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Wondering if you should try building a tiny house? Have you thought about all of the details for doing it?
Many people are ditching standard homes and looking for ways to live more simply. For many people, tiny home living is a lifestyle change that is filled with happiness. It also offers a great alternative to costly mortgage payments.
If you’re thinking about building a tiny home for the first time or you’re in the early stages of planning, however, there are a few things you’ll want to remember as you get started. Here are 4 of the most important things to think about before building a tiny house.
1. Don’t Be Afraid to Steal Ideas
The first thing to remember when you’re thinking about building a tiny house is that many others have done it before you have. Luckily, that’s a pretty great thing.
Many people who have built tiny houses in the past have posted pictures of them online, have blogged about them, or have made video tutorials showing you how to make a home that’s just like theirs. While you may not want to build a house directly to someone else’s specifications, looking at all of the many tiny homes out there can be incredibly inspirational and can also give you plenty of ideas.
If you’ve decided to build a tiny home, make use of this wealth of information that’s online. As you look at pictures and plans for other tiny homes, be sure you save all of the ideas that you love. Then, consider using them for your own build.
2. A Tiny Home Needs a Big Plan
It should come as no surprise to you that building a great tiny home starts with creating a great plan. Remember that while there may be a bit of wiggle room with larger homes, with a tiny house, every centimeter matters quite a bit.
You’ll want to think carefully about your design, planning every square inch of it in meticulous detail before getting started with your build. You’ll want to make a list of the features you want in your tiny home. Then, toy around with floorplans endlessly to decide what is right for you.
Remember that just because your house will be smaller than the norm, it doesn’t mean that you should spend any less time on planning. A great planning process will take you a long way. It will help ensure that every other step of your tiny house journey goes as smoothly as possible.
3. Local Laws Can Be Troublesome
While the tiny house movement is growing in popularity, it’s a slow ride. Unfortunately, many laws and regulations that have been made in the past are in direct opposition to it.
Because of this, many citywide laws and neighborhood regulations simply don’t allow for tiny homes. Many will require a home to be certain square footage in order to be built on a piece of property. Be sure that you find out what the local laws are for the land and location you’re planning on using. If necessary, look for ways to get around any strict requirements.
Building a tiny home on wheels is one way that some people bypass local requirements. However, there are other options as well. Be sure you know what the laws are and plan accordingly early on. It can be very discouraging to get in trouble for building a tiny home after it has already been built.
4. Fantasy Doesn’t Equal Reality
Many people are becoming interested in the idea of living simply and are enraptured by the idea of building a tiny home. However, there are plenty of stories of people who fantasized about the tiny home lifestyle and built a tiny home only to find out pretty quickly that it wasn’t for them.
You’ll want to think carefully about this and make sure that you’re prepared for what tiny home living includes. Living in a tiny home with one or two people can be quite a challenge. It gets even harder if you have an entire family.
If possible, you may want to take a tiny home for a test drive. If you have a friend who has a tiny home, ask if you can visit them to see what it’s like. You may also want to try booking an Airbnb or VRBO to stay at a tiny home for a short while and see how you like it.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve made the decision to start building a tiny house, there is a multitude of decisions you’ll need to make. While this article lists a few important considerations, there’s a lot more to think about as you prepare for your new adventure. Be sure you think carefully when building a tiny home and plan thoroughly if you want to end up with a great finished result.
Want to go further in making your home sustainable? Then you may want to check out this list of the best vegetables you can grow at home for a low cost.
