My one bit of advice (from what I've heard time and time again), whether it be homemade, or a kit- be sure to let your kid (unless you're building it for yourself) have a part in the construction process- in the endrun he/she will appreciate the fort itself, and the experience that much more. Also, I chose this particular treehouse to showcase, as aside from some scale difference, it could certainly become a design for a tiny vacation home or small guest house or adults. Why not....
I'd put some better/safer railings on my own though....and its more of a "stilt house" than a treehouse, or so I feel...not that there's anything wrong with tree/stilt combos (the cabin I'm working on right now, because of its size, might have to take both avenues of support).
Anyway, this particular house is a kit, and has a related article that pushes how obtaining a kit fort is less expensive and less time consuming than building one from scratch. Probably true, but you'll also have a structure that literally will look like 1000 others out there and have no independent charm, on the other hand. A cool little design though, no doubt....
My suggestion- build your own, and use as many salvaged/found/donated materials as possible (so long as the material is sound/strong)- you'll save yourseld a ton of money, and will be spreading a good message to those who see your creation, and those who utilize it.
-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen
