THOW Ideas, early stages

Our Tiny Humble Abode!

So far, we don't have all of our thoughts organized as they have kind of piled up faster than we could get them written (or typed!) down. We have a few ideas on a spreadsheet but most are in he form of scribbles and sketches. Our next project is going to be organizing our plans and ideas. 

Below is a list of a few of our ideas. Most of the items need further research as to the exact models and materials we are looking for.  As I think of more I will add them and make changes (changes will be struck through and/or noted so we can track our thoughts). 

Let me know your thoughts and opinions! 

General

• Off grid:

- solar & possible backup generator until we can incorporate additional alternative energy [ie: wind]

- composting toilet. We are leaning towards Nature's Head

• Use as many re/up-cycled materials as possible

• Multiple function furniture. Because one uses a single area of the home at a time we don't want the minimally used areas to take up a lot of room. For example: a breakfast bar instead of a table as it serves as a prep space and eating area and a Murphy bed with fold-down desk.

• "Green" materials. We are reducing our carbon footprint by living tiny and going off grid so the materials need to fit this criteria as well.

• SketchUp. We are going to attempt to use this computer program to design our tiny house inch by inch. We have been told it's user friendly. We are just waiting to have the trailer in our possession before we can start. When we finish we will be happy to share our plans!
• Security System

Design (materials)

• Metal roof that is darker colored to melt snow better. I have read if you are going to collect rain water for use a metal roof is he best choice. Here is a great article and video on metal roof installation.

 • Cedar siding. Cedar is naturally resistant to insect damage and rot. I enjoy its natural and timeless appearance.  

• Bamboo flooring throughout the THOW with the exception of the bathroom where we will use tile. 

• We try to stay as close to nature as possible; we eat organic, garden, DIY natural cleaning products, etc. We hope the materials used to build our THOW will demonstrate such.

Design (style)

• Windows, windows, windows! We are doing a single slope roof (see picture below) where the tallest side will be the front. We will use the extra space to incorporate wide awning windows. 

• Closed off bedroom. Wyatt and I have different sleep schedules and having an open bedroom meant I couldn't make tea, popcorn, or watch TV while he was sleeping. No. Way. At the time that a loft was still in our design plan we were planning to close it off. That might make it seem less open and more cramped. So we thought to incorporate windows to keep it feeling open and let light through. Once we found our trailer we no longer had that design issue with the closed off bedroom. Our partially finished camper trailer showed a perfect layout for our lifestyle. 

 • Horizontal Murphy bed with desk. We don't work and sleep at the same time (although, I would love to if I could!) so this was the best use of space in the bedroom. Especially because with the bed down it takes up almost the whole room. Even with different sleep schedules this plan will work the best.  If I need to work at night I can grab my tablet or laptop and work on the counter or couch.

• Recessed lighting throughout. The less bulky design items the more spacious I hope our THOW will appear. 

Eco-Friendly Materials:

We are researching our options of "green" or eco-friendly materials. It is pretty time consuming doing the research needed in order to make the best purchase in terms of being green and budget friendly.  I want to take it one step at a time but it seems we have to continue increasing our budget in doing so. I hope by making trips to our local Habitat for Humanity Restores for up-cycled materials we will offset the increases in our budget. 
We will do our best and use the most eco-friendly materials in the most important of places. One place of concern for me is the freshwater storage tank. I am having quite a bit of trouble finding one that is BPA free or non-plastic.  I have read many people simply not using their storage tanks for drinking but I don't want to go out and purchase plastic jugs of water to drink and cook with if I can simply have a toxin-free tank.  We will also use stainless, copper, or toxin-free pipes for our water in lieu of plastic.  
Do you know of any eco-friendly (and health friendly) freshwater storage tank options??

Foundation, Foundation, Foundation

Decisions Decisions

 YouTube was our go-to resource for viewing tiny homes to get an idea of the size and layout that was right for us.  So many tiny homes did not seem 'open' enough for us. While it's nice to have storage, we didn't want to move around and live in a hallway-type layout.  We found a tiny house with a layout we loved that was open, had two lofts (one with stairs and one with a ladder) and a full size bathtub. It was made by Molecule Tiny Homes and sold for $90,000. It was 27' long and 9' wide. We could modify the plans if we found a trailer with different dimensions.  

We discussed a semi trailer, utility trailer, and even modifying a camper trailer.

