Some people splash out for custom domiciles on wheels or transform school buses into their dream homes. Others buy homes on Amazon.
You can have tiny and prefab houses shipped unassembled to your front porch in a couple of days after placing an order on the online marketplace. space cabin home
Amazon's range of prefabricated and tiny homes cost between $1,000 and $100,000 — and while some are no larger than a backyard shed, others are expansive two-bedroom units spanning 1,400 square feet.
To be sure, assembling a home purchased on Amazon is not as easy as having a couch delivered: Customers will likely have to pay for help putting them together — but handy shoppers may enjoy the do-it-yourself project.
There is also the matter of land: The homes need a site to sit on and local permission is often required to build additional structures on a homeowner's property. Buyers should look into local ordinances before hitting the "Buy Now" button.
Here are the pricing, size, and need-to-know details about five units available on the site and what customers have to say about each.
Delivered within a month, according to the Amazon listing.
Total bedrooms and bathrooms: studio
What the reviews say: One person who purchased this home said that while the manufacturer provided the home for cheaper than Amazon, they paid under $5 to ship with Amazon. On top of that, the reviewer wrote that they were excited to have this home for their family: "I'm looking forward to raising my five year old in a cabin the same size as Davy Crockett's birth home," the reviewer said.
Another reviewer pointed out, though, the product has no features other than the structure itself. "For those of you that think you can put this up and move right in, please REREAD the description! THIS IS A SHED! There is no insulation, no plumbing, no electrical wiring…not even glass windows! Do your research before buying this thinking you will have a cheap home. Many cities or counties will not allow this as living space," they wrote.
Ships in about a month and comes with the kitchen and bathroom finished, according to the Amazon listing.
Total bedrooms and bathrooms: studio, one bathroom
What the reviews say: One reviewer who gave the product five stars said that they thought the price was reasonable, and that they're able to rent the apartment out. "If you can find a half-acre of land for about $5,000 and do the site prep yourself (like me) you're all in for a studio rental property for about $18,000. I rent mine for $1,500 per month," they wrote.
Another reviewer said the unit was "too small" for a human. Indeed, 200 square feet is a small area for some, but for those who like living in tiny homes, other reviewers said this is an average size. Still, for those that are looking for a more spacious unit, this may not be your best bet.
It will take 120 days to 150 days for the home to ship and "additional materials are required," according to the Amazon listing.
Total bedrooms and bathrooms: three bedrooms and one bathroom
What the reviews say: While there are no reviews for this product, there is one for the company — ECOHOUSEMART sells a variety of prefabricated homes on Amazon.
One reviewer said their models only come with the exterior of the house, rather than other prefabricated and modular tiny homes that come with walls, floors, and kitchen and bathroom appliances.
"So it's clear you only get glass and glued laminate beams," the reviewer wrote. "My construction experience tells me that you can shell a decent size house down to the drywall with all the plumbing, electrical, & HVAC for the same price, or, get them included with other reputable prefab home sellers."
One pro is that this is not a tiny home, like a number of others on this list. It's a full-sized home.
Will ship within a month, according to the Amazon listing.
Total bedrooms and bathrooms: two bedrooms, two bathrooms across two floors
What the reviews say: While there are no reviews for this specific product, there are reviews for similar products that the company sells. Reviewers said that this is merely the materials required to build the home, not a completed unit — the product description warns: "This is not a complete house. You are buying a dome framing kit only!"
Will ship for free within a week, according to the Amazon listing.
Total bedrooms and bathrooms: studio unit, bathroom can be added
nice cabin house What the reviews say: One reviewer noted that there was a similar unit for sale that cost nearly $10,000 less just a few months before. "I was interested then. Not now," they wrote.