Key facts
- Margo Fairchild built a 240-square-foot tiny home in Virginia herself.
- The project took 15 months and cost $43,779, exceeding her initial budget.
- She learned construction skills through research and online resources.
- Plumbing issues led to significant unexpected costs and a wastewater flood.
- Fairchild moved into the home in 2022 and pays her mother $500 monthly rent.
- She finds the tiny home meets her needs and helps her save money.
Margo Fairchild, 34, built a 240-square-foot tiny home in Virginia over 15 months, completing the project in 2022 for $43,779. Inspired by her father's resourcefulness, Fairchild decided to undertake the construction herself, utilizing her savings and learning through online resources like YouTube. The process was challenging, involving long workdays after her regular job and significant unexpected costs, particularly with plumbing issues that required hiring a second company and incurred credit card debt.
Fairchild's initial budget was nearly doubled due to the cost of the home's shell and the necessity of adding structural elements like insulation and a ceiling. She also faced challenges due to pandemic restrictions limiting outside help, though she found support from an online community of builders and architects. Despite the difficulties, including a wastewater flood that affected her mother's property, Fairchild completed the home and moved in, finding the experience freeing and the financial savings worthwhile.
She now pays her mother $500 per month to live on her land. While downsizing required parting with some possessions and limits indoor space for hobbies, Fairchild feels the tiny home meets her needs and provides a sense of accomplishment.