How much house does it really take to be happy? Some people are discovering the answer is: not much! Have you ever looked around your home and thought how nice it would be to have freedom from all the extra “stuff”, less maintenance costs,downsize to a simpler lifestyle, in a self-sustained home?
Tiny dwellings come in many different shapes and styles, ranging from 800 to less than 100 square feet. They can be built from recycled materials, and there is even the option of having wheels attached for portability. The scaled down house movement is growing rapidly and there are a number of enormous benefits from the transition. Here are just some of the advantages, if you are considering the move to a tiny home:
Tiny homes save huge money
The smaller the home, the lower utilities cost and likely to increase sustainability…evidently cheaper to heat, light, and retrofit (e.g. insulation, windows, and solar). Living off the grid is natural with these homes ~ solar panels, composting toilets and gray-water systems are often an integrated process in their functionality.
Low or no mortgage
Big houses come with big mortgages. With the low cost of building, smaller houses can result in a low or no mortgage at all.
Freedom from stuff
Small spaces direct the amount of stuff coming into the house. Double duty and functional items makes it easier to put things away and find.
Freedom to take your home with you
What if moving was as simple as turning the key to your ignition and driving away? A large number of tiny homes are being built upon truck beds, making moving a cinch. Just think of the possibilities…you could:
- Move your house when you take a new job without ever having to sell or buy a new one.
- Never have to worry about hiring a mover or renting a hauling truck.
- Avoid anticipated natural disasters.
- Never have to pay for a hotel room on any road trip.
- You already own a vacation home!
More time
Homes are very time consuming, and fewer rooms means less time spent on cleaning and home maintenance. What if you could vacuum your floor in 1 minute and just be done with it? The size of your home is inversely proportional to the free time that you have. With little home to take care of, you have plenty of time to do the things you really want to do…and that’s liberating!
Better quality home
You should be able to upgrade the quality of the home around you because you’ve been able to cut down on the materials and cost of the home so significantly. Putting in that marble counter-top shouldn’t cost that much when it is only 5 square feet. Hardwood floors? You can install hardwoods in your whole house for the price that most people pay for one bedroom!
Each city may have different regulations and codes as to what is considered a “Livable Dwelling” in terms of size and safety. If you decide to go ahead and build your Tiny Home dream house, it’s recommended to check with the local City Hall for the limitations.
Please click the photo below, and watch a wonderful video introducing an individual who decided to downsize her house, gaining a whole new perspective on life!