So, You Want to Live in a Yurt? (3 page)

If you already have your land, base structure (deck, basement, etc), building permit and yurt on order - things will go a lot faster for you. If you can do a lot of the building, wiring and plumbing work yourself (or if you aren’t putting in plumbing/electric), then you can really get your yurt up quickly, without paying an arm and a leg.

Keep in mind these two rules though --> the less you do yourself = more cost, generally quicker
whereas
, the more you do yourself = less cost, more stress and time

Obviously there are exceptions to every rule, and if you’re an experienced builder or electrican or plumber, and you already have the necessary equipment, and know the red tape jungle…then doing it yourself will be less cost and time. But probably still more stress!

The yurt site, pre-build…can’t you just see it?

WHO SHOULD I BUY MY YURT FROM?

YurtFAQs.com

Yurt companies are all different -- so choose the one that fits your budget, personality and needs best!

Yurts are gaining in popularity worldwide, so there is increasing availability, but there is also an increasing need to be picky about who you buy from. Here are some things to keep in mind when you’re shopping for your yurt.

How is their customer service? Is it easy to get ahold of someone by phone or email?

How many yurts have they produced?

Do they have the style and size of yurt that you want?

If they have an innovative style, do they have engineering or time-will-tell evidence that it can stand up to the elements?

Have they sold a yurt for your particular climate (i.e. high winds, large snow loads, desert, etc)

Are they near your location? If not, how much will they charge for shipping?

What kind of assistance do they offer for raising the yurt and/or repairs (i.e. canvas, lattice, etc)?

Don’t choose a yurt company based on a flashy website. While that is usually a sign they’ve been in business for awhile, and are profitable, it can also be the only thing they are good at. You want them to be good at building yurts, not website design.
(Shameless plug:
If you’re a yurt company and need a flashy website to compliment your awesome yurt building skills, I can help. :)
http://www.conurestudios.com
)

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Can’t get your chosen yurt company on the phone? Don’t shrug it off, if they aren’t quick to respond now, they really won’t be when you’re seriously in need of help (like when you’re raising your yurt and are stumped, or when your canvas wall needs to be replaced).

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Don’t get too attached to a certain company before you’ve finished your research. Try and stay open minded!

Now. We’ve covered the questions to asks, and the sinkholes to watch out for…so where is a good place to start your research?

PACIFIC YURTS

http://www.yurts.com

https://www.facebook.com/pacificyurts

They are the biggest, oldest yurt company out there, and they have the marketing materials and testimonials to prove it. When we stayed in a rustic camping yurt? That was a Pacific yurt. When we looked at various luxury rental yurts? They were Pacific yurts. When I was looking for floor plans, awesome photos and informative blogs, they were all Pacific yurts (with one exception being a video of a Rainier yurt being assembled) or created by Pacific yurts. Now, that doesn’t mean you have to buy from them; but they have excellent customer service, a long history of quality in the business and they offer some great discounts. They were our second choice, but we chose Blue Ridge Yurts. Want to know why? Read on!