range, refrigerator, laundry machine, and other typical appliances.
Likewise, multi-purpose furniture is very popular in container homes, like futons, fold-down tables, furniture built into walls, and more. This is another area where you can save money by investing in utility over style or design.
Finally, youll have to connect your shipping container home to water and electrical services. Installing a new water main costs $32 to $53 per linear foot, but you may have to pay as much as $3,000 for a new water meter.
If youre connecting to the sewer line, that costs $40 to $180 per linear foot. Otherwise, a septic tank system costs $3,500 to $8,500 to install.
Connecting to the local electrical grid will cost $250 to $1,500 depending on the distance to the nearest utility pole. If you need to run new power lines to the home, it could cost another $2,000 to $5,000 or more. Many shipping container homes opt for solar power due to its more affordable nature and the tax credits you can receive for installing panels. If youre going to pay to get on the electrical grid anyway, it makes more sense to pay for solar panels, get a tax credit, and save on future utility bills.
Read more about the value of solar panels
Just like traditional homes, you must pay property taxes and have homeowners insurance for a shipping container home. Homeowners insurance tends to cost from $50 to $150 per month, but youll likely have to shop a bit to find an insurance company that offers a suitable option.
There are many benefits of building or buying a shipping container home rather than buying a traditional home or tiny house. Theyre not the right option for everybody but there are several key benefits to consider.
Buying a shipping container home may cost just a little more than a years rent on an apartment, and youre likely getting a larger living space. Youd still need to buy the land to put it on, of course, but putting a container on a plot of land is a much more accessible path to homeownership than buying a traditional home.
They also tend to be more affordable than even some tiny homes, especially if you purchase prefabricated containers.
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Learn more about the hidden costs of buying a home
As weve mentioned before, shipping containers are built to endure the absolute worst weather the planet has to offer. Theyre often stacked on top of one another without damage to the container or the contents within. These things are tough. The typical container home can last for 25 to 30 years with regular maintenance and may withstand storms and other severe weather even better than a house.
Local zoning regulations permitting, you can put a shipping container home basically anywhere. So, if you really love an area, all you have to do is buy the land and you can drop a container home on it. Since these homes are built to ship, you can get a container home delivered practically anywhere with relative ease and put it down on the exact spot you want.
Because of their standardized nature, you can build one far faster than you could build a traditional home. Sometimes, you can design and build one in as little as ten weeks.
If youre concerned about waste and the environment, shipping container homes are a great option. By buying a shipping container, youre recycling it rather than letting it simply go to waste in a junkyard somewhere. Plus, theyre extremely flexible, allowing you to add energy-efficient features and green building materials like spray foam insulation, green roofing, solar panels, or Energy Star appliances.
They're not just a quick way to build a cheap home but are much more versatile and durable than you might think. Read this article to find out everything there is to know about folding containers!
It's a container house that folds up into a box. Using this type of housing isn't new and has been around for many years, but it hasn't gained traction until recently.
Folding container homes are the next big thing in homebuilding. They're a hybrid between a traditional house and a shipping container, with many of the same features.
While the concept of folding container homes is not new, it has become more popular recently because of its affordability and adaptability.
Folding container homes are designed to be easy to move around, transport, and assemble. They can be built in any size and shape, depending on your needs.
A foldable container house can be used for many purposes, including:
Home Construction
You can use these houses when building a new home or repairing an existing one. They are lightweight enough that you don't need a crane or heavy equipment to lift them into place. They can also be set up quickly, so you don't have to wait for permits or approvals before moving forward with your project. They can also be used on construction sites. Numerous construction workers need a foldable container house for construction work. With a foldable container house on construction sites, construction workers can finish their work fast and effectively in a short time, and their quality is consistently high.
Rental Property
Another great use for these customizable container homes is temporary housing for renters who need a safe and affordable place until they find an apartment or house. It can give owners an additional passive income through home rentals. Another great use for these customizable container homes is temporary housing for renters who need a safe and affordable place until they find an apartment or house. Home rentals can give owners an additional passive income. From a business point of view, you can participate in the travel business by providing travelers with countless options with folding containers.
Depending on your needs and budget, different types of expandable container homes exist.
This is the most basic type of container house as it offers easy-to-build and affordable housing. It can be folded into a simple box and carried on a truck or trailer to its new site.
This type of container home can be popped open in less than five minutes and ready for occupancy in a few days. It is the most popular choice for those who want to build their own homes but don't have the time or money to do so. Due to its minimalism and adaptability, pop-up houses are perfect for narrow spaces or remote areas. They are a cost-effective choice for young singles, retirees, home office users, and homeowners as an investment option for a passive income.
These are similar to pop-up houses; they open like a book but have extra hinges that allow them to tilt down into position when you need access inside your property. Tilt-up construction involves two main steps: First, concrete slabs or panels, are poured and cast horizontally on the ground. After the concrete hardens, a crane lifts the panels into a vertical position and places them on prepared foundations. This process creates the building's walls as the panels are set side by side.
Mobile homes or travel trailers are semi-permanent and semi-mobile buildings that are popular around trailer parks in America. They are factory-made houses designed specifically for travel. Once the factory production is finished, they will be transported to the clients. They are easy to move around and come with everything you need inside them, including plumbing, wiring, insulation, etc.
Folding container homes are made of steel tubular frames and corrugated panels. The panels are connected to the frame with high-strength bolts and welds. These steel containers can be stacked or placed directly on the ground for use in any environment.
Collapsible container houses
all share one thing: they're made up of three main components that fold into a small package.There are three main reasons why people are interested in this type of housing:
The standard price range for expandable container houses is between $20,000 and $50,000. You can find some that are cheaper and others that are more expensive. It depends on the materials used, how many people you want to live with, and if you want to customize it.
As you can see, the folding container house comes in many different shapes and sizes. It can provide affordable housing, a customized living area, and minimal environmental damage. However, depending on where you reside and how many containers you want to use to create your house, it still has limitations and can be expensive. So, complete your homework before making the final purchase.
For more information, please visit Apple Cabin Container House.