Anyone have any thoughts on tiny homes?

[41Dude]

Our 22 year old granddaughter is slightly on the spectrum. She can handle work, driving and most day to day things. We have decided (Wife, son, daughter in law) to keep her close to us on the property.
We are looking at tiny home (ADU's) but not sure where to start or what to look for.
No time crunch involved. Just looking for thoughts. Thanks+++++

 

[RoninPA]

What you're thinking is not at all a bad idea. Are there any Amish communities near by? If so get with some of the Amish builders/contractors and see what they have to suggest, you'll probably get some good ideas and good quotes (and they can get them built right and not take a lot of time).

Google "Tiny home builders in Idaho" you'll get a lot of responses.

 

[ArizonaTea123]

This is the best deal on the market right now. It's made in USA, not China like most tiny homes you find on the Internet.
It's really big and has a loft that can be converted into a bedroom.
This is a large shed that can be converted into an actual habitat to live in.

I have the actual manufacturers website if interested. You don't have to deal with Amazon. The company is based in Utah.

 

[gunzo]

Is she up for the idea?

 

[s4s4u]

You could stick build a 24x24 for less money I expect, and have twice as much "home". Enough room for a bedroom, bath and kitchen/living/dining room area.

 

[41Dude]

Is she up for the idea?

Yes. 100%. She knows she has some limits and would like to stay close and still have a little privacy.

 

[bobski]

stupid.
its poor people homes.
its the kind of home tramps and beggers look for.
you know.... curled up next to a lawnmower?
its the dumbing down of america.
if you act 3rd world, you become 3rd world.
its only popular because you got so many in our country that would consider those homes a step up from a cardboard box.
or, have no plans to have a growing american family. why waste land. just go live in a 10 story apt complex and give land to those who know how to really use and enjoy it.
that would be theday i would live in a house that made me feel like i was back living out of cruise boxes, with 25 guys in a 15x15 space on an aircraft carrier.

 

[WAYNO]

Tiny homes run from storage sheds to fully equipped little homes.
I think for somebody needing to be close, but still needing minimal care, a tiny home could work well.

 

[Cholo]

I guess the limit and cost of tiny homes is endless. My late friend's nephew builds incredibly well made tiny homes in his shop that's grown probably 10 fold in the last ten years! Every one gets transported all across the US.

About 6-7 years ago I was shown the inside one of his finished homes and everything was absolutely top notch; I'd say built far better than new full sized homes built today. There wasn't much room, but it was designed with incredible efficiency. I believe the Sony Corporation was buying that one. The cost as I remember it was $175k! He can't keep up with demand even at those prices.

 

[turd]

So many questions that need to be answered. Can she care for the space herself? Does she cook for herself? Etc. The most expensive spaces are kitchen and bathroom. Lots of plumbing and electric. Both can be downsized, but still need to be useable. Need some storage also. I agree with google it - be prepared for one stop shop type deals. Better to buy plans and then find a good builder that is interested in the outcome. JMHO

 

[kmoore]

In 2008, I purchased my 2nd beach property, next to the other one. We started out wanting a 400 sq ft tiny home on it. We looked at some and found a nice 1 that was fully furnished. Before I purchased it, we looked at MHs. A 1200 sq ft 2 bath, 3 bed cost about the same. So the larger home was purchased. We had to furnish it, and other added costs were putting the 2 units together.
So if room is available, a single wide MH might be about the same cost as a finished tiny home.

 

[mirglip]

You could stick build a 24x24 for less money I expect. Enough room for a bedroom, bath and kitchen/living/dining room area.

I suspect this is true in many cases. Buyers of tiny homes are often the kind of folks who fret about their carbon footprint rather than people just looking for the most bang for their buck. This tends to drive up the prices.

 

[sixmranch]

Might be cheaper to build an addition to your home. Some jurisdictions don't allow ADU's. Plus, someday when you or she moves, more likely to get your money back.

 

[JAYDAWG]

My son in law is the parts/service manager at the big RV place in town. They sell Park Models and says they are the biggest POS. They are built like an RV....... Always warranty work and complaints when one gets sold.

To me, a tiny house is different. It' can be custom. You can have one built cheap or like @Cholo said $175K.......much more flexibility.
Good luck!!

 

[Yaworski]

Not enough room for my ammo.

 

[Hertervillian]

My buddy moved into one a few months ago He considered it an upgrade to the single wide he’s lived in for 35 years.

Like most things there is a wide range of possible builds. His is bigger than the studio apartment my sister spent years in. A covered patio / screened in porch if you’re wanting more lounge space

 

[Joe Chartreuse]

I have seen plenty of them- not for me. The only differences between a tiny home an a camp model trailer is that the home can be more customized and is usually a much tighter squeeze. The lofts in Tiny homes usually leaves a sleeper with the ceiling not far from the face. I would research a 4 season camp model instead. Much more room and storage with more amenities. I have seen a Breckinridge model that had a downstairs bedroom, full kitchen with dining room table, full size bath, full living room, an office separated by a folding door that had built in desk and cabinets fold out love seat, electric fireplace, and so on. Sliding doors led to a full length porch / deck. The loft held 3 queen size beds ( on the floor- low ceiling there too) . New camp models can get expensive, but used can be had in the very low double digits.

