Luke Thill is a 13-year-old builder who has embarked on a journey of building his very own house in his parents’ backyard. You would agree this is such an impressive thing to do at any age, as most people wouldn’t even consider it given the opportunity. For as little as $1500, Luke constructed a house with his own bare hands. To find out more about his impressive journey, read along, and maybe pick up a few pointers for your own building projects. Learn about the challenges that he encountered along the way, that led him to achieve his goal.
For Just Under 1500 Dollar This 13 Year Old Boy Builder Constructs His Own House
My Starter Home
At a very young age, Luke Thill saved up all the money that he made from doing small handyman jobs, which helped him to build what he calls his “starter home.” Luke is an eighth-grader from Dubuque, Iowa, he built his own 89 square foot home in his parents’ backyard. With his bare hands, this young man took the initiative to work hard and made his personal project a success.
My Starter Home
How It All Started
Luke’s fascinating story started with just one random YouTube video, and his unwavering ambition and inspiration to reach his goals lead to what we know today as his tiny “starter house”. When he “came across a little house idea and then he started looking at almost every YouTube video there is, it felt like … He got obsessed with them and decided to build his own,” Luke shared with ABC News.
How It All Started
One Of A Kind
It didn’t take much for Luke to make up his mind. A random YouTube video was not the only reason that inspired Luke to construct his starter home. He found himself bored with nothing to do during the long summer vacation. While other children would prefer lazing around, comfortable, and spending the majority of their vacation time on gadgets and video games. Luke got an idea to do something out of the ordinary.
One Of A Kind
The Green Light
Before any constructions could take place, with the building plans for his house, Luke still needed the permission and the approval of his parents, Angie and Greg Thill. Thankfully, his parents could not disregard the enthusiasm and how serious he was, so they gave him the green light to go ahead with his project. Luke went on to plan to build his house in full detail, to be erected on his parents’ four-acre property.
The Green Light
His Father’s Terms
Before the commencement of the project, Luke had to agree to his father’s three simple rules as they were key for him to follow. The first rule was that Luke had to fund the project all by himself. Rule number two was that he had to construct the building completely independently, and the last rule was that Luke had to be the proprietor. The young man acknowledged proceeded with action.
His Fathers Terms
The Key Rules
“We said, ‘If you are so serious we have to set some ground rules,'” Greg Thill shared in an interview with ABC News in October of 2017. Greg went on explaining how they encouraged Luke to manage the project in a mature manner. “We told him that he had to have the financial responsibility of it, raise the amount of money, and then choose the materials and stay in the budget.” There’s no doubt that Luke’s parents had the right idea in mind when allowing the project.
The Key Rules
Life Lessons From The Project
Greg Thill understood what a big task this would be, so it was never his intention to leave his son to drown with no assistance from him at all. Instead, he wanted to oversee the project, while letting Luke learn everything there was to learn, from the actual skill and other important life lessons. Being there to guide him, Greg ensured that Luke learned how to frame a structure, wire the building, dealing with adults, making a budget and financial decisions all by himself.
Life Lessons From The Project
Meaningful Life Skills
In this day and age, the digital world has captured the lives of so many children, sometimes even adults, they’re caught up in technological gadgets and missing what’s right in front of them. Many parents would agree that technology fosters a unique problem for today’s youth. Luke’s ambition proves that there is much more to life than fancy modern gadgets. “It was a chance for a kid to do something more than play video games or sports,” Greg cried with pride. “It teaches life lessons.”
Meaningful Life Skills
Fundraising
As you can imagine, before he could begin his building, Luke needed to secure funding. So he went out raising funds by recycling materials, mowing neighbor’s lawns, and raising money online. Another effective and clever way was ensuring he had enough resources for the building process, he exchanged odd jobs for an extra hand in his project. It goes without saying that Luke had to do a lot of planning towards achieving his goal, with many trials and errors along the way.
