Home (Kit) on the Range

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Our land came with a road, well, phone line and electricity hook-up. So although we paid more initially to have utilities and the gravel road to our house, the upfront expense was worth it to us.

Some advice to those wishing to follow our example is to know all your construction expenses in advance. Ask your contractor for all estimates up front. Get time estimates for completion of each stage of construction

Most subcontractors arrive on time and do their job in a reasonable amount of time. But not all do. We hired a roofer who, after 2 1/2 weeks, finally showed up one afternoon - without a ladder. We finally fired him but by then had lost valuable time. Each stage of construction follows the previous, so when one is delayed, others can't begin. I cannot stress enough: Know your expenses and follow a timeline.

After looking at various costs, such as hiring an architect, we decided to buy a kit for the major part of our home. The house is two stories with 4,000 square feet on both levels. The design is essentially circular, which allows for more efficient heating and cooling, as well as making the most of our 360-degree view.

The house kit went together well, and we were happy, for the most part, with the support we got from the company. The manufacturer says a half dozen workers who know how to construct it can have the kit up and waterproof within a week. The guys I hired hadn't built a structure like this before, but they had it up in a month. The design has 20, 8x8-foot exterior panels. Each attaches at an angle of 18 degrees, a logistical challenge. When we were finished, it was only off by about three-quarters of an inch - unbelievable.

Our contractor called the company several times to get more information, which brings me to the next bit of advice: If you use a kit, make sure the business has a toll free number and someone knowledgeable to advise you over the phone. The company we used also furnished a roof jack for the duration of the project, and this was a big help.

Sherri's driving time had reached 40 minutes to drive a scant eight miles. It was time to go.

Having the kit delivered was another lesson in the necessity of getting the facts up front. We didn't learn until almost the shipping date that the kit required not one but two semitrailer loads, which doubled our shipping costs.

We paid for two truckloads, only to find out the company had switched and shipped by rail, which didn't cost as much. However, because our contract didn't cover such a change, the company kept the difference. Find out ahead of time what your transport needs will be and get in writing that you'll be re funded any difference in actual shipping costs. The 50 cents per mile savings add up quickly and the money won't be in your pocket.) Don't just send the shipping charges, or you might give away hundreds of dollars

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