We don't have a truck and are not interested in purchasing one just to move our home a handful of times so either type was going to be a task to move. We went back and forth between trailer types and decided that money should not be a sole factor in our decision. We are not made of money by any means but the foundation is the most important part and we wanted to start off right!

Below is our thought process on each type and what we ended up with. 

Semi Trailer:

Pros: Size & Weight capacity
Cons: Move restrictions & Cost 

It was going to be a harder task to move our home and most likely much more costly. Also, the cost of the trailer is much higher.  We were looking for a lowboy or drop deck trailer in order to fit our layout with the lofts.  We don't have a place for our home yet and may want to move south so we may move a few times. That could really eat into our vacation budget! 

However, we kept the idea in play just in case we found the perfect one at the perfect price.  If we spent a little more for something that was going to make us happier longer it would be worth it.
 

Utility Trailer:

Pros: Lower cost than semi trailer & Ready to build

Cons: Availability & Possible need for modifications

We personally had a hard time finding the right length trailer at the right price. We know the foundation is not the part to skimp on! The used trailers we found were not built to hold the amount of weight required for a tiny house. We were willing but reluctant to buy a used trailer and have modify it. We decided if we went with a utility trailer it would be new and made for tiny houses. We found great options by Tumbleweed. They provide many options and even offer financing!

Camper Trailer:

 

Pros: Price, Salvageable materials, Availability
Cons: Trailer modifications, Age

We started looking at campers to tear down and turn into a tiny home. We could salvage some of the materials and possibly save big as we found campers for much less than trailers. The problem we found with camper trailers was that just like the used utility trailer we would have to modify it to hold more weight. It's not as if we can't have learned how but I don't know that I would trust my modifications as much as a stock ready trailer. 

Conclusion:

All three were still possibilities. If the cost was right and it met the standards we were looking for, any of the trailer types would have been just fine. 

Action:

After searching online for a while we decided to look at a few in person.  The camper trailer had the most availability and we could go to a sales company to view many at on time. We looked at three campers via Craigslist and were not impressed with the trailers or salvageable materials.  On the way to one of the Craigslist campers we drove by Lakeland RV in Milton, WI.  We stopped by but it was closed and planned to return the following week.

Wyatt and I came back with my mom and were shown around by Don.  I told him our plan to build a tiny house and he provided an incredible amount of information for us. He knew so much about size requirements and had great building ideas! We looked at the park models to check out some layouts (some even had lofts!) and then we looked at the used camper trailers. The salvageable material list was even shorter on these than of the Craigslist campers and it was a gamble if the appliances were in working condition. However, it was nice to see a variety of camper trailers with a range of sizes and prices.  If anything, we were going to be happy to leave with more knowledge than what we arrived with.  We had looked at about every camper trailer in our price range and at the end Don pointed out two 5th wheel camper trailers that were unfinished.  The factory shut down and they were left with partially finished campers.  Out of pure curiosity Wyatt decided to take a peek and I followed.  

We found our new home!

We walked in and loved the layout. There wasn't a whole lot in the camper but enough to tell what the plan was.  There wasn't a roof so it was covered with a tarp.  Even without windows and it being very dark, it didn't feel cramped because the ceiling is tall.  

The bedroom wasn't a loft, but it was on a different level and had the possibility of a door and we could stand up in it.  Wyatt and I have always had different sleep schedules so having a closed off bedroom was a huge bonus [we weren't sure how it would look to close off a loft]. 

We ended up purchasing the camper trailer because of the size, layout possibility, and age. It is a BRAND NEW camper trailer with an 18,000 lb capacity! We could not be happier. 

After going back and forth with trailer types I was not sure what we would end up with and if we would end up sacrificing anything. With our NEW 5th Wheel we get EVERYTHING we need at a price we feel comfortable with. We paid $7,000 for the camper trailer and traded the electric slide out equipment for delivery.  Don provided us with a catalog for RV Parks & Accessories and he and his associate offered to "horse trade" for parts! I forgot my checkbook so we had to come back to pay and sign paperwork later in the day. When we returned to pay we asked a couple more questions and Don and his associate were more than happy to help (even though they were closing!). We were so grateful to get more help than we could have asked for.  Now we are waiting for the financing for the remaining balance and hope to start our adventure soon!

