Inside Aussie Tiny Houses

It’s been almost 7 years since we first started Aussie Tiny Houses in 2017 and, since then, after more than 400 tiny houses built, we’ve become the leading tiny house builder in Australia. So, we thought it high time we share more about the people who build your tiny homes and the methods they use to make them the best. In this new video series, ‘Inside Aussie Tiny Houses’, we’ll take an in-depth look into our journey, the design and build process, and the buying process for you.

The Journey to Tiny – Our story

In the first video of this series, our Managing Director Thiago shares the story behind Aussie Tiny Houses, and how we became the leading tiny house builder in Australia. Starting up in 2017, the idea came to one of the co-founders, Fabio, after he saw the tiny house movement growing in America and realised that tiny houses would soon become popular in Australia, too. Now, almost 8 years later and it’s clear he was right. Aussie Tiny Houses has expanded to hire over 40 staff and build over 100 houses a year, helping a wide range of Australians follow their tiny living dreams. Since that first year, they’ve learnt a lot about tiny houses and tiny living so they can ensure all homes are built for both functionality and aesthetic design. While tiny, our houses are designed to feel as much like a home as any other house.

The Building Process – How We Do It

At Aussie Tiny Houses, we build our homes the same way you’d build one on a concrete slab: to be a home that lasts generations. The only difference is that it’s on a chassis, and classified as a caravan so they’re more affordable, easily transportable and don’t require building permits.

We offer ground level and loft designs that can be built to three different stages depending on your needs. Turn Key designs are fully complete with everything you need ready to move in. Shell designs have all the electrical, plumbing and painting completed but no joinery or tapware. Lock Up designs are wrapped on the outside and have only a frame on the inside for those looking to do some DIY.

Designing on wheels does come with a few limitations. To be legally driven on Australian Roads they must be built within 2.5m wide, 4.3m high and 4.5 tonnes. While weight must be considered at every stage of the build, the only thing that truly differs from a normal house is gas, which needs to follow caravan regulations.

Quality Over Quantity – The Materials

At Aussie Tiny Houses, we build with high-quality materials, fittings and finishes that are all chosen with consideration for comfort, longevity, ease of maintenance and the weight of the completed home. We’ve learnt a lot over the last seven years and have altered our designs accordingly. For example, while our first homes were built with timber frames, we now opt for BlueScope’s TRUECORE^® Steel as, among other reasons, it’s at least 40% lighter and allows us to build larger homes. We consider every element of the design, no matter how small, to ensure your home is the best possible quality.

Making Small Feel Big – How We Design

Designing a tiny house is very different from designing a normal house. Not only does it need to be functional, but that function needs to fit into a very small space without sacrificing design. In this video we speak with two of our tiny house designers, Richard and Jess.

Richard has been in the construction industry for 35 years and has been with Aussie Tiny Houses for 5 of those. In that time, he’s designed most of the models in our range.

Jess had an interest in tiny houses long before she came to us after finishing university. After making the move up to Queensland from Victoria to work with us, she now also lives in an Aussie Tiny Houses built home of her own.

With different selections and design upgrades each home will be different, but it’s thanks to talented designers like Jess and Richard, that all our tiny homes are functional, comfortable and beautiful—a combination which can be more difficult to achieve than it sounds. Learn more about how they do it below.  

The Buying Process – Let’s Go Tiny!

A tiny house isn’t something that one buys on the spot. There are many factors to consider, like where it’ll go and how it’ll get power. But buying a tiny house should be an exciting process, not a stressful one, so at Aussie Tiny Houses we have a very clear buying process to get you living in your dream tiny as seamlessly as possible. Take a look at these steps below, and for more detail watch our interview with one of our sales consultants, Steve.

• Research – Take your time to research if tiny living is right for you. On our website, we have plenty of resources to give you an insight into what tiny house living is like, and what you should consider before contacting a builder.
• Consultation – When you’re ready to pursue tiny living, you can either book a tour to view our tiny house range in person, or we can have a virtual consultation where we’ll work out what design will most suit your needs.
• Selections and quote – Now you can make your selections for specific upgrades or aesthetic choices like a feature wall or skylight. From these choices, we’ll send through a clear, itemised quote so you’re fully aware of the costs right from the beginning.
• Contract – An eSign contract will be sent through with all the details of the build. We ask for a 20% deposit upfront and, once paid, your home will be in the build queue. All further payments will be progress payments after it’s in the factory for construction, with final payment due on completion.
• Design – Working with one of our in-house designers, you can personalise your design by choosing things like benchtop colours, flooring and tapware. These can affect your cost but, as earlier, we’ll provide you with an itemised quote before continuing.
• The build – Now it’s time to start your build! Our operations teal will give you updates and answer any questions throughout your build. We’ll also send you a document that details how to set up your tiny house, including how to prepare your site and get insurance, so you’re fully prepared when you receive it.
•  Completion – Once your home is complete, we’ll organise delivery with you. At this stage you should have prepared your site and found insurance. Your house will be sent and delivered, and you’ll be set to move in! After this, we’ll still be here to help as you progress into your new way of life.

After almost 8 years in the industry, we’ve had the pleasure of working with a wide range of clients all following the tiny living dream for different reasons. Inside Aussie Tiny Houses, we’re all incredibly passionate about the movement, and are always keen to help more people join. To learn more about some of our clients, take a look at our other video series, ‘Aussies Going Tiny’. And if tiny living sounds right for you, be sure to get in touch with our friendly team who’ll help in any way they can.