Consider The Bigger Picture Before Starting Down the Path to Living Small

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More and more people are downsizing to live in tiny houses. They’re embracing the tiny life philosophy and the freedom that accompanies it. It’s not just about decluttering the space and space but removing unnecessary obligations and stress. The motivation behind the tiny house movement focuses on the desire to live modestly while preserving resources. Although living small isn’t new, the growing interest is. Micro homes are on the rise in Paris, Berlin, and Barcelona. Moreover, unconventional living is becoming an increasingly popular choice in London. 

Tiny homes require less to build and run, not to mention that they have a smaller carbon footprint. They’re often customised and built with specific ideas and goals in mind. If you have the time and ability to build the home yourself, you’ll only have to spend money on materials. Regardless of motivation or walk of life, living small might just be the right thing for you. At any rate, it’s worth taking a step back and considering the bigger picture. Don’t get distracted by the details. 

It’s not recommended to rush into any project without though contemplation and planning. If you’re ready to build a micro home, here’s what you need to consider: 

Choose A Place Where Your Home Will Be Built 

You might be able to build an accessory dwelling unit on a lot with a larger home or a house in a rural area with a more liberal zoning code. There’s no formal definition for tiny homes in nationally recognised building zones. Simply put, you can’t build a micro home just about anywhere. It’s important to reach out to officials and experts in your area. They’ll help you figure out the specifics. Also, they’ll help you understand the difference between building codes and zoning laws. 

If you’re ready for a simpler life, find land for your tiny home. Property tends to be expensive, so you must find a plot of land that fits your needs and your budget. Stay away from city centres, as the land is more expensive and subject to complicated building codes and zoning laws. Become familiar with the natural restrictions of your land. You can build on wetlands, but you have your work cut out for you. When the wetlands are filled, the water has to go somewhere. It’s just an example. 

Research What Others Have Done 

The good news is that there’s a lot of information out there on how to build a tiny home. Go online, read books, talk to every person who might care, and take time to process the information. if you focus your attention on the acquired knowledge, it’ll be easier to create retrieval cues. Given that there are very few how-to guides on how to build a micro house, try to make your own plan. It’ll help you visualise the end result so that you can make revisions (if necessary). 

Better yet, you should spend a night in a tiny home and see what it’s like. What better way of getting a sense of living small than actually living in a micro house? You won’t feel weighed down by trivial items, you and your partner can do many activities together, and you’re likely to find excuses to spend time outdoors. Micro houses aren’t for everyone, but people who live in them are positive about the experience. You might want to think about joining a community of like-minded people. 

Have At Least Basic Experience with Construction

Building a tiny home is a complicated, time-consuming process. You should have at least a background in construction. It’s not brain surgery, but it takes skills, a steady hand, patience, and the right tools. The construction process would be much more efficient if you found a competent contractor. When you hire a contractor, you save time, money, and a lot of grief. To get the best work from your contractor, establish good communication. Be onsite and tell them what you want before the work begins. 

In the rush of construction, mistakes are made, even if discovered months down the road. If the deck collapses, you can get seriously injured. For instance, you can suffer a fracture to your knee, requiring assistance from both family and a professional carer. In this case, you can sue for negligence. In the UK, this is considered a personal injury. Being helpful can make you liable, just so you know. Don’t offer to lend the contractor your own tools or equipment. You may be liable if they contribute to an injury. 

Plan For Utilities

If you build on your own land, how are you going to have access to electricity, running water, and sewage disposal? It’s something you can’t neglect. To discover who the utility provider for your new home will be, talk to your realtor or ask at the city hall. Inform the utility provider about the move-in date ahead of time. This way, they’ll have plenty of time to set up the necessary hardware. Municipalities have rules about the required utilities, so make sure to incorporate them into your tiny home. 

In case you didn’t already know, many micro houses generate electricity from solar panels. Fifteen solar panels are enough. If you live in a colder area, you’ll need to supplement your heating with a propane heater. Figure out the price for installing solar panels and know what you need to do on cloudy days. Before going solar, ask yourself what your energy needs are. Decide what habits you’d like to keep and which ones you’re willing to let go. Consider tying your solar system into the grid and selling the excess energy.

Be Ready to Get Rid of a Lot of Possessions

As you can imagine, you won’t have room for all your stuff in a micro house. You have no choice but to let go of some of your possessions. Get rid of one item each day. From a fork to a sofa – it’s all fair game. As you go down the path to living small, ask people to stop bringing you gifts. You have everything you need, so there’s no point in adding more stuff. The perfect gift is quality time. Nurture relationships and deepen your bonds.