 

The Transition to Tiny Living

Mindset
I have personally always been very unconventional.  I question everything and am quick to entertain new ideas.  This made it very easy for me to picture myself living tiny.  Wyatt differs from me in that way.   I assumed that he didn't take on the idea as quick because he had the "American Dream" in mind.  When I asked him he said it wasn't that he dreamed of a 2,000 square foot house, two kids, and a dog... but that he figured that is what we would have some day.  When I thought about it, I guess at one point in my life I thought the same thing.  That's what we Americans work and strive for, right? Well, not me, not anymore! I see the tiny house lifestyle as the answer to all of my unconventional ideas and questioning.  The benefits were the answer to our problems* which eventually had Wyatt on board.
 *living paycheck to paycheck, being unable to travel as we wish, being locked into a mortgage or lease, etc 


The Move
After making the decision to live tiny my husband, Wyatt, and I had to figure out where to start.  We were not able to pay our mortgage (or a rent) and build a tiny house unless we wanted it to be a 10 year project.  Fortunately, my parents have more than enough room in their not-so-tiny house and offered to take us in and allow us to build our home on their property.  Even better yet, their 30 foot camper trailer sits on their property and it was decided that living in the camper would give Wyatt and I an idea of the tiny lifestyle.  

We had our important decisions made from the initial research we had done.  First, we don't plan to purchase land for our tiny home, we plan to rent.  My mom referred me to a site that has tiny houses for sale and parking listings. We will browse this site, post an ad on Craigslist and social media, and ask around in the community we are looking into.  We are considering temporarily placing our tiny home in a campground once it is finished while we locate a piece of land, too.  And second, we will be self sustainable and will not have to rely on having to plug in to a grid of any kind. There are a lot more decisions to be made but we find it less stressful to figure out the details as we go. 

Once we had an accepted offer on the house we downsized our possessions dramatically.  We went digital with our paperwork and got everything scanned into our cloud and shredded.  It was very easy for me to get rid of items as I do not attach myself to material things; I actually found it a quite therapeutic!  Wyatt wasn't as quick to downsize but he slowly realized the lack of purpose in many items and downsized his possessions to the basic necessities.  

We sold some of our larger items on Craigslist, many more at a garage sale my sister held, and the rest went to thrift stores.  We left ourselves with our clothes, electronics, and kitchen basics.  We haven't missed any of the items we got rid of; they served their purpose at the time and are no longer needed.  

We went from a 1300 square foot home (with a basement FULL of storage) to a 30 foot camper trailer. The camper is obviously not built for long-term use so we do have a few bins in my parents' basement with a couple of picture frames, extra blankets, and winter clothes.

Pros & Con(cern)s 

Shortly after hearing about the tiny house movement I read this amazing article about the top five regrets people have and it was so perfectly timed that I was convinced we had to give the lifestyle a try.  I found myself very moved while reading it and believe our new lifestyle will prevent us from having such regrets.  If you are considering the transition to tiny living don't let a few hurdles get in your way... you may regret it. 
 
Pros:
•Work Flexibility & Time
As a child I remember questioning things such as the regular work week.  I couldn't understand why one or two people had to work the five days a week just to get by.  If a person sleeps eight hours a night and works 40 hours a week, that leaves them with just 72 hours (awake) a week for everything else (not including travel time to work, getting ready, or overtime).  I find that incredibly sad. To have to spend the majority of your time somewhere that's only real purpose is to provide a good life for yourself... or partial life.  I found the person I want to spend the rest of my life with and I feel that I should be able to spend most of my time with him and the rest of my loved ones.
The tiny lifestyle will allow us to work less if we choose and provide more time for the things we love.


 •Money
Not only will we have more time to spend, but we will have more money as well.  When we were living paycheck to paycheck we weren't working for vacations, concerts, gifts, clothes, or savings for unexpected expenses.  We worked for food and housing and had to say "no" countless times to so many fun experiences and activities simply due to cost.  Why were we working to live?  

•Location Flexibility
Wyatt and I enjoy the city we first lived in but I despise Winter.  We have talked about temporarily moving to a warmer climate; and possibly permanently if we so choose.  Because we are unsure of where we want to live permanently, having a house on wheels with no mortgage or lease to get out of is absolutely perfect! While we understand finding land to rent will be a challenge, it outweighs the challenges of the alternative.

