When scouring the internet to research anything, you’re bound to find tons of misinformation. Unfortunately, a lot of misconceptions about tiny houses are floating around, so let’s talk about some!
Tiny House Owners Don’t Have Children
Tiny houses Bring Down Property Values
Tiny House Owners Want to Live Off-Grid
You Have to Build Your Own Tiny House
A Tiny House Can be Built/Moved Anywhere
Tiny House Owners Don’t Have Children
This may seem like a “logical” statement as you’re working with a smaller space, it’s not true! Tiny houses come in all different sizes, making tiny house living with children possible. Along with this misconception comes “only people who are single and young can live in a tiny house”. Tiny house living is for everyone who wants to try it! Tiny houses are extremely customizable, check out this article to learn more about that. You also have the option of choosing a larger tiny house, as there’s no rule stating how tiny it really has to be. It is also possible that children who live and grow up in tiny houses have more opportunities to work on their sharing and compromising skills, as well as learn how to entertain themselves. People who live in tiny houses while also raising children also say it’s made their family’s bond stronger!
Tiny Houses Bring Down Property Values
Those who work in zoning and building departments often believe that the presence of tiny houses will drive down property values. However, if you maintain your tiny house and are a good neighbor, there’s really no reason why this would be the case. According to learn.compactappliance.com, “it would take a number of tiny houses all concentrated in one area before they could possibly bring down property values simply by their presence.” However, there are some hoops to jump through; when you’re ready to park/build your tiny house in a residential area, you first have to have the design approved which is outlined by the county or another governing body. This is to keep the tiny house’s physical appearance from lowering the value of the surrounding properties. Housing is also priced by square footage, and with all the amenities a tiny house offers, their value should be similar to that of a smaller traditional house.
Tiny House Owners Want to Live Off-Grid
While tiny house living makes living off-grid easier than a traditional house, not every owner chooses this lifestyle. While it is the more cost efficient choice, many people choose to use electricity and sewage. Along with this misconception comes the idea that tiny house owners can’t live a “modern” life. Electricity in tiny houses is very common and your day-to-day routine that includes electricity doesn’t have to be cut. You also have access to modern amenities such as toilets and washing machines. You can do everything in a tiny house that you do in a traditional house!
You Have to Build Your Tiny House
This may sound silly, but this is a common myth that comes with the talk of tiny houses. While this is an option, there are tons of tiny houses that can be rented or bought. Building opens more customization, but if you don’t want to build it yourself, you don’t have to! Buying or renting is very easy as there are companies dedicated to building tiny houses, and who’s to say you can’t customize after buying? Building your own home (large or tiny) can be a daunting task and you absolutely don’t have to if you don’t want to. Many companies are set up like Timbercraft Tiny Homes, where they offer different models you can purchase and they build the home according to the model you chose. Check them out here!
A Tiny House Can Be Built or Moved Anywhere
If you choose a mobile tiny house, this would be the ideal scenario! Unfortunately, that is not the case. On top of zoning laws, some states don’t encourage tiny houses, which will make it harder or even impossible to move to your desired location. Your best bet is to find a tiny house community as they will, obviously, be the most accepting and you shouldn’t run into many issues. It’s common for mobile tiny homes to be registered as an RV and need to be parked in a backyard/driveway or a pay to stay place rather than just out in the open.
As mentioned before, you’ll likely have to get your tiny house design approved before moving/placing it in a residential area. Due to zoning regulations, some places don’t allow you to buy a plot of land and place a tiny house on said land and require you to have a “backup” living space. Tiny house communities often do this where they have one large dwelling surrounded by many tiny houses.
This all may sound like a headache, but if you’re really interested in tiny house living, jumping through these hoops will be worth it and very rewarding in the end!
While there are many misconceptions about tiny houses floating around on the internet, these are 5 of the most common ones. Unfortunately, seeing misconceptions about anything you’re researching can be very discouraging, especially if it is a widely shared opinion/misinformation. When researching it’s important to be thorough, don’t let misinformation turn you away!
