Run Amok Blog

9 Things to Consider Before You Build Your Dream (Tiny) House

After watching various Tiny Home shows and the documentary 'Minimalism', you may be thinking that Tiny House living is starting to sound pretty darn good. However, it may not be for everyone. Here are 9 things you'll want to think about before putting a deposit down on a Tiny Home.

1. What will your Tiny Home be used for?

While many people choose to live in a Tiny Home full time, this is not the only option. Tiny Homes are wonderful alternatives to affordable, stylish vacation or weekend homes. Other individuals have built custom Tiny House to use as a work office or guest house off of their main home. Run Amok has customers that have decided to build a Tiny Home in order to rent it out as means as income. Identifying the purpose of building your Tiny Home will make it that much easier when choosing structure style and size, layout, and interior design and decor.

2. You'll need to get rid of a lot of stuff.

We're not going to lie. Moving into a Tiny Home is a major lifestyle change that requires one to really take a good look at what you own and decide what is essential, and what can be given away. Living minimally is part of the appeal of tiny living. When you get rid of a lot of your stuff, it allows you to focus on the things that matter...friends, family, adventure. It allows you to appreciate the things that you do have and invest in high quality items (quality over quantity.)

If your someone who has a lot of stuff and cannot bear to part with personal items, Tiny Living may not be for you.

3. Where will you place your Tiny Home?

Do you own a plot of land or plan on purchasing a plot in the future? Depending on where you decide to place your Tiny Home, certain zoning laws may come into play. Laws vary by state so its important to do your research prior to building.

4. What kind of plumbing are you willing to live with?

Another important thing to think about! If you want a "regular" working shower and bathroom, you may want to consider building your home upon a permanent or semi-permanent foundation with a water hookup. This option allows for indoor plumbing just like a regular-sized home with a working toilet, shower and faucets. Yes, this option is more expensive but its also much more convenient.

Want a Tiny Home off the grid with no water supply? Then the bathroom and water situation will be much more similar to an RV mobile home. There are also hybrid solutions available.

When you build with Run Amok Tiny Homes, we will consult and advise you on what plumbing and foundation system is best for you, and provide a breakdown of cost.

5. What's your personal style?

When browsing Instagram and Pinterest, you'll see thousands of Tiny Home exterior and interior styles. You'll see ultra-modern boxes with sleek, mid-century modern furniture, as well as cute country-style cottages with white farmhouse kitchens. Half of the fun of building a Tiny Home is choosing the style and fixtures that reflect your own personal style and building out that dream. Run Amok has 12 different exterior styles to choose from, and offers an option for a custom design as well. As far as interior design and decor goes - the world is your oyster. We work with 2 talented interior designers to help you identify your style and build out your dream.

6. Do you have children?

As much as we love Tiny Homes as Run Amok, we typically do not recommend full-time Tiny House living for families with children. There is simply just not enough space! However, Tiny Homes are excellent weekend homes, offices and play areas for families with kids.

Tiny Homes are best for individuals and couples who are able to par down personal belongings. Each Tiny Home can fit a king or queen sized bed, plus a pull out sofa. Anything more than that and we recommend that you consider a modular home instead.

7. Utilities cost money too

Tiny Homes are very financially feasible compared to full sized houses and condos, however they still require utilities. Water, electricity and gas utilities for a 300 square foot Tiny Home in New England (think 4-6 months of winter) average about $80/month.

8. Quality construction is essential when building a Tiny Home

Run Amok sees Tiny Homes selling online for $20,000, however this worries us. A Tiny Home must be built according to laws and codes, which means being able to withstand hurricanes, snowstorms and flooding. If you plan on living in your Tiny Home for years to come, or would like to sell it one day - investing in quality construction is mandatory. This is why our homes start at $50,000. We build each home to a significant level of standard, to very specific codes and ensure that our construction will last decades.

9. It's important (and fun!) to try before you buy

If you haven't tried living in a Tiny Home, we highly recommend it prior to purchasing your own. Come visit our showroom to walk around staged homes, and even book a night! We want our customers to be happy with their decision to build and buy with us.

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