Expert Advice on Straw Bale Building

(Page 5 of 5)

February/March 2006
By Chris Magwood, Peter Mack and Tina Therrien 
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Building code approval is usually the only structural requirement of insurers, so with a permit and fire test ratings, you can usually obtain insurance. Some straw bale homes have been insured at rates lower than similarly sized conventional homes. However, it may take determination to find the right insurer. Your role as educator, builder, well-informed client and confident planner cannot be underestimated.

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In current real estate markets, chances are good that a straw bale home will receive a lower resale value estimate than a stick-frame equivalent. However, low appraisals do not necessarily guarantee low resale prices. Those looking for a strong, unique and superinsulated house may decide that the attractions of straw bale are worth more to them than the homes appraisal indicates. (As a side benefit, lower appraisals often mean lower property taxes.)

If you decide that a straw bale home is what you want, plunge in and do it. You will open doors to a new and lively community that will spring up around your efforts. Friends you didnt know you had will emerge to help, and connections will be fostered with other like-minded people.

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