Did you hear about the latest estate trend? Well, it seems to be sweeping the entire nation, and it’s not what you think! So exclude sprawling lawns, rooms to spare, or any other posh, unaffordable, unachievable designer vision.
No, the latest trend refers to the bite-sized tiny house movement. Well, yes, homeowners everywhere have decided to downsize in order to live a more minimalist lifestyle in a more petite house.
Even if this move might sound quite enticing at first, we have decided to dive into some of the most important factors to consider before you clean out that garage and finally decide to join the small house community.
What can be seen as a tiny house?
Even if tiny houses are quite self-explanatory, they are more specifically defined as any given house that falls under a maximum of 500 square feet. They can be easily built on either a mobile platform or simply a permanent house foundation.
The general cost for a tiny house is somewhere between $20,000 and $100,000, depending on the type of features and materials you are looking to integrate in your home.
More about the tiny house movement
The tiny house movement came to the limelight because of its architectural innovation but also because of the implicit lifestyle, philosophy, and whimsy atmosphere it embodies. There are plenty of viral small homes that unlock such dreaminess, oftentimes overlapping with the cottage-core styling trend, which is known to celebrate softness and simplicity.
However, the tiny house community overlaps with minimalist and sustainable lifestyles, which is probably one of the reasons why they have become quite a social movement in and of themselves.
With a specific need for a couple of building materials, a significant decrease in energy consumption, and small square footage, which can further prevent overcrowding, small homes present numerous benefits to our environment.
So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that those who are seeking an eco-friendly lifestyle, or just a more alternative way of life, have repeatedly gravitated towards becoming small house owners.
Find somewhere to park your tiny house could be an issue
If you think that a huge part of a small house’s allure is the mobility and ease of traveling, then it might be a good idea to keep in mind that there are also many downsides. Because of many zoning regulations, full-time living in temporary housing structures is generally not permitted in many municipalities. Besides, even if you are well within your means, it can still be a bit difficult to find somewhere to park your small house.
Many tiny house lifestyle advocates prefer parks, beaches, or virtually anywhere in cities with quite abundant street parking. However, if you live in the suburbs or an area with particularly unruly weather, it can be challenging to find adequate space to live in your small house.
Small houses aren’t as mobile as you think
As far as travel and mobility go, there’s quite a big misconception that a tiny home will allow you to travel the world whenever you see fit. Even if this is truer for the majority of tiny houses, especially since they are smaller than your standard permanent foundation home, it’s not as cut and dried as it sounds.
A small house also means small appliances
If you have dreamt of one day owning a family-sized refrigerator or if you would love making use of your full-range stove, the proportionally small appliances that generally come with tiny house living are definitely serving as a great reality check.
Many tiny homes come fully equipped with a small refrigerator, oven, or even a stovetop. Not to mention all the pretty limited counter space! If cooking is a big part of your life, you might want to forgo a small house or even look into creating your own custom build with larger appliances.
Zoning laws make building permanent foundations very difficult
In the same way, mobility comes with numerous challenges for small house owners, permanent foundation tiny houses also have their own set of difficulties. As a general rule, zoning laws require a minimum size build for permanent residences, which tiny houses can’t offer.
So, if you decide to live in a specific area, make sure you understand the local ordinances and regulations way before setting about your tiny house aspirations.
Small houses are more vulnerable to natural disasters
This drawback is quite serious, especially if you live in a high-risk area for storms, hurricanes, or any other severe weather. If you want to live somewhere with high winds, just have a tiny home, especially one without a permanent foundation.
Isn’t the safest option. Make sure you carefully conduct your research and seek out one of the many communities in non-hurricane areas.
Temperature control can be less than ideal
When you buy or build a tiny house, you need to keep the weather in mind. If you prefer the look of lofted spaces, just note that they might get quite uncomfortable and hot right away, especially in warmer months.
When it gets a bit cooler, it can be just as difficult to warm up. When it comes to small house living, proper ventilation, heating and cooling systems are all very important.
Small houses are often more expensive per square foot
For those of us who are truly bargain hunters, calculating the price per unit for better deals can truly feel like second nature. It can be a real letdown to learn that the wide majority of tiny homes are double the price per square foot than a traditional one.
According to Business Insider, even if many standard homes average around $150 per square foot to build, smaller homes can cost around $400 per square foot. Naturally, that’s not to say you won’t save money in the long run. Even if there are plenty of upfront costs for a small home, you might be able to save quite a bit on utilities and even excess furnishings down the road.
Building codes differ or might not apply
It shouldn’t come as a shock that most standard homes need to meet certain regulations to be deemed safe enough to live in. The same applies to tiny homes. According to Money Task Force, small homes include one full bath with a minimum ceiling height of 6 feet 4 inches, a minimum ceiling height of 6 feet 8 inches in common areas, a ladder or even a staircase for any lofted areas, minimum one window that can double as an emergency exit, compliance with the International Residential Code or the International Building Code requirements.
However such building codes can greatly vary from region to region, so it’s fairly important to conduct your own research and understand the regulations that apply to each area. Besides, since tiny homes are a relatively new phenomenon, there are many other areas that don’t have the needed policies or regulations in place. Remember all these things before you decide where to live next.
It can be difficult to secure funding
Considering that tiny houses are fairly popular, the methods for financing one are still somehow limited, and definitely not as traditional. There are a few financing options available to small house owners: builder financing, online lenders, personal loans as well as RV loans. It’s important to make sure your tiny house meets all the needed requirements for whatever financing option you end up choosing.
Keeping clean can be a real chore
Despite the idyllic pictures we might have seen online, having much less space could also mean having more clutter to deal with. Without spare rooms to store some things, it can be quite easy for your tiny house to fill up with misplaced items.
Well, unless you are constantly maintaining your living space. Besides, since many tiny homes have more unique nooks and crannies, cleaning can easily become more burdensome than in any other standard home.
If you found this article useful, we also recommend checking: 5 Great Budget-Friendly Hacks to Refresh Your Home in No Time
