Is Living Offgrid Right For You?-Some Things To Consider Before Moving Offgrid

The following are some things to consider before packing up and moving to an offgrid location.

Cost:

How will you finance your offgrid home? Cash, pay as you go, home mortgage loan, private loan? The answer to this question effects how your plans will progress.

If you have cash to pay for your offgrid home, do you have enough? Conservatively speaking, building the home yourself will cost between $80.00 to $100.00 per sq. ft. That's if you use recycled materials where possible and depending on your own your own skill level, cut labor costs.

Research home mortgage loans for offgrid, they are not as easy to get as a conventional loan. If you are relocating the mortgage company is going to need to know how you will pay for the loan.

Building permits:

Check with your local city, county and state codes. Laws for your state may supersede local laws. Be sure that you understand the building codes and their cost. Your local office may or may not be very helpful with this information.

Where to purchase land:

Are you relocating? How far away is the property you want to develop from your current location? Will you live on the property while it is being built? What permits do you need? Does the land have any improvements like well (shared or private) or septic?

Modern conveniences you cannot live without:

If you cannot live without an air conditioner, you may want to rethink living offgrid unless you have unlimited funds. Large energy consuming appliances are unrealistic for offgrid applications.

Type of home construction:

The type of construction for your offgrid home should reflect your climate and region. Assess the climate were your home will be located. If it is a cold climate, heating and weatherizing your offgrid home may be one of your main concern.

If it is a hot arid climate, keeping your home cool from the scorching hot sun may be the prime issue. If it is hot and humid, cooling and moisture may be relevant. There are many factors to consider when choosing the type of construction of your offgrid home. Personal style, environment, pests, insects, weather, type of soil and land elevation should also to be considered.

Who will build your offgrid home:

Owner/builder, contractor, some subcontractors.

Life style:

Does your personal life style mesh well with offgrid living? If you have no experience with living offgrid, read articles of other people's life styles to see if feels right to you. Things that you may have taken for granted like turning on tap water or a light and it is there. Offgrid living doesn't have to be a meager life style. It depends on your financial and creative resources.

Environment:

Is the natural environment where you choose to build your offgird home compatible with your vision of how you want to live?

Usually, but not always, offgrid homes are off the beaten path. This means that you will be living in a natural habitat with animals, reptiles and insects where you or your pets could be the prey. Learn all that you can about the area in which you would like to build. If there are potentially dangerous animals, learn about their behavior and habitats. Sometimes we create and invite animals close to our homes because we are unaware of their behaviors. They need food, shelter and sometimes water. If we provide these, they will come.

Employment/how to make money:

If you do not have a home based business in mind, you may want to look for one.

Or check the local newspapers for employment before you build. Know the job market in nearby towns.

http://www.offgrid-desert-living.com

My husband Ron and I built an offgrid dry stack concrete block home in the Arizona desert. We knew nothing about offgrid when we started our venture. We have learned alot about ourselves and our dreams (mostly that we still had some). I decided to share some of our experiences with others who are considering building offgrid.