Tiny homes are something we all, at least once, find intriguing and wish to make our own. A Gen X dad built a DIY tiny home over the course of a decade, signaling the enthrallment these micro-dwellings have on most of us. Jim McElwain is an Ohio resident who has been working on a DIY tiny home for the better part of a decade just as a hobby. The $50,000 endeavor has now come to fruition, and McElwain wishes to turn this micro-dwelling into an Airbnb rental.
This is not a new case. Tiny houses have emerged not only as an affordable housing solution but also as an additional source of income. McElwain is but one example on the long list where micro-dwellings have afforded people mobility and freedom, whether physical or financial.
McElwain, a tech salesman, started building a tiny house ten years ago, working on it on weekends. He put everything together piece by piece, learning from YouTube tutorials where help was required.
This spring, McElwain completed his 400-square-foot space in rural Ohio. The micro-dwelling is fully furnished with a working kitchen, shower, and air conditioner. Now, he wishes to list the dwelling as an Airbnb for $250 per night.
Talking to Business Insider, McElwain shared, “I don’t have an architecture plan or drawings, and I just make it all up in my head. All week long, I think about what I’m going to do that weekend. Sometimes I’m up there screaming and yelling and cussing and cutting my finger and throwing stuff. But, at the end of the day, I smile and take a picture because I accomplished something.”
When the DIY project began, Airbnb wasn’t the goal. The seed of building a tiny home was sown when he would visit his property in rural Ohio to clean up the remnants of the prior owner’s abandoned mobile homes. In time, he came to see the land as the perfect space for a tiny home getaway.
As time passed, he began the construction. During the pandemic, he did the framing, flooring, window installation, roof assembly, piping, and wiring himself. He only hired a professional electrician and plumber at the end of the process to ensure the hardware worked properly. McElwain estimates the overall expenditure on this undertaking to be about $45,000, with a handful of thousands here and there, bringing the estimated total to $50,000.
The DIY tiny house is a two-story wonder, built from scratch by a Gen X dad. McElwain has added a small patio, an outdoor bar, a loft bed, and a rustic wood stove to complete the cozy feel. A few decorative items and knick-knacks elevate the homely, cozy vibe.
“There’s nothing else on the property except the tiny house and then seven acres of woods and fields. It’s a great place to relax. It’s just cute as a button,” said McElwain.
He is an example of going after what you want and seeing it through, whether it takes a year or ten. This DIY tiny home in rural Ohio, with its well-lit spaces, may just be an inspiration to build one yourself.
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