Tiny houses seem to break all the rules, they seem to go against everything we know about American living. Yet, the tiny house movement is really taking off!
For as long as most of us can remember, the “American dream” has been about having a lot of things and super sizing all of it! In fact statistically the average American home is the largest in the world.
The average American home more than doubles the space in the average European home and triples that of most Asian homes! According to the census data from last year the average square footage for new single family dwellings surpasses 2,600 ft.
Considering this it would seem that the idea of a “tiny-house” would not go over very well in America. However, against all odds it has really taken off!
Why are Americans going so crazy over tiny houses? is it just a passing fad or are tiny houses here to stay? We hope to answer these questions in our article here while we consider the pros and cons of owning and living in a tiny house.
The Fascination of Tiny Homes Explained
The easiest way to explain the fascination with Tiny homes is to explain the pros of owning and living in one. So Below we will list the most common positive feelings and arguments for tiny houses.
1) Tiny Houses Cost Less to Buy/Build
While this is obvious it is first on our list because it is the main attraction for many who decide to try living in a tiny house. The average new house in America costs almost $300,000 to buy. In contrast the average tiny house in America costs under $30,000 dollars to buy, and even less to build on your own!
2) Tiny Houses Have Very Low Utility Bills
The size of the average tiny home is under 400 square ft. The smaller spaces are much easier to heat in the winter. They are much easier to cool in the summer. They are also much easier to light at night. It’s hard to imagine forgetting to turn off a light in a tiny home 😉
Overall tiny homes use much less energy than a conventional house and therefore have extremely low utility bills.
3) Tiny Houses Have Very Easy to Maintain
If you have ever owned a normal sized property, then you know that there is always something to fix, adjust, or replace. While tiny homes are not maintenance free, they sure have a lot less that can go wrong.
Another advantage is that if something does need repair you can usually spot it and take care of it quickly.
The idea of climbing up on the roof of a conventional 2 story house can be very overwhelming. The idea of crawling through a crawlspace underneath a conventional home can be just as overwhelming. With a tiny home, however, both tasks are laughable!
4) Tiny Houses are Easy to Move
The typical tiny house is usually built on wheels, and therefore can be moved with ease. So if you decide to change neighborhoods or even states you will not have much of a problem doing so. Trailers also have this feature. However, I don’t know many people who would be proud to live in a travel trailer.
Tiny homes have the movability of a travel trailer, but instead of having the bad rap, they are usually coveted by others.
4) Tiny Houses Result in More Personal Time!
It is amazing how much time you seem to have living in a tiny house. There is less to distract you and less to take up your time. This results in a simpler life focused on the more important things.
Most couples feel that the quality of their relationship and time together increases living in a smaller space. Of course they also feel that they have more time (and money) for recreational activities.
Is Tiny House Living for You?
At this point, after considering all of the positive aspects of tiny house living, most people are ready to do it! It is important, however, to take the necessary time to “count the costs”.
Living in a tiny house isn’t for everybody. It requires simplification and some sacrifice. In my opinion the advantages outweighs the disadvantages. However, everyone is different.
That is why it’s a great idea to try one out before deciding. How can you try out a tiny house? Keep reading to find out:
Vacationing in a Tiny House
Interestingly there are many options out there to vacation in a tiny house. This will allow you to try out the idea and get a feel for tiny house living before you actually make the move.
Some companies that specialize in building tiny houses actually set up properties where you can try out the exact model that you are interested in buying. What a better way to get a real feel for what it would be like to live in a tiny house without the risk!
I hope to have inspired you in this post on tiny homes. As you have seen there are many advantages to living in a tiny home. At best you might what to look into the idea of buying or building a tiny house. At the very least I think you can understand why the tiny house movement has taken off the way it has, even in America where the norm is a huge house!