Investing in Your DIY Skills: Turning Van Life into a Profitable Venture

Published: Nov. 3, 2023, 10 a.m.

Nate Murphy is an adventurous builder and filmmaker who has taken on not just one, but countless incredible projects, converting several vans into cozy living spaces and renovating a centuries old house in the beautiful Pyrenees Mountains. In our conversation, Nate shares his experience of building a van from scratch, documenting every step of the process with over 100 hours of footage. Nate also opens up about the intense filming process, and the unique aspects of van conversion that make it both intimidating and incredibly cool. But that's not all, Nate goes beyond the van, sharing the captivating story of renovating a 250 year old house in the scenic Pyrenees, we'll hear about the demanding and rewarding journey of bringing new life to this historical gem. Whether you're curious about van conversions, tiny house living, or the challenges of renovating an old house, this episode has something for everyone.

In This Episode:

  • \U0001f3e1 Customization and enjoyment: The value of a van conversion lies in the personalization and satisfaction of the build.
  • \U0001f30d Van life vs. tiny houses: Younger people prefer the flexibility of van life, while older individuals are drawn to tiny houses for retirement and cost-cutting.
  • \U0001f3e2 Housing affordability crisis: Limited options in the UK and high prices in areas with economic opportunity.
  • \u2696\ufe0f Laws and restrictions: Living in a van is tolerated in many countries, but regulations vary.
  • \U0001f6e0\ufe0f DIY resources: How Nate unexpectedly turned into a van conversion educator.
  • \U0001f551 Time commitment: Building a van or a house takes time and dedication.
  • \U0001f50c Learning new skills: DIYing a van conversion involves mastering electrical, plumbing, gas line hookups, carpentry, and more.
  • \U0001f3e0 Renovating old houses: Nate Murphy shares his experience and challenges of renovating a 250-year-old house in Spain.

This Week's Sponsor:
PrecisionTemp:

We spoke with John and Fin Kernohan from the United Tiny House Association, they have a total of three PrecisionTemp On Demand hot water heaters. PrecisionTemp professionally installed all three of the Kernohan\u2019s water heaters and now they have an on demand supply of endless hot water. These units are suitable for any tiny lifestyle and are available for propane or natural gas.

PrecisionTemp is offering $100 off any unit plus free shipping when use the coupon code THLP. So head over to precisiontemp.com and use the coupon code THLP at checkout for $100 off any unit.\xa0 Thank you so much to PrecisionTemp for sponsoring our show.

Visit www.thetinyhouse.net/nate-murphy for full show notes, links and resources.

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