8 Factors to Consider Before Joining the Tiny House Movement
2015-06-19When life seems too complicated, some people advocate this solution: Move into a smaller home to have a bigger life.
For some, the tiny house movement has become a way of life, adjusting to a smaller space and fewer possessions, with a goal of saving money and focusing on relationships and experiences.
The small home movement takes in people with a variety of motivations: young people who want to get out from under student loan debt, people who want to have less impact on the environment, people who can't afford more and older people who seek to downsize in retirement.
Here are eight factors to consider before you build or buy a tiny house:
Where will you put your home? This is the biggest obstacle for most people. You might be able to build a cottage as an accessory unit on a lot with a larger home or in a rural area with a liberal zoning code. Or, you might need to build it on wheels and keep it in an RV park. "People should really know where they're going to keep it before they build it," Walker says.
Do you want to build a home with a foundation or a house on wheels? A traditional home will have to conform to the building codes for stick-built homes. A mobile home should meet the standards of the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association if you want to tow it or put it in an RV park.
Consider your family size and lifestyle. While Walker and Mitchell both live alone, neither recommends a home as tiny as theirs for a couple or family. Walker, who has three adult children, estimates you need at least 100 square feet per person. "I wouldn't want to be in a tiny house with a husband and children," she says. "Teenagers want to be able to have a friend over and still have privacy. Parents need some alone time." Fivecoat-Campbell decided they needed a bedroom separate from the living space because her husband stays up late and watches TV. The couple eventually built a 320-square-foot building for her to use as an office. Don't forget about space for pets. Walker found her tiny house was not big enough for two dogs and two cats.
Try before you buy. Fivecoat-Campbell recommends renting vacation cabins of various sizes and designs to see how you like living in a small space. Camping is another way to determine what you really need to get by.
Know that outdoor space is important. Porches, decks and room to roam outdoors become more important when your indoor space is limited. Fivecoat-Campbell has a covered front porch, a large deck and acres of land. "The winter times are harder because you can't get outside," she says.
Plan for utilities. If you park your tiny house in an RV campground, you likely will have access to electricity, running water and sewage disposal. If you build or park on your own land, how will you handle sewage disposal, water, power and Internet access? Mitchell uses city water and generates electricity from solar panels. He uses a composting toilet, but on his blog he lists some of the challenges with that technology. Many municipalities have rules about required utilities, so consider the cost of incorporating them into your home when crunching the numbers on housing expenses.
Build to standards. Building codes exist for a reason, as do the codes for recreational vehicles. Any home you create will need to stand up to hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes or the stress (and cost) of towing it on the highway. Find out what codes are required in your area and build to those.
Consider your goals. If your motivation is strictly to save money, investigate other alternatives as well. In some areas, buying or renting an existing house or apartment may be cheaper. Before you commit to living in a tiny home, know it's a financially sound decision and you're doing it for the right reasons.
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