Mother Of Four Builds House All By Herself Using Just Youtube Tutorials, But There’s More To It Than That
Meet Cara Brookins – an Arkansas-based mother of four who did something so extraordinary, it left thousands of people in awe. After abusive relationships, two marriages filled with violence, and being stalked by a man with a mental illness, “my kids and I needed something,” Cara said. “I felt ashamed and I was worried that they had no self-esteem and no confidence.” So, the woman set out for a fresh start for both her and her family. Unfortunately, Cara couldn’t afford a new house but that didn’t stop her. Instead, she decided to build one – on her own with zero experience and zero knowledge.
It all started in 2007 when Cara spotted a tornado hit house with only the foundation left… “It made me think, ‘what if we bought some 2’x4’s and sheetrock and put that together? What would our dream house be? Would we want to build it?,’” Cara said. Her kids (then 2, 11, 15 and 17) were absolutely up for it, as after all the domestic violence, this was a way for them to improve their lives.
So, using a bank loan of $150,000 for materials, lots of Youtube tutorials, and team work – the family did it! They learned how to frame a house, pour a foundation, and before they knew it they had built a 3500 square foot house with five bedrooms, a three-car garage, a huge shop, and a two-story treehouse – and the family was stronger as ever! Cara and her family have been living in the ‘Inkwell Manor’ for the past eight years and she can bravely say her kids are “now fearless”. “They dive into anything. There’s nothing you could suggest to them that they could not do. it’s an incredible thing.”
You can read more about Cara and her family in her new book called ‘Rise’, which will be available to purchase through Amazon on January 24th.
More info: carabrookins.com | Amazon (h/t)
Meet Cara Brookins and her kids Jada, Roman, Drew and Hope
Image credits: Ashley Murphy
Cara has been in abusive relationships, two marriages filled with violence, and was stalked by a man with a mental illness – it affected the whole family
Image credits: Cara Brookins
“My kids and i needed something,” Cara said
Image credits: Cara Brookins
“I felt ashamed and I was worried that they had no self-esteem and no confidence…They had been powerless”
Image credits: Cara Brookins
So the whole family (kids aged 17, 15, 11, and 2 at the time) set out for a fresh start by building their own house, as they couldn’t afford buying one
Image credits: Cara Brookins
The only problem was they had zero knowledge and zero experience – but that didn’t stop them
Image credits: Cara Brookins
Using a bank loan of $150,000 for materials, lots of Youtube tutorials, and team work – the family did it
Image credits: Cara Brookins
While they learned how to frame a house
Image credits: Cara Brookins
How to pour concrete
Image credits: Cara Brookins
How to lay bricks
Image credits: Cara Brookins
And how to work together
Image credits: Cara Brookins
They also learned how to rebuild a broken family
Image credits: Cara Brookins
And before they knew it…
Image credits: Cara Brookins
They had built a 3500 square foot house with five bedrooms, a three-car garage, a huge shop, and a two-story treehouse
Image credits: Cara Brookins
And the family was stronger as ever
Image credits: Cara Brookins
Cara and her family have been living in the ‘Inkwell Manor’ for the past eight years
Image credits: Cara Brookins
And she can bravely say her kids are “now fearless”
Image credits: Cara Brookins
“They dive into anything. There’s nothing you could suggest to them that they could not do. it’s an incredible thing”
Image credits: Cara Brookins
You can read more about Cara and her family in her new book called ‘Rise’, which will be available to purchase through Amazon on January 24th
201Kviews
Share on Facebookwow.. this is amazing.. i was still proud with myself fixing up a ikea shelf =x
So am I the only one who thinks this is kinda bs? You have to have licensed contractors to build certain things, licenses electricians, etc. They don't give building permits to anyone to just build anything they want.