 

[eveled]

Guest cottages used to be common. I like the idea. Give her privacy, but keep her close. She is lucky to have a good family.

 

[Johnnu2]

I have absolutely no experience with being responsible for another person. That being said, I wonder if 'keeping her close' would in any way limit her abilities to handle life in the future (?) and, perhaps, make being left to survive when her protectors are gone intolerable ? Just thoughts that come to the mind of someone with no knowledge on the subject.

J.

 

[Jeepnik]

I have the smaller one in the rubber made ad as a shed in my backyard. There is no insulation. They snap together and are far from weather tight. They stay dry, but are drafty and cold, or hot depending on the outside temp. Avoid "plastic" sheds. Great for tools not so much for people. And they wouldn't meet any sort of occupied building codes.

I've seen larger wooden structures, 2x4's and plywood construction, that could be insulated and have electrical and plumbing installed. But they usually aren't what I would call large enough to live in. Having a purpose built, from the ground up, structure is the way to go. More expensive but you'll have much better construction, with heat and air, plumbing and electrical. Besides, who wants to eat, sleep and take care of personal business in the same small area.

 

[gunzo]

So many thoughts on this, all well intended I'm sure. But what size? A backyard tool shed or something like the Amish & Mennonites around here build? Some up to a 1000 sq ft with a front porch & log siding. Perfectly livable buy a single or couple without a lot of waste or baggage.

Lots of opinions without needed info. Slow down maybe? Or should the op say what's in mind first? How far from grams & gramps house, privacy , etc. But understood, is close enough to help if needed.

 

[Mobuck]

Depending on weather and storms, I'd suggest having a 'stick built' unit on a solid concrete slab would be far safer in a bad storm.
Regarding the 'tiny house' idea: In 2010, we worked in an RV park in Colorado. The owner brought in two 'tiny home' structures to add another angle to the RV park. They were set on concrete pillars and strapped down. Last year, we stayed in those units for a couple nights. Fifteen years of rental/seasonal use and they were still in good shape and solid. They were approx 12'x 24' and had bedroom, kitchen, bath, and loft with additional full size bed. Plenty of room for one or two people.

 

[NC FNS]

A place near me sells them. Took a look online once, seemed very nice, but very pricey. I was probably figuring that something 50% smaller should cost 50% less…but it didn’t.

 

[Strawdog]

The wife and I just moved back to the midwest... Our condo in NH (a block from the ocean) was 280 sq feet. 14x20ft is tight but doable for two. If I were alone a tiny home for one would be enough if I chose that route. On the other hand I am getting used to our new digs quite quickly coming in at 980 sqft. and it has an attached single stall deep garage to boot.

 

[Mike J]

One of my wife's cousins is having something built for his widowed mother to live in on his property. I believe it will be 20'x20'. 400 sq. ft. is plenty of room for one person. The house I grew up in was only 800 sq. ft. & we lived there with a family of 5 until my oldest sister went off to college.

 

[GunnyGene]

As long as she's not claustrophobic and doesn't collect stuff, a tiny might work provided it's well built.

 

[ArizonaTea123]

stupid.
its poor people homes.
its the kind of home tramps and beggers look for.
you know.... curled up next to a lawnmower?
its the dumbing down of america.
if you act 3rd world, you become 3rd world.
its only popular because you got so many in our country that would consider those homes a step up from a cardboard box.
or, have no plans to have a growing american family. why waste land. just go live in a 10 story apt complex and give land to those who know how to really use and enjoy it.
that would be theday i would live in a house that made me feel like i was back living out of cruise boxes, with 25 guys in a 15x15 space on an aircraft carrier.

There are tiny home villages popping up everywhere. These tiny homes are perfect for seniors on social security, widowers, single people. Small family (mom dad and a child). Usually one bedroom, could be two. For people on a fixed income a tiny home is much better than renting an apartment. They have their independence and privacy. Something you usually don't get in an appointment complex. They own their tiny home. As a renter you will never own the apartment.
Here's a video of a tiny home community.

 

[p345Fan]

While I know what you are trying to do, you might want to reconsider. If she is able to drive and work, why does she need to be so close.

What is going to happen when she moves a boyfriend in? Is she going to get married one day? Is she going to have children? Do you have a big property? Or is it only a few acres? You don’t want her so close that you are invading each others privacy.

Also, I have a special needs daughter. She’s got three kids by three different men. She will be 60 by the time the youngest moves out. She wants to make her own life choices that’s fine, but all the baby daddy’s are losers. None pay child support. I wouldn’t want to deal deal with that. She is mildly retarded, but not so much that she is in danger of losing her kids.

So if she is never going to bring loser men home and have three kids out of wedlock, and actually needs some supervision, it might be a good idea. But if she is able to work and drive, I wonder why she needs any help.

 

[bowzette]

Check out Elon Musk new highly efficient tiny homes. They are modular and can be added to over time like Lego blocks.

 

[GasGuzzler]

ROI is terrible. Around here a tiny house is the size of a small school bus and they sell for around $100K. Seems like a barn with a finished interior would be more cost effective.