Moving the Montaño Manor

Brooke Wagner
Advisor
  Imagine building a dream home full of secret passageways, loft nets, and a cupola. In 2020, Asher Montaño, staff writer for The Bonneville Buzz, and his family decided to begin building their forever home. The family has experienced a multitude of highs and lows over the last four years, but the home is guaranteed to be the perfect place for their ever-evolving family.
  Having moved from place to place, the Montaño’s have had their fair share of homes and apartments; however, each never truly fit their needs. The family decided to build a new home because they have lived in a variety of places that “didn’t agree with them.” Whether they needed more space, more access, or more options, pre-built never felt like home. Carina Montaño, matriarch and building designer, struggled with the idea of living in a busy, bustling community that did not meet her farm-without-the-farm idea. Avoiding the cookie cutter housing edition lifestyle, the family felt that building was the best option. After inheriting a plot of land in Idaho Falls after the passing of his grandfather in 2020, Asher Montaño and his family broke ground and began building their forever home. Having spent the last four years on the project, the family hopes to finish in the near future.
  Fortunately, the new build has given the family more opportunities and freedom to each have their own space. There will be bedrooms for everyone, including multiple master bedrooms and bathrooms. Mother Montaño stated she “would not go small” with the build. The family also plans to build separate-entrance apartments to rent as passive income. Besides space for everyone, the new home will feature secret rooms and secret tunnels! The second-floor bedrooms will have passageways to connect the bedrooms, similar to a Jack-and-Jill bathroom. According to Asher Montaño, there will also be a slide and possibly a hammock. In his room, there will be a one-way mirror that opens to Mother Montaño’s bedroom, so she can easily “bug” him from the comfort of her own room. With plenty of square footage and custom characteristics, each Montaño member can create their own haven. Although he is excited for the move, one of the biggest things Montaño will miss is “the neighborhood.” Although living in a more remote, isolated area can be serene, he will miss the sociable aspects like being able to walk down the road to a friend’s house.  
  Although the last four years have been full of excitement and execution, the family has faced a variety of challenges while building their new home. According to Asher Montaño, one of the biggest hurdles has been using lumber purchased from local hardware stores like Lowes and Home Depot. The wood warps much easier than traditional construction lumber. Besides construction concerns, the family has faced some community backlash regarding the project. Building a new home comes early mornings and late nights full of equipment and supplies being used; some neighbors have complained about the noise. Besides that, Asher Montaño noted that his mother has received significant feedback from some community members about the project. According to Montaño, when people “see a woman trying to build her house,” his mother is often greeted by unsolicited comments and unhelpful feedback. 
  Having moved from place to place, the Montaño family knew exactly what their dream home needed to include. Although building a new home comes with its own challenges, the family has made plenty of new memories in the process. Asher Montaño, having learned plenty from this adventure, claims he now has the skills and knowledge to build his own home in the future, but he would rather “get a job that makes [him] more money.” Although he understands he can “do hard things,” he would rather let this build be a one-time event. Like building this house, when facing challenges, Asher Montaño’s words of encouragement were“[you] just gotta keep doin’ it.”

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