Not BS, although I'd be surprised if they did do EVERYTHING themselves. While laws/building codes do vary from state to state, it's not so much that licensed people are required as it is that everything meets code and works. People in building trade businesses require licenses because of laws that govern building trade businesses, not because of building codes. A lot of D.I.Y. stuff could not be done if licensed tradespeople were required to do them. Lots of people act as contractors and build their own house, but sub-contract out the stuff they have no experience doing. Permits are given based on submitting building plans; meeting codes at that stage; making corrections, if needed; and resubmitting plans to meet permit requirements. During construction, as long as everything meets code and passes inspection, you're fine. Who and how got you there doesn't matter. Know this from personal experience.
Load More Replies...I do love beautiful stories like these, but I just wish sometimes they would explain the real life practical challenges like where did they live while building this house and how did she have the time to devote to this when she had kids to look after. I mean what kind of fincancial shape was mom in to just be able to get a $150,000 loan from the bank. It's great, but most women leaving abusives relationships + with five kids would not be in the financial position to pull this off.
At first glance it may appear so because of the contrast between their upper bodies and the background, but after looking over the entire photo... no.
Load More Replies...When they talked about the loan from the bank, I hoped they'd mentioned a sentence about the land owning issues and how they were resolved. Also, I hope (and believe), this family is already well protected to go public. Otherwise, God forbid, the abusive guys could get back to them, led by this info. Wish all the best to this family. Building up a house is a tough job. Just think how lazy we can get when we need to just clean our own room.....
What a very brave thing to do and an amazing example to set. Abusive relationships take such a toll on the whole family and can give any children involved the wrong set of expectations from a partner. However, the children here have seen how strong their mother is, how she was able to turn things around and become a person who can stand on her own two feet. People often pick the type of relationships they've seen as a child, as do their children and so on. This breaks the cycle and can only be a positive in all their lives. Fabulous outcome.
Kinda like the idea but... really? Youtube diy house sounds like the most dangerous thing ever to live in.
I'm confused. She couldn't afford a house, but she could get a $150,000 loan? Wouldn't that have bought a house?
She did something lots of people like her cannot do - get a bank to loan her $150,000....
What can I say but awesome...when the human mind is put to trust - the impossible becomes possible...the greatest gift GOD has given man/woman...
Headline is a little misleading. It would appear she had at least 2 or 3 children that were capable workers on the project. Still amazing, but sucks that the kids weren't given any credit in the headline.
Very inspiring. And also a reminder to us all that we can do much more than we think.
I love you, family! You inspire many me included. I believe now I can build a studio to attach to my house xo
This morning I heard my mom talking about this story this morning. It is now the evening and I went on board panda and saw this. I'm really happy for the family though. This is so cool!
That's amazing, I as wondering didn't she have to buy the land she built on? Did she already have it?
Congratulations to this amazing family. what lovely children, I am so happy to hear that this brought them so closer together!
sorry, but I don't believe this story at all. It's really really hard work to vuild that huge building without knowledge at alll about construction. Yes indeed you can count on youtube for several thing but build a house ? oh come on....
There were, and still are, lots of books about construction, electrical, plumbing, etc., that are available to buy, or borrow from a library. I have about a dozen along with as many books on various types of d.i.y. stuff. I used all of mine when building. This was before youtube.
Load More Replies...Anyone else think the first pic - showing them in front of the house - looks Photoshopped?
i see some pretty dumb things on facebook, but this is so incredibly impressive. take a bow, you are awesome.
A nice story, but come on. Not only did she somehow qualify for a $150,000 loan, but how about furnishing, hesting, cooling, taxes, and maint on a 3500'sq home with a 3 car garage? Something just doesn't pass the smell test to me.
The woman is a writer so she wasn't (and isn't) without income. Furnishing a home isn't hard if you already have furnishings in an existing home or apartment. I could go one, but... Maybe your sense of smell is off.
Load More Replies...it's too easy to say she chose to...but it's unfortunately, unconsciously, some choices in life lead to dark people. Still a victim nonetheless!
Load More Replies...wow.. this is amazing.. i was still proud with myself fixing up a ikea shelf =x
So am I the only one who thinks this is kinda bs? You have to have licensed contractors to build certain things, licenses electricians, etc. They don't give building permits to anyone to just build anything they want.
