As tiny houses become more common, so do tiny house builders. From established companies to smaller, independent builders, each one has its own set of pros and cons. And, just as the decision to buy a tiny house shouldn’t be taken lightly, nor should the decision of who builds it. But for someone who’s new to the world of tiny houses, and even someone who’s not, this decision can quickly become overwhelming. So, to help make the process a bit easier, here are some questions that all aspiring tiny home owners should ask their potential tiny house builder.
1. What is the company’s history?
Building a tiny house involves a considerable amount of money, time and energy, so the builder’s previous experience should be an important part of your decision. To find this out, a simple Google search should suffice, but it can still be a good idea to ask the company directly. Particularly important points to ask about include how long they’ve been building for and how many tiny houses they’ve built. It can also be good to know who founded the company and why; someone who’s clearly passionate about tiny living is more likely to have your best interests in mind.
2. What is the company’s reputation?
Many people won’t even go to a café without looking at reviews, so you certainly don’t want to choose your tiny home builder without any. Another Google search should give you some idea of their reputation, but for an even more accurate portrait, consider asking in Facebook groups and online forums, so you can talk to previous customers directly.
3. Are their tiny houses engineered?
A tiny house may be a lot lighter and less structurally demanding than a standard home, but they do have some significant differences. Primarily, tiny houses need to be able to travel on the road at least once. For this reason, the trailer needs to be engineered specifically for tiny houses. It’s the foundation of the house and needs to be structurally sound. Similarly, the framing needs to be guaranteed to cope with the movement of travelling on the road. Ask your builder what standards they meet for both trailers and framing.
4. What materials does your tiny house builder use?
Whether you’ll be using it as your primary residence, secondary dwelling or holiday rental, the point of a tiny house is that it looks like a normal house, just smaller. There should be no compromise on strength or longevity. For this reason, the building materials used to build a tiny house should be of the same quality as you’d expect in a standard house. While many products are likely to differ to help reduce weight, if they seem cheap or low quality, it might be smart to steer clear.
5. Do their tiny houses meet road restrictions?
One of the most appealing features of tiny houses is that they’re classified as caravans and, therefore, don’t require building permits. This does, however, mean they have strict size and weight requirements. The maximum dimensions of a tiny house is 4.3m high and 2.5m wide. The maximum weight is 4.5 tonnes. If your tiny home exceeds these dimensions, it will require a building permit and cannot be driven on roads. Be sure to ask your potential builder what restrictions they meet before signing any contracts.
6. Does your builder have in-house designers?
While most established tiny house builders don’t do custom builds, it’s still important that they have in-house designers. This will ensure that they can personalise the design without compromising the structure. An in-house design team will also indicate that all their models were designed by professionals to optimise space, natural light, air flow and functionality.
7. Is the list of possible inclusions and upgrades clear?
All reputable builders should have a clear list of inclusions and possible upgrades that are easily found. This transparency will show that they’re a professional, trustworthy company and will ensure there are no unpleasant surprises later in the build. What are the specifications of the windows and cabinetry? How many power points are in each room? What’s included and how much do extras, like a dishwasher or solar panels, cost? All these finer details need to be understood and written into the contract to avoid disputes after your house is built.
8. How much can you customise your build?
Most tiny house builders won’t design custom houses because their safety and functionality can’t be tested prior to building. When a design will be used many times, it’s financially reasonable to build a test version, but this simply isn’t possible for custom designs. Within pre-designed options, however, it should still be possible to include some customisation. This may be as minor as changing the colour of the floors and benchtops or more major like changing the windows or ceiling. Understanding how much you can customise your tiny house, especially if you have very specific ideas for your build, should be an important factor in choosing your builder.
9. Do they provide gas and electric certificates?
Tiny houses may not need to comply with the Australian Building Code, but they do have to follow electric and gas regulations that are in place for caravans. Not only is this a legal requirement, it’ll also guarantee that your tiny house can be insured (and will give you peace of mind that your build is actually safe). Ask your builder if the gas and electricity are certified by a licensed employee.
10. Can you visit a finished design or display home?
Seeing pictures of a design is one thing but it’ll never be as good as seeing it in person. Before you even decide to buy a tiny home, you should walk through one to make sure it will suit your lifestyle. Then, seeing the designs of your specific builder will give an example of the quality of work that you can expect. In our opinion, if there’s no display home or old design that you can tour, that should be a dealbreaker.
11. Is their contract clear and fair?
A contract can tell you a lot about the business providing it and if a contract seems at all concerning or unreasonable, the actual build will likely be so as well. As you read it, consider if it’s clear and fair, what the penalties are for both parties and if it’s a bidding document in a court of law. It should be well-written and apparent that they’ve consulted with a lawyer to consider all possible outcomes. If it is, you can be more confident that you’re dealing with a professional, trustworthy builder.
12. What is their lead time?
A professional builder should be able to give you a clear idea of when your home will be complete. Not only does this indicate that they’re organised, it also shows that they respect your time. Plus, you’ll struggle to organise everything on your end without it. You need to make sure you have land, the site is fully prepared and you’ve sorted through all of your belongings. A clear timeline for your build will ensure you can complete everything in time, and not too early!
Choosing your tiny house builder is one of the very first things you’ll do in your tiny living journey and it’s also the most important. Asking your potential builder these questions will help ensure that you know what to expect, both during and after the build. The end result should be a tiny home you love and can enjoy for a long time to come. If you’re keen to start your tiny home journey, and want to learn our responses to these questions, fill in our contact form here. One of our sales consultants will be in touch within one business day to answer each one.
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