Fundraising
Old Fashion Bartering
Luke was thinking ahead, so he bartered some services that proved to be important in the long run. In exchange for a carpet in his loft bedroom, he mowed a Scout leader’s lawn. In exchange for acquiring help with wiring his house, Luke cleaned out an electrician’s garage in the neighborhood. With such excellent bartering skills, Luke can proudly say that all his efforts went towards building his dream starter home.
Old Fashion Bartering
A Proud Father
Grey Thill couldn’t be more of a proud father, seeing his son’s determination and efforts to achieve the goals he had set for himself. “There were times when the project got stalled out and he had to earn more money for the next phase. He wouldn’t let it go and kept working at it,” Luke’s father said. “He’s a very driven kid for his age”. Luke’s ambition and drive is definitely respectable.
A Proud Father
Mature Approach
Even with the bartering jobs, Luke had done, he was still facing financial challenges due to a limited budget. To help with this crisis, he had to be creative by using recycled materials and finding new uses for them. He was fortunate enough to find some leftover siding from his grandmother’s house, and he also received a front door from his uncle’s friend which had been used. Sounding so mature for a 13-year-old, Luke suggested that he liked minimalism and that he wanted to have a house with a huge mortgage.
Mature Approach
Windows To Let The Sun In
Helping with the door was not the only time that Luke’s uncle’s friend helped out with the unique project. To ensure that natural light and fresh air came in, he rescued him with the gift of some old windows. Now the young man’s home seemed to have all the essentials. With the basics sorted, the next phase of the project could begin. Luke was gradually achieving his goal of building a functional tiny home all by himself.
Windows To Let The Sun In
Cost Saving Approach
Keeping to a strict budget of $1500, Luke has managed to build his starter home. It is pretty impressive considering that almost 75% of his house is made up of recycled materials. With outside help and bartering, the mountainous task proved to be a lot easier than Luke previously anticipated. It wouldn’t be long before Luke’s dream home would be a rewarding reality. What’s more, his achievements would also open doors for others hoping to build a functional home on a restricting budget.
Cost Saving Approach
Floor Measurements
With five and a half feet wide and ten feet long dimensions, this gives Luke a firm floor plan with additional space for an outside deck. As shown in the picture below, is his grandma’s leftover siding which came in handy. The sliding is made of half vinyl and half cedar shakes. While Luke managed to stick to his budget, donations surely did help him reach his goal at the end.
Floor Measurements
A Sneak Peek
A sneak peek of Luke’s humble abode. The tiny little house has a small yet fully functional kitchen space, and leading to a lounge area in the back is a countertop with shelvings. To finish off the living area, it has a table that flips down, a TV mounted on the wall, and a settee. The tiny space contains everything a person could possibly need. Most would assume the extremely small space would not be capable of providing anything of a comfortable lifestyle, although Luke proves us wrong!
A Sneak Peek
City Code
The finishing touch is a little ladder that goes up to a “bedroom area,” with a mattress for Luke to sleep on. The city codes consider the small house “a glorified shed,” according to what Greg Thill told the local reporters. We could all agree that this apparent luxury shed is much more than that. With a restricting budget and bucket loads of ambition, Luke’s tiny home is undeniably impressive.
City Code
Getting His Hands Dirty
Despite the negative backlash from his schoolmates, he never allowed that to deter him but focused on achieving his dream. Working hard, he did not allow anything to get in the way of reaching his goal. There’s no doubt that Luke overcame various tough challenges while building his tiny home. What makes his accomplishments so impressive is that no challenge was too great. Overcoming each obstacle with a solution and making improvements along the way was vital for Luke to build this charming little home.
Getting His Hands Dirty
Trending News
With a population of 58000 people, the small town of Dubuque caught up to Luke’s venture in no time at all. It got to a point where Luke was asked questions almost every time he bumped into somebody in town. To allow people to follow his progress, he decided to create a YouTube channel, which also attracted millions including the attention of the media. Luke was soon a viral sensation.
Trending News
First of His Age
He could not find anyone younger than the age of 14 when he started watching small home construction channels on YouTube, Luke said in an interview with the local media reporter. “I thought if no one is out there, I might as well do it so I started documenting the whole process and putting it on YouTube”. The decision made Luke the youngest person to build a tiny home without excess funding or professional assistance.
