The small house trend is becoming increasingly popular these days. This has a lot to do with the fact that many people are trying to live a minimal lifestyle that is affordable and free of clutter. But what exactly is a tiny house?

A tiny home is a prefab residential space that is smaller than a conventional home. These little residences are between 100 square feet and 800 square feet. Some people may think a home of this size is too small to live comfortably, but there’s a reason why more individuals and families are gravitating toward this trend.

Here are a few reasons why purchasing a small home may be a good idea for you.

Purchasing a Sustainable Home

If you’re a first time homeowner, you may want to think about a tiny living space. These prefab homes are ideal for living in because they contribute to a sustainable lifestyle. These tiny houses are ideal for the planet, as well as the community, since the construction of the home provides the opportunity to use “green” and safe materials. A tiny prefab home can also be constructed in an area where specialized building materials are easy to find. Once construction on the home is complete, the house can be transported to a neighborhood where the materials aren’t as easy to acquire. You’ll be using less materials to build your home, which reduces waste and makes it more sustainable.

Affordability

In many cases, individuals and families can’t afford large homes. A prefab smaller home is great for someone who many not be able to affordable a normal sized home but still wants to live in their place. You can purchase a modular tiny home for as little as $7,000, which is much less than what you would pay for a larger house. For instance, in more affordable areas of the U.S., you can find houses that are between $100,000 and $200,000. If you live in a more expensive part of the country, you may pay between 400,000 to $500,000 or more for a house. Tiny residences can range in price, but you’ll still end up paying much less for the home than a larger abode. However, building your small home for the ground up is cheaper than buying a tiny residence that has already been constructed. This is why learning about small prefab homes could be worth your while.

Being a Minimalist

At times, living in a tiny space with minimal possessions can be fulfilling. Being a minimalist can clear your mind, which is why many individuals are resorting to this way of life. If you have lots of possessions or live in a home where you have space to store your items, this could lead to psychological issues like hoarding. If your home is free of clutter, your mind will also be free of clutter, which means you may find that you’re calmer and less anxious.

Customize Your Home

If a tiny modular home is a consideration of yours, you’ll have the chance to completely customize your living space. For instance, you can decide whether your small home will be one or two-story. You can also choose the colors and materials for every part of your home. Even if you decide to go with a prefab small home, you’ll find several sizes and models that will fit your decorative style.

Tiny abodes are wonderful for individuals and small families who want their own home, but want to avoid the burden of maintaining a regular-sized house. Of course, living in a home has some benefits, but it’s important to remember that as a homeowner, it’s your responsibility to keep the home in great condition, if you live in a tiny residence, you won’t have as many responsibilities. You also won’t have to climb a ladder to potentially dangerous heights to clean your gutters or repair the roof.

Saving Energy

Tiny homes are very efficient when it comes to energy, which means that living in this type of space can save you money. The amount of energy it takes to cool, heat and light your small home is much less than for a conventional residence. You can even have the tiny residence built in a way that regulates the temperature so you won’t have to spend as much to heat and cool the home during the winter or summer.

Tiny House Types

If you’re a first time homeowner, there are several small home types to choose from. Some examples include homes that come in a variety of standard styles and are made from wood. You can choose from modern or rustic designs and choose the square footage that works best for you. These homes are usually towed to the location of your choice after being mounted on a trailer. You can build the house to order or buy the plans so you can construct the home on your own.

  • Re-purposed homes are constructed using repurposed materials such as containers
  • On wheels houses are built to travel and able to be hauled by small SUVs and trucks
  • Stick Built dwellings are designed for placement on a temporary or permanent foundation
  •  Manufactured homes are undergo a build process using materials chosen specifically to save on cost

If you want a tiny residence that is a little bigger than the small homes you’ve seen and you want a more permanent home, search for plans that provide bigger tiny abode options. You can usually purchase a home that is a little over 300 square feet and made from salvaged materials. This option is best if you want a home that is rustic and casual. Once you choose the house you want, you simply choose a home site and the house will be shipped to you.

Metal shipping containers are another type of salvaged resource that is used in small houses. Once the containers have served the purpose of carrying supplies from site to another, it’s efficient to ship the containers back so they can be used again. Instead of turning the containers into scrap metal, tiny residence manufacturers turn them into prefab houses. The G-Pod is an example of this, since it contains all the supplies you’ll need to build your small home in one container that can be shipped, unpacked and assembled on the site you choose.

Even though these residences are tiny, they can still be intricate and elegant. You can make sure your tiny living space has amenities like surround sound, in-floor heat, small hot tubs and home automation. Tiny luxury homes are pretty expensive when they are priced per square foot, but you may be able to home a luxury home for little as $35,000, which is less than most fine cars.

Now that you know your choices when it comes to tiny living spaces, you can talk with the builder of your choice to come up with a customized home that is just right for your style and budget.