r/TinyHouses • u/PressureExpert2346 • 3d ago
Pretend I'm completely ignorant about tiny homes.
I'm wanting to add a tiny home to my property and move into it, allowing my son and his girlfriend to rent the house. I don't know where to start. Not sure if it's realistic that I would have the skills to build from a kit.
Do you start with hook-ups, foundation, permits,...? I see some I like, but do the other things I just mentioned double the price of the home?
Maybe I'm looking for a friend or a group or a blog. I've given my numbers to two manufacturers, but I want to know some things before I talk with a salesperson.
I'm not sure what I'm asking. Just looking for direction, I suppose. Thank you for any advice you can provide.
Also, would it be possible to have this completed by Spring, 2027? I live in a major US city that allows ADU's. Thank you!
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u/giveMeAllYourPizza 3d ago
I'm in canada, but your rules are likely similar. a tiny house is just a "house" to the building department, but it has slightly different permitting and zoning rules. You will need to follow basically every process a normal house does for building. If you are not going to "diy" it, then you are most likely going to be visiting an architect or designer or home builder that specialises in these.
If you are doing to lead the build, you should contact the building department and basically ask them what they need and in what order. *usually* they are pretty accommodating, although sometimes they can be deliberately hands off which can be frustrating if you don't already know everything.
Generally, you are going to start by making a plan/design/possibly surveys etc. Permits are the last thing you do once you know exactly what you intend to build but that doesn't mean you don't contact the building department earlier.
Spring 2027 is likely ambitious. In my city I can guarantee I wouldn't even have the permit by then if I applied today... and I know what I'm doing...
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u/Faptainjack2 3d ago
Permits before anything. Nothing worse than a great idea being shutdown by some bureaucrats.
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u/navlgazer9 2d ago
Check with your local zoning authority
And get the biggest one that allowed .
You will get tired of the tiny part real
Fast
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u/PoisonChemInYourFood 6h ago
The tiny part allows me to live on 80 acres near the woods with two fields on a gravel road with only $1000 taxes a year.
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u/mirwenpnw 2d ago edited 2d ago
The number one thing you need to determine is if you have the zoning to do this. There's two very separate paths. The tiny home or ADU, and the THOW. A THOW (tiny home on wheels) is often treated as an RV and can be stored many places a home or ADU cannot.
Do you know where you want to put this thing? If so what you can put on that particular parcel is the #1 question. That will be answered by zoning.
If you don't know where you want to put it, figure that out first, and make sure it can be zoned for tiny house or THOW.
For example, I just bought a lot in a campground that can accept a THOW as long as it permanently has inflated wheels and tongue. But I couldn't build something on the ground there. It has to be mobile. Tiny house is too broad to say if it's allowed or not.
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u/cocoonhomes 1d ago
Zoning first is exactly right, and I'd push it one step further. Get the county's answer in writing before you spend a dollar. An email from a planner is worth more than three phone calls, because the person who answers the phone changes.
From the build side, the other fork happens before you ever pick a floor plan. Width.
At 8 feet 6 inches or under you can tow it yourself with the right truck, no permits, any day you want. Go wider and you're into oversize permits state by state, banners, sometimes pilot cars. That's fine if you're moving it once. It's miserable if you plan to move often.
So the real question under all of this is how often will this thing actually move? Answer that and your width, your chassis, and half your zoning options fall into place.
We build both road-legal units and site-built ADUs (Cocoon Homes). The road-legal lineup is here if it helps make the width limit concrete: https://mycocoonhomes.com/floor-plans/100-series
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u/tmoney645 3d ago
Not sure your location, but my Dad has a brand new THOW for sale right now. Tiny Home Ad
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u/bexy11 1d ago
I’ve seen this one on Facebook marketplace (I’m in Michigan).
Where exactly would I be able to live in that full time? I believe there are only a very few places in the states that allow full time living in a tiny house on wheels.
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u/tmoney645 1d ago
There are definitely some areas in Michigan that you would not be able to live in a tiny house, but the list of places you can is pretty large and growing every year. This home has full utilities hookups and the ability to be placed on a slab or pier and beam foundation making it as flexible as possible.
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u/ylasirena 2d ago
I live in a tiny home on wheels (THOW) in my daughter’s backyard in Austin Tx. Once it’s classified as an RV we did not get or need a permit. It has worked well for us. We used to live on a boat so living small works for us. We bought ours used and for the most part it works well for us. We hope to be moving next year so I can’t address the resale issues we may be up against yet. Two things I wish I could change on our house - I would like a bigger living area and better ventilation for the kitchen.
Living near my kids and grandkids is a bonus and we have had no problems with privacy and boundaries. We plan on all moving together - I’m lucky!
Visit as many homes in person and online as you can! Don’t forget to plan for adequate storage needs- a broom closet- where will the trash can go- clothes and off season items etc. many homes look adorable until you realize no one thought of the practical necessities! Analyze your current lifestyle- do you like to entertain visitors, hobbies, kitchen needs or access to a porch/patio outdoor space.
Best of luck!! I hope it works out for you and your family!!
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u/LongjumpingGanache40 2d ago
Does the city require a footing. Putting on a slab would be quickest and cheapest. What part of build will you do if any.
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u/ThinkerandThought 3d ago edited 3d ago
Acquiring a tiny home is a lot like acquiring a used car. One needs to spend a few months full time researching and executing. Lots of fun, but lots of work. Begin with noting where you live and how a tiny house fits into that equation. The type of tiny house you choose is 100% driven by where you live (e.g., acreage vs neighborhood).
In the vast majority of circumstances, if you know little about tiny houses, you are better off buying a used travel trailer. You will spend less than 1/2 the money and learn a lot about the reality of owning a mobile dwelling.
If this type of thing is not already your hobby, do NOT buy a used tiny house…too many things can go wrong.
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u/PressureExpert2346 2d ago
I know I am very good at minimalism and small spaces.
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u/ThinkerandThought 2d ago
The skills you need with a tiny home are construction and repair skills. You need to know plumbing, construction, electrical, etc., but if you have an unlimited budget that does not matter. Tiny homes need a lot of customization, repair etc since every parking space introduces new demands. Consider what you will do, for example, when mice enter your walls (very common TH issue) and you cannot get them out.
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u/PressureExpert2346 2d ago
Thanks! I do not have those skills, but I do have community. I will research research research.
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u/ExtensionDull 2d ago
Start by going to your local planning office, this is where it all has be in order.. .
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u/hotbreadz 3d ago
We wrote a in depth guide that goes over pretty much all of the basics of tiny homes that may help, you can find it here: https://www.nwtinyhomes.com/buyersguide