First Of His Age
Starting a Movement
When Luke realized the traction he had created he said, “Now lots of kids have messaged me and showed pictures of their tiny houses that they’re building and they’re even younger than me”. Deciding to document the process and progress of his project on YouTube turned out to be an inspirational journey motivating others to follow suit. Building a tiny home soon became the dream of many youngsters around the globe.
Starting A Movement
Summoned By The Principle
In one of his videos, Luke shares a story about a visit he made to the principal’s office at school. In conjunction with his massive building project, Luke is also focused on his school work and achieving good grades. In his video he shares how nervous he was to be called to the principal’s office, thinking he may be in trouble. Although Luke was not the kind of child to find himself in trouble at school, nerves got the best of him.
Summoned By The Principle
Popular At 13
Luke had absolutely nothing to worry about. It turns out the principal’s friend, who is a local reporter, wanted to learn more about his story and possibly publish it. At just 13 years of age, it must be thrilling to know that your hard work is acknowledged and worth publishing in the local paper. Luke’s popularity was now exceeding the bounds of social media platforms and he was becoming a local idol.
Popular At 13
Overcoming Adversity
When working on a project, some form of adversity is inevitable, and how you get over that is important. Luke certainly had a fair share of disappointments during his project, and learning to pick himself up was something he had to adapt to quickly. What he calls his “countertop fail” is the highlight of his disappointments. What was supposed to be a lacquer surface with broken glass pieces spread underneath it, turned out to be a watery liquid and completely ran over everything.
Overcoming Adversity
Turn Mistakes Into Lessons
Instead of throwing in the towel when facing adversity, Luke used the mistake to his advantage. When things didn’t work out the way he had planned, he would learn to adapt and make changes accordingly. When he was faced with a liqueur countertop failure, it hardened and created a fixed bond onto the wall. Faced with this difficulty, thinking on his feet he added a standard countertop, fitting it with hinges to make a lift-top storage space below. What a genius!
Turn Mistakes Into Lessons
Something’s Cooking
It is almost an unspoken rule that a cooked meal in a new house turns it into a home! Gaining a lot of traction and views, Luke shared a video of himself making his first meal in his new house on YouTube. The video also proves that Luke’s tiny home is genuinely as functional as any home should be! The lighthearted video stands as the end of a challenging journey for the young homeowner.
Somethings Cooking
Special Guest
Remember, the city code classified Luke’s house as a “glorified shed”, despite their criticism, the TinyFest folks had a different opinion. Luke Thill was invited to be a special guest at a tiny-home festival in Colfax, Iowa. What turns out to be his first public speaking engagement, Luke was required to give a speech as the special guest at the event. Following all of the media attention prior to the event, he was comfortable and everything went well.
Special Guest
Essentials
The construction of the tiny house was finally complete, and Luke’s home was well-equipped with all he needed, a space to relax, a place to sleep at night, and a place to make meals and eat. With all of that, it was still one thing missing, a toilet. Regardless of the financial constraint of installing a toilet, the plumbing logistics in a tiny house like this was simply not feasible.
Essentials
Intimate House
We now know that during the summer holidays, Luke worked on his building project, and in between attending school, he worked hard to raise funds needed for such a task. It took an entire year for him to complete the construction of his home. When his house was completed he certainly utilized it, spending a few nights a week in it. He would invite his friends over to visit and do his homework in his house. A year might seem like a long time to spend on a small house, yet considering all the work it took, it makes perfect sense.
Intimate House
Hanging With The Buddies
For big gatherings with his friends, his house was obviously small, Luke had the luxury of his parents’ backyard at his disposal, he was allowed, of course, to use it when hosting his friends for a boys’ cookout day. The excess yard space makes a massive difference to the tiny confines of the home, giving Luke enough space to host gatherings and have a few friends over. Most owners of tiny homes ensure that they have enough space outside to prevent feeling cramped up inside.
