I’m Obsessed with These 3 Prefab Home Cottage Kits (They’re Under $100K!)
If you’ve ever considered going down the prefabricated cottage home kit road, you may have found yourself overwhelmed by a mountain of information. What’s a prefab home, after all? Is it the same thing as a modular cottage home? And are they affordable? Here’s everything you need to know and a list of prefab cottages you can buy for under $100K, if you’re thinking of greener pastures (as in, buying a green pasture and putting a house on it).
Prefab cottage homes vs. modular cottage homes
Prefab cottage homes arrive on a site in pieces — literally. Prefab cottage home kits are delivered in panels or sections and then fit together. Modular cottage homes, on the other hand, are mostly already finished and dropped off whole.
Furthermore, while the benefits of modular cottage homes include the ability to customize them in advance, prefab cottage homes tend to cost less, are quicker to build, can help save energy, and minimize waste. Unlike many modular structures, they don’t resemble shipping containers upon completion. Also, more and more prefab cottage home kits companies can deliver customization equal to that of modular homes.
I tracked down three prefab home cottage kits that you can purchase for less than $100K each. They’re all pretty cool, and ready to be transformed from houses into homes, or kits into cottages. The important thing to remember? Prices listed don’t include installation, utility hookups, wiring, etc., which are all things that can considerably impact the final cost, as may shipping distance and kit size.
Offgrid Dwellings Norman Luxury Tiny Home
Cost: $84,495
Size: 538 square feet
Stylish inside and out, the Norman Tiny Home from Offgrid Dwellings packs a lot into its modest space. We’re talking an upstairs loft, a sizable living room, retractable window shades, a stove, kitchen sink, bathroom with shower, thermostat, and more. Offgrid says its prefab boasts a 50-year lifespan, and the company offers a 3-year warranty that encompasses replacement parts.
Kanga Cottage Cabins
Cost: $27,600 to $105,000+
Size: 190 to 768 square feet
Kanga Cottage Cabins delivers a homey country feel. A kit, according to the company site, includes pre-framed walls, a pine tongue-and-groove ceiling cover, house wrap, lap siding, panelized roof material (insulation, decking, rafters, etc.), loft platform, and door and windows crafted to the homeowner’s specs. Kanga offers a nice variety of home sizes and layouts, with narrow and broad entry options as well, and up to two bedrooms in the larger-size cottages.
Mighty Small Homes
Cost: $21,000 to $100,000+
Size: 480, 600 and 864 square feet
The folks at Mighty Small Homes offer multiple kit choices, among them The A-Frame, The Contemporary, The Ranch, The Modern, The Carriage, The Tiny, and The Cottage. Available in three sizes, the adorable Cottages include 27 lineal feet of interior walls, plate lumber, house wrap, roof panels, exterior walls, SIPS caulk and foam, and more. Pretty much everything can be upgraded/customized at an additional expense — which could take these kits far above $100,000, with installation, foundation, if you DIY or hire an expert — such as skylights and metal roofing. The Mighty Small Homes team also offers a 36-inch door cutout option that allows for easy wheelchair access and is free upon request.