The big benefits of building small

The ever-increasing appeal of tiny homes

With rising house prices in New Zealand and more people choosing to live a life with less, tiny homes are quickly becoming a popular phenomenon.

Whether someone is downsizing, wanting to live a more minimalistic lifestyle, or likes the idea of having more money in their back pocket, tiny homes have benefits to suit everyone.

The tiny home movement is already huge in the United States and is continuing to grow in New Zealand, with thousands of homes being built in the last few years.

Build Tiny director and designer Gina Stevens says skipping the mortgage and being debt free are some of the greatest benefits of owning your own tiny home.

“Tiny homes cost a fraction of the average house price, meaning that what you can save for a deposit on a normal home could buy you a bespoke high-end tiny house outright - and you can skip the mortgage all together.”

But it’s not just affordability that is driving the tiny home movement adopting a more minimalistic lifestyle is a popular decider for many people too.

“People are seeking simplicity; we’re getting more aware of the negative impact consumerism and busyness has on our mental wellbeing. We have more of an idea of how not having junk cluttering up your space can have a dramatic impact on your mental health and your peace of mind.”

These were just some of the benefits that appealed to Gina when she built her own tiny home.

After working professionally as a graphic designer, Gina took the plunge to design her own tiny home in 2016, alongside her brother-in-law Jason.

“I really wanted a tiny house, but back in 2016 there weren’t any professional tiny house building companies out there, the movement was still very young, so the only option was DIY.

“I started designing concept plans and discussing them with Jason (an LBP builder), he offered to help teach me the tools, and built it with me.”

During the build the whole family got involved and we really enjoyed the process. We could see an opportunity in the market for professional tiny house builders and that’s when Build Tiny was born.

Now Gina’s sister Amy, parents Ian and Diane, Amy’s Husband Jason, and Jason’s brother Hayden all have roles within the business. While working in a family-owned business could be a little complicated at times, Gina says she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I’m sure we’ve bored many dinner guests with far too much ‘shop talk’, but there is no shortage of familiarity going around and you can always count on family.”

Since establishing the business, the team were almost always booked out nine months in advance each year. To keep up with the demand, a builder, cabinet maker, boat builder and office manager had also joined the team.

The response from those who are living in one of our Build Tiny homes has been overwhelmingly positive, Gina says.

“We invest a lot of time with our clients to make sure the design suits their way of living perfectly. If they need a special hidden closet for their gun safe, or a large drawer big enough for their Kitchen Aid mixer, those seemingly trivial features are actually crucial to liveability.

“We’re always aiming to create nurturing, feature packed, creative spaces that feel like home to those that live there. There is no ‘one size fits all’ for tiny homes.”

As Build Tiny continues to grow, Gina and her team are always looking for ways to make the building process more efficient for the client.

“We now provide clients with regular progress photo updates all from an app on their phone and they get full visibility of the building schedule.”

With the tightening of lending criteria people are looking for alternative options to get a home that is truly theirs. With a traditional home loan, you are locked into a mortgage for the next 30 years paying high interest on your debt. With a loan for a tiny house, you could be debt free in as little as 7 years, plus the cost of running for a tiny house is a fraction of the cost of running a traditional home.

Tiny houses make financial sense, especially now with the cost of living being so high!

NZ Tiny Living offers the widest variety of Tiny House building options for private and commercial Tiny Homes in New Zealand. From custom builds to set-plans, kitsets, and watertight shells to the most affordable Economical Tiny Home. We have what you need to bring your dreams out of dream land, and into reality.

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