So, You Want to Live in a Yurt? (8 page)

Put them in the yurt, where you want them, make sure they fit as you envisioned. I’m one of those people with a knack for “seeing” where everything will go, never measuring, and it always works. My whole life. This time? I was
WAY
off. You’ll hear this, but it really is true, planning for a circle when you’ve been thinking square your whole life is
HARD
. So keep your receipts and stay flexible.

Plumbing/Electric:

We went with a full bathroom, enclosed with a ceiling and I am SO happy that we did. It takes up a fourth of our floor space, but it gives an interior wall for the kitchen and for the bedroom. I think we managed to keep it looking very open in here, which was our goal. And the bathroom is home to a full size shower/bath kit, stacking washer and dryer, medium sized chest freezer and some storage space. You might choose something else for your needs, go with it.
Composting toilet surrounded by bookshelves?
We’ve seen that.
Outdoor shower?
Yep, seen that too.
Efficiency kitchen?
Sure! Just think about how much time you’ll be there, and how you use your home now. We live and work from our yurt, so we wanted it to be comfortable, with modern conveniences.

STEP SIX: FINISHING UP

- Water turned on?

- Electric outlets all working?

- Outside lights?

- Inside lights?

- Appliances all work?

- Mail being delivered?

- Heating or cooling source set up?

- If needed, propane tank scheduled to be delivered?

- If needed, Internet and phone working?

- Final inspection scheduled with county building inspector?

- Certificate of Occupancy received?

Congrats!!!
You’ve survived!!
Now it’s time to sit back and enjoy all of your hard work. We haven’t regretted our decision a single day since we moved into our yurt. Even on the second night when our area was hit with a massive windstorm with 50+ winds and heavy rain. It lasted all night, and while we didn’t sleep much because of the noise, I really did feel safe in our yurt. And the next day, one of our neighbors came by to check on us, and said his
HOUSE
was shaking with the wind.
So, more power to the YURT!!

SO, HOW MUCH DID IT COST?

yurtFAQs.com

How much does one of these run you?

30 ft yurt from Blue Ridge Yurts (with add ons) -
$15,290.88

5 ft french doors and 4 vinyl double hung windows -
$1,875

Building permit -
$375.24

Plumbing and electric -
$6,073.90

Ditch for plumbing and electric -
$665

Electric company running line outside -
$639.41

Deck -
$14,200

Interior wood work (bathroom walls and ceiling) -
$6,344.56

Wood stove -
$2,769.90

Wood stove chimney piping -
$1,016

Appliances (kitchen, bathroom) -
$3,990

Firewood for wood stove
(since we transitioned from electric heat, we didn’t have enough seasoned to make it through winter) -
$400+

Propane (line run and tank) -
$514.40

Yurt raising assistance -
$550

Extra rent past original move out date -
$1,331

Land rent paid before move in -
$600

TOTAL: $56,335.29

OUR YURT TIMELINE

yurtFAQs.com

How much does one of these run you?

Sept 3rd
- inspiration strikes

Sept 7th
- go and look at land to discuss

Sept 8th
- yurt tour with Blue Ridge Yurts
(side note for our insanity - picked up sheep & goats on Sept 11th)

Sept 20th
- put down yurt deposit

October 3rd
-
gave notice to landlord for Dec move out

October 6th
- met with BRY to pick out 2nd color option
(since our first choice was discontinued)

October 6th
- met with electrical engineer from power company

Nov 1st
- Landlord started showing our rental house

Nov 1st
- Purchased wood stove

Nov 1st
- Started paying rent for yurt land

Nov 2nd
- Paid building permit fee

Nov 3rd
- Ordered windows and doors from local builders supply
(side note for our insanity - brought our new puppy home on Nov 7th)

Nov 10th
- Building inspector out to check new electric meter

Nov 14th
- Contractor starts on yurt deck

mid-Nov
- extended rent to Jan 1st

Nov 25th
- Paid first deck payment

Nov 29th
- Scheduled yurt delivery

Dec 9th
- Installed yurt floor

Dec 10th & 11th
- YURT RAISING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dec 12th
- Windows & door picked up (2 wks late arriving)

Dec 12th
- Contacted internet provider to set start date

Dec 14th
- Ordered appliances

mid-Dec
- extended rent to Jan 10th

Dec 23rd
- Picked up water heater & wood stove

Dec 23rd
- Second deck payment

early Jan
- extended rent to Jan 24th

Jan 1st
- picked up final appliances from Lowes

Jan 4th
- picked up extra chimney parts for wood stove

Jan 10th
- final yurt payment

Jan 12th
- returned shower kit to Home Depot, picked up new one

Jan 17th
- internet provider runs line outside only (inside was no finished)

Jan 18th
- Electric inspection

Jan 20th
- Internet switched over to yurt

Jan 22nd
-
MOVE TO MEADOWS OF DAN

Jan 23rd
- Propane hooked up

Jan 26th
- Final inspection & propane pressure test -
CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY RECEIVED!!!

WHAT WE WISH WE HAD KNOWN

yurtFAQs.com

Hindsight is 20/20….it really, and truly is!!