Tiny Houses Are Hard, But So Is Everything That Is Worthwhile

The truth is that when it comes to tiny houses, there are many things that will be difficult.  No ShortcutWe all love to dream, we all love to imagine what could be, but when it comes time to actually pull the trigger you need to grapple with some of the realities.  This isn’t to say you can’t live tiny, it is to say that it comes with a lot of hard work, but it’s worth it.

More and more I have come to realize that the things in life that are the hardest are the most worthwhile.  If you think about it, what I show you how to do on this blog or at the Conference is changing the trajectory of your life in such a radical way that it boggles my mind even today.  So when faced with having our lives change in such a dramatically positive way, it makes sense to put a lot of hard work to make it happen.  So here are three reasons why tiny houses are hard, but really worth it.

1. Its a lot of hard work

It takes a lot of really really hard work to build a tiny house.  It’s not scare anyone, but I think people don’t always grasp this fact.  While the process is easy, the scale is approachable and the learning cure made easier with the awesome resources we have now, it doesn’t make the work any easier.  So the process is easy, but the work is hard.

2.  Tiny House Bring An Inherent Risk

When you build and live in a tiny house, you’re taking a risk.  You will most likely need to do it under the radar.  In the ebook mentioned below, I show you how to mitigate the risk of flying under the radar.  In the end, when it comes to codes, people’s perceptions, dealing with neighbors, and much more: its messy.  There will be drama, sleepless nights of worry, having to move and convincing the guy from the power company that you need a panel setup in the middle of the woods, but “I promise I’m not building a meth lab” type of talks.

Our Writer Andrea had to move three times in a single year because of various things beyond her control.  I thought I found land only to have it pulled out from under me.  There is an inherent level of risk that comes with tiny houses and you need to be able to deal with that; if not, then tiny houses might not be for you.

3. Building Codes Are Sticking Point

No matter what anyone tells you, getting your tiny house legal with codes is rare and if it happens, it took a ton of legwork. I see it in the comments all the time “all you have to do is X” and while we want to to believe that its “just that easy”, it is not.  If you doubt this fact, give your code enforcement office a call and try out that person’s magic phrase or loop hole, make sure you mention you want to LIVE in a house that is 150 square feet, see how that works out.

That said if you put in the hard work, you can find solutions to building codes, but it will take a lot of time, piles of paperwork, getting variances, and maybe even go to court; only then you can get it done…. maybe.  I talk about this whole process in my ebook, so I’m not going to belabor this point much more.

 

So while these three things a very tough, they are very much worth the time, effort, and hard work that comes with it.  Tiny houses have the ability to change you life, isn’t that worth some toil?

 

Your Turn!

  • What are the tough points for you and how are you trying to overcome them?
8 Comments
  1. Finances!! Although tiny houses mean a morgage free life they take a whole lot of finances to build at the start. Massive obstacle at the moment. Looking into givernment grants and scholarships plus my own frugal measures!! I will get there, just need to be patient!! But that for me takes the most work!

  2. I fell into tiny living accidentally. We live in a 400 square foot space with a baby currently. I became really interested in building eventually but it really is expensive, even a yurt!, mainly because things like plumbing are a common denominator. But aside from that, tiny living has it’s own organizational challenges I’ve learned along the way, but it’s totally worth the work and I do believe is ultimately more cost effective!

    I blog about some of it here – https://mouseinyourhouseblog.com/2014/01/17/we-live-in-400-square-feet-with-a-baby-before-after/

  3. The cost of building is a bit of a hurdle for me, but dealing with the code requirements for building a house (small at 400 sq. Feet) are problematic for me. The labor will be easy. It’s the requirements on paper that have brought me to a halt for now.

  4. This is a great post! I can see how building codes and being “under the radar” are huge concerns to post people. However, these are some of the problems that I am facing. If anyone could please help me that would be great!

    As of right now building a Tiny House is seeming to be impossible. Simply because it is not just myself but my child as well. A lot of the houses (on wheels) that I have looked at are aimed to only a 1 bedroom house, which is fine, but just not for my situation.

    Another problem that I am finding is trying to find a flat deck trailer that is suitable for building a house on. I live in Manitoba and I have searched high and low and I can not find anything. I looked into a Tumbleweed trailer, but it would cost me $1200 to deliver it and I don’t know if I would be able to get it over the boarder.

    So if anyone has any advice for me please let me know! Thanks so much!

  5. Hi Anita and Darrell, my hubby and I are in Winnipeg and very interested in the possibility of tiny home living just outside Winnipeg. Can you please let me know how to contact you guys to find out more info? Thanks! 🙂

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