The tiny house movement is catching on in North America. More people across all age demographics are looking into this environmentally friendly and economically inexpensive lifestyle!
We are assuming that you are reading this article not to be convinced toward this life, but to look at ways to make sure this is the cost-cutting lifestyle you have been researching about.
The rule of thumb here is that if you complete this project, from start to finish properly, it may cost more than anticipated in the short term but will give you cost saving in the long term.
Living small can help you live the big life of your dreams!
1. Build the Type of Tiny House You Envision
The first cost-cutting idea is to do the research that you need to determine the type of tiny house that you desire. Nothing is worse in life than to have a house built only to know that either the tiny house or the lifestyle is not what you truly wanted.
You will have lost the opportunity cost if you do not take the time to research this. There are many types of tiny houses and you need to find the one that fits you. Here is a link to one research paper that came up with 11 different styles. These are awesome ideas on tiny homes.
2. Do Not Wing It!
There are many tiny home plans already on the market that you can purchase or you can bring in a good handy person that knows how to do this with the proper materials. You will waste time and energy without a good plan with the cost of materials.
3. Decide Where You Will Park or Build Your Tiny Home
The other cost-saving would be to know where your new home is going to be located. Are you going to park it on your friends’ or relatives’ back yard? Of course, that means your friends or relatives are not downsizing.
Are you going to buy some land and park it there? What about running water and sanitation distribution? What about electrical power or even how you will heat the tiny home. These are all that we call the “end game” questions and they need to be answered. You need to begin your downsizing with the end in mind.
If you have not thought this part through, then you will have a nice tiny house with nowhere to locate it. Not knowing exactly where you are going to locate your tiny house will increase your holding costs.
4. Keep it Legal
As the popularity of these tiny houses becomes more mainstream then rest assured the various government entities will try to regulate, license and tax it. It is just the nature of the beast of governments.
Now, this is not all bad in a civilized society because it protects the greater society from a hodge-podge of living arrangements that could be unsafe, unhealthy and unsanitary.
These regulations are known as tiny house laws and need to be observed at all times. There are such things as minimum ceiling height, types of windows, proper plumbing and so forth. We have provided a hyperlink to these laws on one website known as the Tiny Society. Yes, there is now a society to go along with the trend.
If you follow the laws in your locale, you will be saving money in the long term by not having to redo or even abandon your tiny house project. This might seem like the expensive route, but in the long run, keeping yourself legal will be a very cost-saving strategy.
5. Plan for Durability
Once you know what the building codes are and the legal rules for your tiny home, you are better prepared to begin your project. Since this is a lifestyle change plan, you do not want your life to outlive your tiny house.
So planning for durability here is crucial. So what do we mean by durability? The answer could be different depending on where you live but here is our short answer:
- Will the tiny house you build or acquire be just as nice and durable 20 years from the day it was completed, notwithstanding the typical minor repair of any home?
This is not a time to skimp or cut corners. A tiny house is just that, a tiny house. It is not a “no need to follow conventional building practices” house. You will need to apply the building codes and practices of where you plan to place your tiny home in the long term.
We are recommending this site tiny house plans as a starting point to get the project ideas going. This research site on tiny houses makes the point that these are plans and not guides. Guides are more in-depth point by point directions.
You will still need this house professionally designed, modified and built. If you are a DIY type person, that is fine, then the assumption is you know what you are doing. You will know that the cheapest materials are not always the best materials.
The Final Three
So far in this article, we have given you five points necessary to begin your journey towards a tiny house. They are cost-saving in the long term to prevent you from costly mistakes in the short term. Here are the final three:
- Get all your plans in a complete guide that will give you the entire material list, the step by step instructions on how to build, including the foundation or the frame and wheels.
- Take the materials list and start putting your price comparisons together on from various suppliers. These could be from the big box home improvement stores to the construction specialty companies.
- Do not be afraid to make small changes as you are building your project as this will be your home for many years to come. A small change here will create a satisfying living experience in the future.
Enjoy your tiny life by living big!