Hanging With The Buddies
Local Headlines
Luke’s incredibly inspirational story was soon headlining in two major Iowa newspapers, The Telegraph Herald and the Des Moines Register. Luke’s story traveled to a number of local television stations shortly after the popular papers. The story was picked up by several media outlets reaching one of the biggest broadcasters in America, Good Morning America! Luke had become a national sensation thanks to his hard work and unwavering devotion to his dream of building a tiny budget home.
Local Headlines
All Eyes On Luke
In an interview with Luke, Good Morning America wanted to take a complete tour of the tiny house and the story behind it. While the home tour definitely didn’t take much time at all, the inspirational backing story captured the hearts of everyone in the nation. It was not long after the interview with Good Morning America, a house designer showed interest in Luke. Maybe it was destiny because he admired this particular designer.
All Eyes On Luke
Derek Diedrickson
How exciting can it be, be contacted by your role model who initially inspired you to do what you do? Derek Diedrickson, a tiny homes specialist and an author of the design. He was Luke’s first inspiration to embark on his own journey of building his own tiny home. To have a one-on-one conversation with Derek must be overwhelming for Luke, and to hear words of encouragement from his role model in person. Luke is now an inspiration to many more, as much as Derek is to him.
Derek Diedrickson
Brother’s Footsteps
Cole Thill, is Luke’s younger brother, just like many around America were inspired by his brother, he sought out to follow in his brother’s footsteps, to create his own compact camper home. Cole was at an advantage to have a brother like Luke, with an indispensable experience to guide him. He used the same building strategy as his brother and predominantly used recycled material to build his camper. Just like his brother, Cole put together a YouTube series sharing his budget plan and building process.
Brothers Footsteps
And There’s More…
This brother duo built their YouTube channel to an impressive 9000 subscribers; rendering them viral sensations on the streaming popular streaming platform. Luke and Cole looked outside of their own projects to include other people to add more content on their channel. This creative family even included their mom’s renovations, a 1972 camper, and a sheep herder’s wagon. There’s no doubt that this family is truly hands-on and always looking for a new and exciting project.
And Theres More
Privacy
It is no secret that even the closest of siblings need their own space from time to time. Luke said, “I have a twin brother so it gives me the chance to have my own space”. Something you would barely have when living in a busy family home, Luke expressed how his new home offered him, his own private space that he needed at times. The tiny hoe doubles up as a private escape from everyday life for Luke.
Privacy
Working On Low Budget
Luke made numerous videos as part of his online channel that showcased the progress f his tiny house construction. In one of his videos for the channel, Luke speaks about the cost of building the structure, towards the end of the video tour. To complete the tiny home he says the cost was “more like $1,200, but I rounded it up just in case I forgot anything.” The realization that a home can be built for this tiny amount is incredibly impressive and eye-opening.
Working On Low Budget
Role Model
Luke had absolutely no idea that his tiny home journey would go viral, reaching as many people as it did – at least that’s not what he intended when he set out on his adventure. If anything, during his journey he realized that he wants to share a message with his peers and said, “I want to show kids it’s possible to build at this age”. Where to next for this hero?
Role Model
Time To Expand
Luke Thill definitely has ambition in bucket loads as he is on to do greater things! He expressed how his starter home was his main purpose, with a great idea he added “I’m going to save money and expand.” In a few years, he plans to save enough money to build a larger tiny home on wheels, to attach it on a trailer. He is set out to build an economic alternative for campus housing.
Time To Expand
Nothing Stopping Him
Luke has certainly accumulated an indispensable amount of knowledge while working on his project. He is certainly well equipped to take on bigger projects in the future and not forgetting his passion and determination as vital tools in his success. He shared with ABC News, “In a couple of years I want to build a bigger house and stay in it full-time”. Considering his proven capabilities in budget home building, we can expect great things from this young man.
Nothing Stopping Him
A Special Moment
The highlight of Luke’s experience was the special time he shared with his family, in particular his father. He says bonding with him was the one thing he most appreciated and will hold close to his heart for years to come. He expressed, “My dad and I really bonded through that process…he was so busy but he made sure to spend a lot of time with me”. Bonding with a parent is undeniably invaluable.
