Brad sawed his own building materials with his TimberKing 1220
Back in 2019, Brad de Geus and his wife moved and needed a home. He had an idea, do-it-yourself skills, a can-do attitude, and a TimberKing 1220 sawmill. What he didn’t have was a big bankroll to hire the work done. So he did it all himself.
Now, several years later, he’s finished building his beautiful home on 18 wooded acres in an outstanding, deeply wooded, very sought-after area of Montana.
What Brad built, and HOW HE SAVED THOUSANDS, is a fascinating story…
“If you want a home of your own on a budget, are a do-it-yourselfer, and willing to do the work, you can save thousands of dollars in the long run with a sawmill.
I built my entire house myself – I cut and sawed all the lumber for the house, decks, water tank, woodshed, greenhouse, and more.
Many people don’t realize how much they can do, simply because they haven’t done it before.
These days, ‘how-to’ information is everywhere. If you don’t know how to do something, just get on the internet and start digging – just step into it and you can figure it out!
Finances were tight so…
My wife and I moved to Montana and purchased 18 beautiful, wooded acres in the Bitterroot Valley. Finances were tight but we still needed a home. The property we bought included an old, rundown summer camp. I’ve done lots of construction, remodeling, building, and more over the years. So I decided to build our new home myself. I reasoned this was the most economical way to have a new home.
The way I did it was unusual: I built our new home right around the old camp as I dismantled it! And I cut and milled all the lumber myself with my TimberKing 1220 sawmill.
Builder-sawn MATERIALS increased the home’s uniqueness and value
Beyond hands-on skills, imagination, and commitment, the MATERIALS I sawed out made my home what others call an ‘iconic Montana home.’ The uniqueness of the building materials I sawed on my TimberKing really increased my home’s attractiveness and value.
Why TimberKing? Simple mechanics: TimberKing’s 4-post head is stronger
Years earlier, I’d seen cantilever sawmills in action and I considered buying one. But when it came time to buy, I decided I liked TimberKing’s 4-post head over the 1-post head on cantilever mills. It’s basic mechanics: four posts give more structural integrity, strength, and stability than one post.
I financed TimberKing’s smallest mill with TimberKing’s credit plan. Sure, I’d love to have had a bigger sawmill but the economics didn’t allow it. My 1220 doesn’t have a computer or hydraulics but it’s great saw. I love it!
Many people don’t know there’s an affordable sawmill
Vision inspired my home-building project but my TimberKing sawmill made it happen. Many people have a concept, idea, or something they’ve thought about doing but just don’t know there’s affordable equipment out there that lets them accomplish their dream.
Brad’s TimberKing 1220 paid for itself 8 – 10 times over
The cost of my sawmill was negligible compared to the value of the lumber and materials it produced for me. If I’d bought the lumber and building materials, rather than sawing my own, I’d have spent eight to 10 times what I paid for the mill! Those big savings came because I did all the work myself.
Of course, I still had to buy things like cabinetry, wiring, fixtures, and so on. But all in all, my mill saved me thousands and thousands of dollars
With a ‘get it done’ attitude, you can do just about anything
It’s very good to stay busy and productive. I’m a US Army vet. I’m 70 now and very fortunate to be healthy and active. I damn sure feel 70 but I still love to do things and stay active.
Nothing gives me a feeling of wellbeing like being busy. If you sit still, you’ll wither away. Stay active, have a good attitude, create the vision, then go do it. Start it, keep at it, get it done. If you have a good attitude, you can do just about anything.
Most economical way to own a home? Build it yourself
The most economical way to own a home is to build it myself. I did it all with no home mortgage. My TimberKing sawmill made it possible.
Having something productive to do is just human nature. My adult children say, ‘Dad, why don’t you just buy a condominium and relax?’ Relax? Why?? I’m aiming to live to be 100 and be busy and productive ’til then. And anyway, we needed a home and building it with a TimberKing was the most economical way!
Home sold in 3 days — cash offer, full asking price
Now my wife and I are moving and I’m starting a new enterprise. We listed our home and it sold in just three days…for cash and for full asking price. I credit that quick sale to the quality of the materials I created with my 1220 TimberKing!”
— Brad de Geus, TimberKing 1220 Owner, Darby MT
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