Starting your BIG tiny-home-dream
Embarking on the journey of realising your tiny-home-dream is exciting and daunting as it is a very different type of project to a standard home build project - there are a number of factors to consider and make informed decisions about that are not involved in a standard build. We have detailed some of the initial aspects to consider below. There are many more, but we work with our clients through the process so they are confident and satisfied that they have made the right decisions for their unique situation.
What accommodation do I need?
Downsizing can be challenging and it is important that you stay realistic in terms of how much you downsize. If you go too small, you might get frustrated and give up the whole dream! Also, picking a layout with staircases will probably not be practical for small children and aging family members.
The only constant in life is "change" and as such, it is important to also think of re-sale value and ease of moving your home later when things change or you might want to sell it. A tiny home you can pull with a SUV is much more cost effective and appealing to buyers than one you need to put on the back of a truck to move.
Where do I put my tiny home?
Finding an appropriate location for your tiny home, where you are close to the people and places you frequent, is important - otherwise you will spend all the savings of going tiny, on fuel. Knowing where your home will be is important during the design and build process as it will determine the service connections or off-grid setup of your home, as well as window positions.
Under the current Building Act, a tiny home on a road-legal trailer, is considered a "vehicle" and might not require a building consent regardless of whether or not it has a CCC, unless you are connecting to on-site services. Depending on your council's operative district plan and the specific zone and subdivision of the property, you might or might not require a resource consent - check with your local council.
Do your research!
A tiny home is still a sizeable investment and it is important to ensure you get the best quality building material and manufacturing standards. Attention to detail is a good indication as to the care and dedication that is put into all the aspects of the home you can't see, once completed. Little things like exposed rivets can make your home look cheap and impact resale value. A tiny home on a road-legal trailer does not require a building CCC and also, if configured off-grid, do not require a Building Consent. Unfortunately all tiny homes on skids or piles (including screw-in piles) whether connected to onsite services or not, always requires a Building Consent. PIR insulation is far superior to polystyrene and can reduce cost of ownership long term. Be very careful with kit sets and homes imported into New Zealand, which have not been designed for NZ weather and UV - it might look cheap, but will cost you dearly. These and many more factors are important to consider.
Custom is more cost-effective
The best home is the one custom designed and built for you, considering the site it will stand on and your budget. "Space is money" and innovative design can ensure you maximise the potential of your home. Your design should ideally also take site features such as direction of the sun and prevailing wind conditions into consideration. Custom is often cheaper than buying a mass-produced standard design as you are not paying for elements you don't want and don't have to modify things after purchase to suite your needs. We are not Lego people and we don't all have the same needs and wants!
