Dos And Don’ts To Remember When Buying A Tiny Home

Tiny Homes on Maui

Many people are buying into the notion of downsizing their home life because they realize they could get away with having less than they thought. Those who follow a minimalistic lifestyle would agree that with smaller homes, there’s less clutter and stress. Regardless of your reason for buying a tiny home, it is clear from the market research that the sales of these little houses are on the increase, according to Business Wire.

Building a tiny home is often more cost-effective. However, you may consider buying a tiny house instead if you don’t know how to go about it. Furthermore, there are some dos and don’ts that homeowners should look at before making the final move:  

Remembering the Dos of Buying a Tiny Home

Inside of a Tiny Home

Although tiny homes are quickly becoming a favorite among many, there are certain things these new tiny homeowners should remember. Below are some of the dos to incorporate into the decision:

  1. Carefully plan before buying and moving

Moving into a smaller house doesn’t necessarily mean fewer moving costs. That said, it’s crucial to plan your finances for the whole process properly. You can research the various types of tiny homes, like the ones on foundations while others are on wheels. You can also decide whether you’ll have a shipping container, motorhome, yurt, tiny cabin, or shed. Likewise, it’s best to consider the floor plan to know whether the space is enough for you and your family’s lifestyle.

  1. Have the tiny home inspected

Once you’ve found your dream house, the next thing to consider is inspecting the house. By doing so, you can get what you paid for. That said, you can ask the seller questions such as:

  • Are the electrical wires properly installed?

  • Is there running water?

  • Are there any leaks?

  • Is the tiny house properly insulated?

  • Are there smoke detectors?

Furthermore, you can consult a professional tiny house inspector to make sure everything runs smoothly once you’ve purchased your new tiny home.

  1. Conduct a home inventory check

Homeowners should ask the seller or estate agent about the inclusions in the deal, such as certain appliances or furniture. Some homes come fully furnished, while others may need additional purchases to complete the interior look. The goal is to list the most essential appliances, furniture, and fixtures that don’t take up much space. Hence, if you're buying a tiny house with a bulky sofa or a huge refrigerator, it's best to replace it with the perfect size.

  1. Expect flexible options for living

Because a tiny home has limited space, tiny homeowners should expect to apply some flexibility to their daily activities. It would be best if you were comfortable with options like folding beds, foldaway tables or chairs, and modular storage when purchasing a tiny home. This may seem tasking at first, but the benefits of living in a tiny house outweigh these.  

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Listing Image for 681 Noweo Pl 1 of 8 Listing Image for 681 Noweo Pl 2 of 8 Listing Image for 681 Noweo Pl 3 of 8 Listing Image for 681 Noweo Pl 4 of 8 Listing Image for 681 Noweo Pl 5 of 8 Listing Image for 681 Noweo Pl 6 of 8 Listing Image for 681 Noweo Pl 7 of 8 Listing Image for 681 Noweo Pl 8 of 8

$600,000

↓ $35,000

Wailuku

681 Noweo Pl, Wailuku

0 Beds 0 Baths 0 SqFt Land MLS® # 407376

Days on Market: 345

HomeSmart Island Homes

Listing Image for 214 Keoawa St 15 1 of 17 Listing Image for 214 Keoawa St 15 2 of 17 Listing Image for 214 Keoawa St 15 3 of 17 Listing Image for 214 Keoawa St 15 4 of 17 Listing Image for 214 Keoawa St 15 5 of 17 Listing Image for 214 Keoawa St 15 6 of 17 Listing Image for 214 Keoawa St 15 7 of 17 Listing Image for 214 Keoawa St 15 8 of 17 Listing Image for 214 Keoawa St 15 9 of 17 Listing Image for 214 Keoawa St 15 10 of 17 Listing Image for 214 Keoawa St 15 11 of 17 Listing Image for 214 Keoawa St 15 12 of 17 Listing Image for 214 Keoawa St 15 13 of 17 Listing Image for 214 Keoawa St 15 14 of 17 Listing Image for 214 Keoawa St 15 15 of 17 Listing Image for 214 Keoawa St 15 16 of 17 Listing Image for 214 Keoawa St 15 17 of 17

