It can be really smart to hire tiny home builders to construct your new abode. After all, they specialize in this area of expertise. Hiring professionals who know what they’re doing can often be far more cost-effective than doing it yourself.
That said, you also need to be smart about hiring professionals. Most importantly, you need to ask the right questions. You want to hire tiny home builders that know what they are doing and can meet your exact needs.
Here are ten questions to be sure to ask tiny home builders before hiring them for your project:
1. What Inspired You to Build Tiny Homes?
Many tiny home builders started out in regular construction. They adapted their skills to the specific needs of tiny homes. Learning more about their journey to building tiny homes can give you a good sense of their knowledge and passion. You don’t want yours to be the first tiny home they’ve ever built. Furthermore, their story can help you get a feeling for whether or not they’re a good fit for you. Trust your gut.
2. What Have Been a Few of Your Favorite Projects?
The answer to this question allows you to delve deeper into their work and the passion that they have for it. Again, this is a great way to just open up the conversation to allow you to get a gut feeling about whether or not they’re the right tiny house builders for you.
3. What Materials Do You Use?
More importantly, how do you choose the materials for a particular project? Why do you use what you do? Many people like tiny homes because they are cost-effective as well as eco-friendly. Do these tiny home builders offer options that meet those needs? Don’t just ask about basic construction materials. Instead, go further to learn about fixtures, appliances, and insulation.
4. Who Will You Be Working With To Build My Tiny Home?
For example, most tiny home builders outsource the electric work. The same goes for the people who are doing the plumbing.
That’s great because, of course, you want to have the right electricity and plumbing for your unique home.
However, you also want to get some background information on the people who are doing that work. Just because you like the tiny home builders doesn’t mean you’ll like their contractors. Do your homework.
5. Is My Trailer Right for My Tiny Home?
Because of various regulations, many tiny homes must be placed on wheels. Therefore, you have to have a trailer for your tiny home. Make sure that you dig deep when asking questions about this aspect of the home. It’s critical that your tiny home trailer is specifically and particularly suited to your tiny home. If it isn’t, then a lot of future problems can ensue. Avoid those problems by asking for complete and honest answers from your tiny home builders.
6. What Are the Legal Issues for Tiny Home Builders in My Area?
The trailer detail is just one of the many different legal requirements that you need to take into consideration when you buy a tiny home. Have the builders worked in your area before? Do they know all of the local rules? You want to work with someone who knows the law and can make a home that meets all the requirements.
7. How Much Can I Customize This Home?
One of the great things about working with any home builders, including tiny home builders, is that you get to make some of the choices about the home. In other words, you can customize and personalize a home when it’s built from scratch. However, there are always limitations about how much you can customize a tiny home. If you want a home that’s designed to your specifications, then you might need to be very particular about the builders who can help you with that.
8. What is the Cost and What Factors Could Change That?
Savvy buyers need to know the full scope of the costs involved in building any home. Make sure that you get a realistic estimate. More importantly, find out what factors could come up in the building process that could change that price, and what your tiny home builders’ process is for working with you if those issues arise.
9. Do You Handle Repairs and Upgrades?
At some point in the future, you will need to fix or upgrade something in your tiny home. Can you count on your original tiny home builders to be there when this work becomes necessary? If not, who do they recommend?
10. Is There a Better Option for Me?
Of course, your tiny home builders want the job. However, a trustworthy builder will give you an honest answer to this question. Let them know your exact situation. Why are you considering a tiny home? What features do you most desire? What do you see as some of the drawbacks? After explaining these issues, your tiny home builder can let you know if alternatives (cabins, RVs, etc.) might better suit your needs. If they say that a tiny home truly is the best option, then they should be able to explain why that is so.
Did we miss anything? What would you ask tiny home builders before hiring them? Educate us in the comments below.
Read More:
- Pros and Cons of Tiny Homes for Frugal Living
- What to Expect at a Tiny House Conference
- How Tiny Homes Help People Save Big Bucks
Kathryn Vercillo is a professional writer who loves to live a balanced life. She appreciates a good work-life balance. She enjoys balance in her relationships and has worked hard to learn how to balance her finances to allow for a balanced life overall. Although she’s only blonde some of the time, she’s always striving for total balance. She’s excited to share what she’s learned with you and to discover more together along the way.