Man spent 12,000 dollars to transform an abandoned house into an off-grid cabin.

When his brother offered him a neglected static caravan on his farm, 38-year-old Benn Berkeley seized the opportunity to move out of his rented apartment and start his off-grid new life.

“This was not something planned in advance, but was driven by the pressure brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. When the epidemic hit, I lost all my jobs. I had nothing to do, which gave me the chance to rebuild this neglected property,” Berkeley said.

In August 2020, Berkeley’s brother took over a farm, which included a dilapidated static caravan, and gifted it to Berkeley. Despite knowing that the caravan was a fixer-upper, the freelance filmmaker from Cornwall, England, embarked on the renovation over the next month.

The 44ft by 10ft static caravan required extensive renovation. Berkeley revealed, “I completely transformed this caravan. When one side of the wall collapsed, we had to support it, prioritizing the safety of the structure. We replaced the windows, then realized there was a damp issue, so we removed all the interior walls, turning it into a completely open space.”

After gutting the caravan, Berkeley began redesigning the cabin. Originally a two-bedroom unit with a bathroom and kitchen, the new layout includes a double bedroom, bathroom, hallway, and an open-plan living room with a kitchen.

Having no experience in DIY and construction, Berkeley relied on tutorials from YouTube to guide himself through each stage of the home renovation. He shared, “YouTube is a fantastic resource. I learned everything about revamping the cabin on the website, from window replacement, door removal, wall construction to building the kitchen, I found all the tutorial videos I needed.”

Apart from electrical and plumbing, Berkeley did all the work himself. The total cost amounted to £10,000 (about $12,600).

In addition to the impressive transformation, the cabin is completely off-grid. Berkeley heats the cabin with a wood burner, cooks with gas bottles, and powers the cabin with solar panels installed on the farm.

This minimalist way of living gives Berkeley a sense of freedom and self-sufficiency. He said, “It’s a very simple way of life; I think we have lost this way of living. When you live like this, you feel a sense of simplicity. I can manage my own time more freely. I am not forced to work a certain number of hours per week because I know my monthly expenses.”

For anyone dreaming of making significant changes, Berkeley’s advice is simple, “Act impulsively. It’s an amazing and empowering experience.”