Not BS, although I'd be surprised if they did do EVERYTHING themselves. While laws/building codes do vary from state to state, it's not so much that licensed people are required as it is that everything meets code and works. People in building trade businesses require licenses because of laws that govern building trade businesses, not because of building codes. A lot of D.I.Y. stuff could not be done if licensed tradespeople were required to do them. Lots of people act as contractors and build their own house, but sub-contract out the stuff they have no experience doing. Permits are given based on submitting building plans; meeting codes at that stage; making corrections, if needed; and resubmitting plans to meet permit requirements. During construction, as long as everything meets code and passes inspection, you're fine. Who and how got you there doesn't matter. Know this from personal experience.
Load More Replies...I do love beautiful stories like these, but I just wish sometimes they would explain the real life practical challenges like where did they live while building this house and how did she have the time to devote to this when she had kids to look after. I mean what kind of fincancial shape was mom in to just be able to get a $150,000 loan from the bank. It's great, but most women leaving abusives relationships + with five kids would not be in the financial position to pull this off.
At first glance it may appear so because of the contrast between their upper bodies and the background, but after looking over the entire photo... no.
Load More Replies...When they talked about the loan from the bank, I hoped they'd mentioned a sentence about the land owning issues and how they were resolved. Also, I hope (and believe), this family is already well protected to go public. Otherwise, God forbid, the abusive guys could get back to them, led by this info. Wish all the best to this family. Building up a house is a tough job. Just think how lazy we can get when we need to just clean our own room.....
What a very brave thing to do and an amazing example to set. Abusive relationships take such a toll on the whole family and can give any children involved the wrong set of expectations from a partner. However, the children here have seen how strong their mother is, how she was able to turn things around and become a person who can stand on her own two feet. People often pick the type of relationships they've seen as a child, as do their children and so on. This breaks the cycle and can only be a positive in all their lives. Fabulous outcome.
Kinda like the idea but... really? Youtube diy house sounds like the most dangerous thing ever to live in.
I'm confused. She couldn't afford a house, but she could get a $150,000 loan? Wouldn't that have bought a house?
She did something lots of people like her cannot do - get a bank to loan her $150,000....
What can I say but awesome...when the human mind is put to trust - the impossible becomes possible...the greatest gift GOD has given man/woman...
Headline is a little misleading. It would appear she had at least 2 or 3 children that were capable workers on the project. Still amazing, but sucks that the kids weren't given any credit in the headline.
Very inspiring. And also a reminder to us all that we can do much more than we think.
I love you, family! You inspire many me included. I believe now I can build a studio to attach to my house xo
This morning I heard my mom talking about this story this morning. It is now the evening and I went on board panda and saw this. I'm really happy for the family though. This is so cool!
That's amazing, I as wondering didn't she have to buy the land she built on? Did she already have it?
Congratulations to this amazing family. what lovely children, I am so happy to hear that this brought them so closer together!
sorry, but I don't believe this story at all. It's really really hard work to vuild that huge building without knowledge at alll about construction. Yes indeed you can count on youtube for several thing but build a house ? oh come on....
There were, and still are, lots of books about construction, electrical, plumbing, etc., that are available to buy, or borrow from a library. I have about a dozen along with as many books on various types of d.i.y. stuff. I used all of mine when building. This was before youtube.
Load More Replies...Anyone else think the first pic - showing them in front of the house - looks Photoshopped?
i see some pretty dumb things on facebook, but this is so incredibly impressive. take a bow, you are awesome.
A nice story, but come on. Not only did she somehow qualify for a $150,000 loan, but how about furnishing, hesting, cooling, taxes, and maint on a 3500'sq home with a 3 car garage? Something just doesn't pass the smell test to me.
The woman is a writer so she wasn't (and isn't) without income. Furnishing a home isn't hard if you already have furnishings in an existing home or apartment. I could go one, but... Maybe your sense of smell is off.
Load More Replies...it's too easy to say she chose to...but it's unfortunately, unconsciously, some choices in life lead to dark people. Still a victim nonetheless!
Load More Replies...
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