Building tiny home

Wow, this tiny home build for my mom has truly become my entire personality! When we first started this casita barndo project, I honestly had no idea what we were getting into. We were initially quoted over $60,000 to build what we envisioned as a simple small house, and with a tight budget and an even tighter timeline (especially with mom coming back from Mexico sooner than expected!), we looked at each other and said, 'Let's just build it ourselves!' And let me tell you, it's been an adventure that makes every other area of my life feel incredibly behind. For anyone out there dreaming of building a small house or making tiny houses themselves, be prepared for a rollercoaster! Our journey has been far from easy. My husband works full time, so he’s been literally staying up until midnight, working on this by himself after his day job. And I'm here trying to keep our four kids busy and out of trouble while also learning how to do things I never imagined. Just yesterday, he was able to finish all of the drywall, a huge milestone! Meanwhile, I was trying to figure out the mudding process. Believe me, I have no idea how to do any of this professionally, but we’re just doing our best over here, watching countless YouTube videos and learning on the fly. It's a constant cycle of research, trial, and error. It’s not just about the physical labor; it's about problem-solving every single day. We don't have fancy tiny home design plans; we're essentially creating our own version of a simple tiny house as we go. We started with a basic concept for a casita that complements our country living lifestyle and are adapting it to our needs and budget. For those looking for how to build a tiny house step by step, our journey is probably more of a 'learn by doing' approach! We've realized that having a clear plan is great, but being flexible is even better when you're working with limited resources and experience. We’ve had to adjust things like window placements and interior layouts on the fly, which I imagine is common for many self-builders trying to save costs by avoiding custom plans. We're really hoping to finish this weekend so we can finally start painting. (No, the bedroom green interior design idea is definitely not my thing, haha!) The thought of mom finally having her own space, this little casita, keeps us motivated. This whole experience has given me so much respect for professional builders, but also so much pride in what we're accomplishing ourselves, especially doing it with four kids and absolutely no outside help. If you're considering a DIY tiny home project, know it's incredibly challenging, but the satisfaction of seeing your vision come to life, piece by piece, is truly unmatched. We’re aiming for functionality and comfort over elaborate finishes, proving that you don't need to be a 'best tiny home builder' to create something wonderful. Keep following along for more updates on our self-building adventure!