A Special Moment
Smart Young Man
Luke’s intelligence has always had him thinking far ahead and planning for the future. In his observation, he always thought “Everyone had to have a big house, and now people have changed and realized it’s not all that practical,” and introducing a mobile home “You can save some money, travel the world and do what you want instead.” With modern minimalism and the tiny home community growing rapidly in popularity, oversized homes could soon be a thing of the past.
Smart Young Man
Meet Another Tiny Home Builder
Renee McLaughlin, just like Luke is another tiny home builder. She sold her 3,300 square foot home to live in a tiny home she had built herself. From a 3,300 square foot home to 87 square foot house, she had this to justify her move, “I think that we have reached a threshold where this kind of ‘stuff’ is running our lives. We spend some time working to buy it, clean it and organize it … It’s not making us hap
Meet Another Tiny Home Builder
Trend Homes
Average tiny homes are usually no more than 500 square feet, and surprisingly they are becoming a new trend of homes. As the organizer of TinyFest Midwest, Renee McLaughlin is the one who invited Luke Thill to be a guest speaker at her Festival. Most people would find it a shame to live in a tiny home, but to Renee and a few like her, their tiny homes on wheels are their pride and joy.
Trend Homes
Cost-Effective Way
Regardless of the social backlash, Renee experienced, from people about her choice of lifestyle. She was never deterred from her plan and the relief of financial pressure as a homeowner was something she would not experience anymore. Renee goes on to demonstrate what a comfortable life you can have living in a tiny home. “I now own everything outright with no debt,” she said, and “I can move around. It’s nice to know I can just go.”
Cost Effective Way
Let Go!
Most of us have things we rather don’t need, but we’re all in a habit of holding on to them. Renee even suggested to let go of the excess stuff we barely need. She mentioned that she gave away clothes that she doesn’t wear, and spends less time shopping as well. In her statement “I’m a simple girl, but a girl, nonetheless”, she confessed how hard it was to part with some of her clothing and shoes.
Let Go
City Regulations
As appealing as tiny homes are, along with the concept of cutting down excess use of resources, the majority of city infrastructures prohibit them. The overall size of your home is an example of a restriction set by the city code, which requires homes to be larger than your average tiny home. However, we can expect these city codes to be adjusted in the near future to accommodate the eco-friendly living solution of tiny home constructions.
City Regulations
Minimization
What was only an architectural idea, the “tiny homes movement” has grown into a social movement, and an advocate for a minimized living ideal. Catching the trend, people are downsizing and prefer this way of living nowadays. The logic behind tiny houses is undeniable and everyone is lured by the idea of a significantly simpler and less expensive lifestyle. Downsizing your living space offers near-endless benefits in terms of financial factors.
Minimization
Growing Numbers
With only 3,000 tiny homes out of 1.5 million homes in the United States, a recent survey suggests that the movement has created a buzz and that a lot more work still needs to be done to effect change. When considering the constantly rising interest rates of mortgage loans and just how hard it can be to get approved by lenders, the concept of a debt-free life is definitely a prominent benefit tiny homes offer.
Growing Numbers
No Financial Burden
For an average cost of $23,000, you can get a decent tiny home. Estimated, there are 70% mortgage free tiny homeowners from the word ‘go’. It goes without saying that a homeowner’s biggest budget killer is a huge mortgage, payable in 25 to 30 years. A tiny home alleviates that cost completely, with no one telling you how much to pay and when to pay on a monthly basis.
No Financial Burden
This Is The Future
We can all draw some inspiration from the remarkable determination of Luke Thill. With a promising future of minimizing wastage, but even greater waste disposal. The future of small homes shows we are on the road towards changing the way we live and inspired to find different ways to reduce our impact on carbon footprint. Tiny homes are incredibly affordable to build, pocket-friendly to maintain, and this renders them quite environmentally-friendly.
This Is The Future