I spent $25,000 building a tiny home – I love it but I made 5 big mistakes including forgetting to take the ‘butt test’
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FOR anyone thinking of scaling down and starting the process of living tiny, there's plenty to think about.
Finding the right house, making sure the land is secured, and getting your amenities in order are just the tip of the iceberg.
Tiny homeowner Jill Kanto went tiny in 2015 with her two daughters and never looked back.
Jill couldn't be happier with her new lifestyle, but looking back on her move, she admits she made a "million" mistakes when it came to the crunch.
When The U.S. Sun visited the and spoke to several people who have downsized yet improved their lives, there was a common theme.
Planning is absolutely key.
However, for Jill, who had very little time to get ready, that just wasn't possible and although everything thankfully worked out nicely, she spoke from experience when warning any new devotees who are beginning to plan a big move into the tiny world.
"I got lucky, but I did make a million mistakes," she told The U.S. Sun.
"Firstly, I had never stepped foot in a tiny house before. I didn't know what my needs were for living in one. I hadn't tried on other tiny houses for size.
"Living tiny is about maximizing the space to suit your needs. It’s hard to know what works and what doesn’t work until you’ve stayed in a few different tiny houses, which is why I recommend visiting a tiny house hotel. Stay in at least two tiny houses, and go through your normal day to day living. Cook, invite friends over, etc.
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"You need to try them on like clothes. Does this one fit? Does this one make my butt look big?"
Armed with a $25,000 budget, Jill purchased blue prints and a and embarked on her building her own tiny house from scratch.
For those seeking a middle ground between sweat equity found between DIY or and paying full price for a professional build, the growth of the tiny house industry avails a new option - Tiny House Shells.
When you purchase a shell from a builder, the outermost layers of the house, including the siding, roof, studs, trailer & subfloor, are completed.
"I wish that I had bought a completed shell and finished the inside," admitted Jill who currently lives in Maryland in close proximity to another family who owns a farm.
"I think that would've been a nice balance of saving money and not having to do as much work. But if you're taking time off to build your house, a shell might be cheaper.
"Building my own house definitely leaves me feeling like I wear an invisible super hero cape though.
"If I can build my own house, there’s nothing I can’t tackle.”
With an empty shell, the options are endless, but you need to be careful how you attempt to improve the decor.
If you do go down the shell route, have a long think about the type.
"There are many upsells available with shells such as having electric and plumbing roughed in or spraying insulation." said Jill whose website helps people with parking their tiny homes once they take the plunge.
"I would not do that just because you might want to move things around." cautioned Jill who currently lives in Maryland in close proximity to another family who owns a farm.
"My initial budget only allowed for a corrugated metal roof and T1-11 siding that is commonly seen on barns. The plan was to move into the tiny house, save money from living tiny, and use those funds to upgrade the roof and siding.
"The leaking skylights damaged some of my roof and siding. Although earlier than intended, I replaced my roof and siding with much nicer materials when I removed the skylights," said Jill.
"I had to redo my whole roof and my siding, although that was stuff I wanted to redo anyway because I didn't have the nicer versions of it."
If you do go down the shell route, have a long think about the type.
She also admits to making a mistake with the materials used and the trailer her house was built on.
"I built my house using traditional framing lumber. If I were to build from scratch again, I’d consider two other options — metal studs and SIPs (Structurally Insulated Panels)," Jill explained.
"Metal studs weigh much less, which is an important consideration when building on a trailer. They are also more durable and aren’t susceptible to mold.
"Alternatively SIPs are easier and faster to install than both lumber and metal studs. They also create more usable internal square footage within the tiny house.
"Also, I would have selected a gooseneck trailer and used the gooseneck section for the main bedroom. This provides a bedroom you can stand up fully in. And if you’re not moving your tiny frequently, you can easily create a removable outdoor storage area under the gooseneck with skirting and lumber. "
“Looking back, a gabled roof would have made both sides of the lofts equally usable," Jill added.
"The shed roof I used makes the lofts a bit less versatile.”
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Jill wishes she had been able to declutter her belongings in a more precise fashion. One huge, daunting problem for people is looking at downsizing from a house they've lived in for years and attempting to squeeze all their belongings into a new, much smaller place.
Decluttering expert Brenda Mason Parmelee told The U.S. Sun when explaining how she went from 3,100 square feet into a tricked-out Greyhound bus that the average American owns more than 300,000 household items.
Being ruthless, and pragmatic, is key.
"I would've gone through all of the things that were important in my life and done a touch inventory to see how often I actually used them to see if I actually need to bring them with me, " Jill said.
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"And the things that I was deciding to bring with me, I would've planned my storage around them instead of just creating storage and hoping things that fit.
"Planning is so important."
