Tiny homes are becoming more popular than ever, and it’s the right call to downsize and simplify your life. Tiny homes are less than 500 square feet, but that doesn’t mean you must compromise on quality. A trusted and established tiny home builder can help you find the right space that suits your needs, looks aesthetically appealing, has all the functional features, and does not exceed your budget. At TinyHouseMe, we help you connect with several tiny home builders across US and Canada. Instead of searching online for hours, you can instantly connect with 100s of trusted builders by signing up with us.
Choosing a tiny home builder – The Big Decision
When you have decided on selecting a builder for building the tiny house, here are a few things that you need to make a note of:
Make sure to get a contract
Many times, people don’t get things documented. Many buyers jump right to building a tiny home without putting everything down on paper. When planning to build a tiny house, a written contract is your biggest friend. Before you hire a tiny home builder, make sure the contract has the following:
- Build and payment timeline
- Blueprints and floor plans laid out in detail
- Process for any modifications
- Plan for things if they go wrong
Have a payment schedule that’s tied to the progress
When you plan to build a tiny home, you shouldn’t just pay upfront immediately. Instead, spread out the payments over time and tie the payments to specific milestones. For example, if you have four payments along the way, you need to check on it and then incentivize and keep moving with the project. Being clear with the home builder when they will get paid and what the builder has to do to get the payment on time will safeguard you from fraudsters planning to run away with all your money.
Spending time and money to draw out the design plans
You need to be very clear with the design of the tiny house and put things on paper. Having a real plan for the tiny home drawn by an architect is an essential addendum of the contract allowing you to call out every detail of the house. If you don’t get the designs on paper, then chances are that the builder will build a house very different from what you might be expecting.
Have a detailed material list
This is one area where scammy builders get away with things. For example, get the detailing done if you want a window at a certain place, flooring of a certain color, and a light in the loft. The scammy builders can buy a cheap window and make do. Getting into the details and documenting everything will help you get what you are paying for. You should ask for a full material schedule for everything written on paper, and if you don’t take time to get this document, then the builder can charge a higher price claiming it’s ‘high-quality.’ However, a high quality might not be what you were expecting. So, define every material and quantify the quality as much as possible. Again, a detailed material list can help you stick to a budget.
Hire a building inspector
You need to hire someone who will come in and assess the structure. Doing this at the end of the framing and right before the delivery is ideal. A third-party evaluation is good for you, and it lets the builder know that you have specific quality expectations. A bad builder will turn tail and run when you get a building inspector, but a good one will welcome the review.
Should you get an RVIA-certified tiny home?
Recreation Vehicle Industry Association or RVIA is an association of tiny home builders that manufacture RVs, and the structures come with certification, which means that they come with certain standards. Many tiny home buyers ask for these as they think it’s mandatory to have RVIA certification, but it’s not required. However, builders prefer it as they sound impressive, charge a higher fee, and allow a few buyers to get financing. In fact, with the RVIA certificate, it’s easier to find a parking spot for a tiny home.
However, there is a catch. Even if you get an RVIA-certified tiny house, there might still be restrictions you have to face in certain states. Many places consider it illegal to park an RV in any residential area, and in some places, you will be fined if you try to live in an RV. In some states of the US, parking the RV in campgrounds is allowed but only for a limited period of time. Once you have the tiny home designated as an RV, it cannot be changed and imposes many limitations on your stay; not to forget, finding a place to park becomes challenging.
What can a tiny home builder help you with?
A good tiny home builder can help you with everything starting from the planning of the tiny house to the design and the actual building of the structure. You can ask for custom-made tiny homes or get the off-the-shelf build with a warranty certificate. At TinyHouseMe, we ensure that you won’t meet novices or fraudsters but experienced, certified, and trusted professionals who will respond faster and serve you on a priority basis while at the same time offering competitive pricing on the models. Join TinyHouseMe today to book an appointment with your local builder instantly.
