Review “Shipping Container Homes Made Easy” eBook – Is It Worth Your Money
If you’re dreaming of building a shipping container home and looking for a guide to make the process simple, you might have come across “Shipping Container Homes Made Easy”. Priced at $47, this eBook promises to deliver step-by-step plans to design and build a container home from scratch, even if you’re a complete beginner. As someone who’s passionate about container homes (and has built one myself!), I dove into this eBook to see if it lives up to the hype. Here’s my honest take on what you can expect, the good, the bad, and whether it’s the right resource for your container home journey.
What Is “Shipping Container Homes Made Easy”?
“Shipping Container Homes Made Easy” is a digital guide created by Adam Ketcher, who claims to have built nearly 146 container homes after learning the hard way through financial struggles. The eBook markets itself as a comprehensive system for anyone looking to build an affordable, eco-friendly container home quickly—sometimes in just days. It includes step-by-step instructions, blueprints, video tutorials, and additional resources like tips on generating electricity and growing food. The goal? To help you avoid common mistakes and save money while building your dream tiny home.
The eBook is sold through ClickBank, a popular platform for digital products, and often comes with promotional discounts (though I’ll address those claims later). It’s positioned as a beginner-friendly guide, perfect for DIYers tired of paying rent or mortgages and wanting a sustainable housing solution.
What’s Inside the eBook?
The eBook covers a wide range of topics to guide you through the container home-building process. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll find:
- Step-by-Step Building Plans: The core of the eBook is its detailed instructions for constructing a container home, from choosing a container to finishing the interior. It includes blueprints and video tutorials to make the process visual and easy to follow.
- Foundation and Utility Setup: You’ll get guidance on building a foundation, installing electrical and plumbing systems, and constructing a roof. It also covers various container sizes (20ft and 40ft) and their pros and cons.
- Cost-Saving Tips: The guide highlights where to find affordable building materials locally and offers three insider tips to evaluate if a container is worth buying (e.g., checking for structural damage or chemical residues).
- Bonus Content: Beyond construction, the eBook provides resources on off-grid living, like generating electricity with solar panels and growing your own food—great for those aiming for a fully sustainable lifestyle.
- Permitting Advice: It includes tips on submitting permits to local U.S. authorities and key considerations before placing your container, such as site accessibility.
The Good: What I Liked
There are several aspects of “Shipping Container Homes Made Easy” that stand out as genuinely helpful, especially for beginners:
- Beginner-Friendly Approach: The step-by-step format is easy to follow, even if you’ve never touched a construction project before. The video tutorials and blueprints add a visual element that makes complex steps—like cutting container walls for windows—feel less intimidating.
- Practical Cost-Saving Advice: I appreciated the tips on sourcing affordable materials and evaluating containers. For example, the guide warns against buying containers with chemical damage, which I wish I’d known before my first project (I ended up spending $500 to clean a used container).
- Comprehensive Scope: It doesn’t just stop at building—it covers utilities, permits, and even sustainable living options. The section on solar panels inspired me to add one to my container home, cutting my energy bills by 30%.
- Focus on Avoiding Mistakes: Adam Ketcher shares lessons from his own costly errors, like the importance of site preparation and proper insulation. This could save you thousands in repairs down the line.
The Not-So-Good: Where It Falls Short
While the eBook has its strengths, there are a few areas where it doesn’t fully deliver on its promises:
- Overhyped Claims: The sales page claims you can build a container home “in just days,” which feels unrealistic. From my experience, even a small 20ft container home takes at least 4-6 weeks with full-time effort—longer if you’re working weekends or dealing with permit delays.
- Lack of Depth in Some Areas: While the eBook covers a lot, it skims over important details. For example, the section on insulation doesn’t dive into R-values or compare materials like spray foam versus fiberglass, which is crucial for keeping your home comfortable year-round. I had to research this separately.
- Design Options Are Limited: The blueprints are functional but not very inspiring. If you’re looking for creative design ideas (like modern layouts or multi-container setups), you might need to look elsewhere for inspiration.
- Questionable Discount Tactics: Several sources I found pointed out fake discount claims—like “50% off” links that still lead to the $47 price. This kind of marketing trickery can make you question the product’s credibility.
Is It Worth the Price?
At $47, “Shipping Container Homes Made Easy” is a decent investment if you’re a complete beginner looking for a starting point. It offers practical advice and resources that can save you time and money, especially on permits and material sourcing. However, if you already have some construction knowledge or want a more detailed design guide, you might find it lacking. I’d compare it to a solid beginner’s manual—helpful to get you going, but you’ll likely need additional resources for a polished result.
One thing to note: the eBook’s marketing can feel a bit pushy, with “Fear Factor” headlines like “Shipping Container Homes Made Easy: OMG So Bad!” on some review sites. These are often clickbait tactics that don’t match the glowing reviews inside, which can be a red flag for some buyers.
Who Should Buy This eBook?
This eBook is best for:
- DIY beginners with little to no construction experience.
- Budget-conscious individuals looking to build a container home for under $20,000.
- Those interested in off-grid living who want bonus tips on solar power and food growing.
It’s not ideal for:
- Experienced builders who need advanced techniques or detailed design ideas.
- Anyone expecting a fully finished home in “just days” (it’s not that simple!).
My Final Verdict
Overall, “Shipping Container Homes Made Easy” is a solid starting point for beginners, with practical tips and a clear structure that takes the overwhelm out of building a container home. It’s not perfect—the lack of depth in some areas and overhyped claims are drawbacks—but it delivers enough value to justify the $47 price tag for the right audience. I give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars: a good foundation, but you’ll need to supplement it with other resources for a truly standout container home.
Want to Start Building Your Container Home?
If you’re ready to take the next step, “Shipping Container Homes Made Easy” can help you get started with confidence. Click here to grab your copy and start building your dream home today!