Concerns:
Some of my initial concerns included where we would live while we build, feeling claustrophobic, total cost, moving the house, parking the house, and fear. 
•The concern about where we would live and build has been solved by living with my parents and building on their land. 
•The worry of feeling claustrophobic is not a concern as we are currently living in a 30 foot camper trailer. Once we move into our tiny house it will feel like a mansion compared to this! 
•We still aren't completely sure of the total cost, but thankfully other tiny house dwellers are so willing to share budget and cost information that we have a good range of what to expect.  We expect our tiny house to cost between 18-25k.  The trailer was 7k so we expect to spend between 11 and 18k to finish it.  
•While in Wisconsin, we are able to ask family and/or friends to move the house (we don't want to purchase a big truck to move it a handful of times).  If we plan to move farther away (South, please!) we can rent a vehicle to move it. 
•Like I had mentioned above, we will check out tinyhouselistings.com for listings for parking the house but will also utilize social media, Craigslist, and asking around in the community about land to rent.  If we finish the house and have no parking established, we may park it in a campground temporarily. 
•Fear is always associated with change... for most people.  But this concern was not shared by me, just Wyatt.  Fear is totally normal and understandable but I do not fear change, I fear the opposite.  I encourage change and am excited about it for change encourages growth and knowledge.  This concern was outweighed by the benefits.  

These were just a few of our pros and con(cern)s.  Many people have more or less but we figure out the small details as we go and don't let them deter us from the big picture.

Research
Like I had mentioned in my summary post, I did my research on the tiny house movement by doing online searches.  I wanted to find real life answers to my initial concerns in order to determine if this lifestyle would be for us.

TinyHouseTalk.com has great articles that have answered dozens of my questions. I will usually just type in "tiny" and whatever question I have into Google and Tiny House Talk is one of the first results.  I also take the time to read comments for more detailed information and additional questions.  I love that people in the tiny house community are so willing to share information! 

My mom purchased and  borrowed us the book titled Tiny House Design and Construction Guide by Tiny Home Builders. It's a fantastic book that covers a lot but is not overwhelming to someone (me) completely unfamiliar with construction. I highly recommend it!

What if tiny ends up not being for me?
I found an article from Tiny House Talk regarding people who have moved out of their tiny homes.  We cannot predict the future and regardless of how excited we are about this transition there is not telling if it will last forever.  While I have read so much about the benefits of living tiny, I was left wondering how long the benefits would outweigh the big changes.

Long-Term Plan
While we may be happy forever in our tiny home, I do like the idea of eventually establishing ourselves in a permanent location.  Our plan is to buy land in a location we could live in for the rest of our lives.  We don't know if it will be in 10, 15, or 30 years but we plan to pay for it outright, have no loan payment, and to continue living off grid and tiny/small. 

Our Story, summarized

Hello!

My name is Sarah and my husband's name is Wyatt.

Bella "Bean"

Dinkles

  
 We are newlyweds with a dog, Bella, and a cat, Dinkles.

We have decided to build a tiny house for debt free living! Our dream has always been to travel as much as possible (now and whenever, not when we are old and retired) and tiny living will allow us to have that lifestyle! 

 
 
 Wyatt and I have been together for five years and have lived together for four of them. In the beginning, when we decided to move in together, we did extensive research on apartments. Of course, we wanted to be in a nice neighborhood and have a good management company. These two basic needs meant living paycheck to paycheck and being unable to save for anything, including "the American dream". 
 After a year and a half we decided to move in with his parents to save for a down payment on a house. It took just over a year for us to pay off our debts and save for a minimum down payment. During that time, Wyatt had obtained a new job 35 minutes north so that's where be searched for our home.  We started looking in a lower price range and hoped to find something that would give us wiggle room in our budget. Unfortunately, those properties required maintenance and upkeep so we increased our price range and found and purchased a brand new home.  The higher price was worth the peace of mind. 

 
We  loved our new home and enjoyed the work we put into it to make it ours.  We had our dream backyard (above) we had gotten ready just in time for our wedding celebration party!

Unfortunately, we found ourselves in the same situation of living paycheck to paycheck and missed the days of living rent-free with his family.   

While browsing movie titles one night we came across the documentary "Tiny".   I immediately was on board with the idea but Wyatt took a bit more convincing.  He had typical concerns that weren't initially outweighed by the benefits.  We did a LOT of research and read blogs and stories from tiny house dwellers in order to make an education decision.  After a lot of discussion and research we decided to build a tiny house and get closer to our DrEaM!