It’s a good idea to get some expert advice before you begin building something – especially if you plan on living in it.
Andrew Odom runs the tiny house website Tinyr(E)volution, is a published author and regular speaks on tiny homes. He has also built two tiny homes of his own – so he's about as close as it gets to being a pro at knowing the ins and outs of going small.
Here are his five basic building blocks for success.
Step 1: Plan for what you need, not what you have
A lot of the assumptions people have about tiny house dwellers aren’t accurate – "We're not nudist, drum-beating hippies,” Odom said – but embracing the lifestyle does require a certain level of openness to change, both physically and ideologically.
“There's a transition that has to take place on a number of levels … spiritual, mental, academic, physical, commercial,” Odom said. “Living tiny is not about taking 2,000 square feet of house and shoving it into 200 square feet.”
If that means sacrificing a 300-book collection for one Kindle, or abandoning a king-sized bed for a smaller sleeping spot, so be it.
“There're a lot of concessions that'll have to be made,” he said.
Step 2: Get your hands dirty – and do your research
Mastering the intricacies of tiny house construction is a lot like learning chess, Odom said.
"Did you pick up a book and read the rules of chess, or did you play games with people? There you have it,” he said. “You spend time with people who have done it and you learn from them.
“You watch their moves. You watch their mistakes. You laugh with them, you enjoy the victories, but you also learn from the defeats.”
And don't ignore the importance of learning about the wider movement.
“Understand the tiny house movement, understand what a tiny house is,” Odom said. “You need to do the homework.”
Step 3: Don’t skimp on expense
Thinking of saving cash by going with cheap materials? Think again.
Remember that your tiny house will need to stand up to the test of time – and it’s only as sturdy as what it’s made of.
"You get what you pay for, you get what you invest in,” Odom said. “If I buy a $20 pair of jeans from Old Navy, I can't be surprised after three or four wears if they start to rip."
Step 4: Get friendly with the government
An integral part of a successful build is having the blessing of your municipality and staying up to code.
“That's the No. 1 thing tiny housers can't get through their tiny skulls – no matter what size your house is, you have to undergo these certain inspections,” Odom said. “No matter what we build, we have to adhere to certain codes and responsibilities, and that's just the law.”
For his personal builds, Odom ensured county officials were intimately involved in the planning process through photos, emails and phone calls.
“If you're willing to work with the municipality and be very, very, very patient with them, chances are you can get them to help you through the process,” he said.
Step 5: Take your time and think of the future
Odom stresses that the process must be approached in a thoughtful, considered way. Trendiness is not a reason to go tiny.
“If you rush into the process and say, ‘Oh, I'm going to build a tiny house, it's so cute,’ think about how you're going to feel 30 years from now,” he said. "You've got to think of everything."
That includes lots of “what ifs,” like the potential of moving or needing to sell your tiny home in the future. It means being realistic.
“A lot of people think this is a lifestyle for alternative people, people choosing to live completely against the grain. I would hardly say that we live [that way],” he said. “What's tiny to a family of three may not be tiny to a family of six. And there's nothing wrong with that.”
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