$1,800,000

Kapalua

214 Keoawa St 15, Kapalua

0 Beds 0 Baths 0 SqFt Land MLS® # 407338

Days on Market: 348

Coldwell Banker Island Prop-KP Cell: 808-250-1583

Listing Image for Kaana St 499 1 of 12 Listing Image for Kaana St 499 2 of 12 Listing Image for Kaana St 499 3 of 12 Listing Image for Kaana St 499 4 of 12 Listing Image for Kaana St 499 5 of 12 Listing Image for Kaana St 499 6 of 12 Listing Image for Kaana St 499 7 of 12 Listing Image for Kaana St 499 8 of 12 Listing Image for Kaana St 499 9 of 12 Listing Image for Kaana St 499 10 of 12 Listing Image for Kaana St 499 11 of 12 Listing Image for Kaana St 499 12 of 12

$67,500

↓ $1,500

Molokai

Kaana St 499, Molokai

0 Beds 0 Baths 0 SqFt Land MLS® # 407347

Days on Market: 348

Molokai Vacation Properties Cell: 808-658-1717

Listing Image for 218 Keoawa St 16 1 of 17 Listing Image for 218 Keoawa St 16 2 of 17 Listing Image for 218 Keoawa St 16 3 of 17 Listing Image for 218 Keoawa St 16 4 of 17 Listing Image for 218 Keoawa St 16 5 of 17 Listing Image for 218 Keoawa St 16 6 of 17 Listing Image for 218 Keoawa St 16 7 of 17 Listing Image for 218 Keoawa St 16 8 of 17 Listing Image for 218 Keoawa St 16 9 of 17 Listing Image for 218 Keoawa St 16 10 of 17 Listing Image for 218 Keoawa St 16 11 of 17 Listing Image for 218 Keoawa St 16 12 of 17 Listing Image for 218 Keoawa St 16 13 of 17 Listing Image for 218 Keoawa St 16 14 of 17 Listing Image for 218 Keoawa St 16 15 of 17 Listing Image for 218 Keoawa St 16 16 of 17 Listing Image for 218 Keoawa St 16 17 of 17

$2,700,000

Kapalua

218 Keoawa St 16, Kapalua

0 Beds 0 Baths 0 SqFt Land MLS® # 407339

Days on Market: 348

Coldwell Banker Island Prop-KP Cell: 808-250-1583

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Listing Image for Kamehameha V Hwy Lot 005 1 of 12 Listing Image for Kamehameha V Hwy Lot 005 2 of 12 Listing Image for Kamehameha V Hwy Lot 005 3 of 12 Listing Image for Kamehameha V Hwy Lot 005 4 of 12 Listing Image for Kamehameha V Hwy Lot 005 5 of 12 Listing Image for Kamehameha V Hwy Lot 005 6 of 12 Listing Image for Kamehameha V Hwy Lot 005 7 of 12 Listing Image for Kamehameha V Hwy Lot 005 8 of 12 Listing Image for Kamehameha V Hwy Lot 005 9 of 12 Listing Image for Kamehameha V Hwy Lot 005 10 of 12 Listing Image for Kamehameha V Hwy Lot 005 11 of 12 Listing Image for Kamehameha V Hwy Lot 005 12 of 12

$245,000

↓ $44,000

Molokai

Kamehameha V Hwy Lot 005, Molokai

0 Beds 0 Baths 0 SqFt Land MLS® # 407313

Days on Market: 352

Molokai Realty LLC Cell: 808-646-0837

Listing Image for 116 Hopoi Pl 57 1 of 12 Listing Image for 116 Hopoi Pl 57 2 of 12 Listing Image for 116 Hopoi Pl 57 3 of 12 Listing Image for 116 Hopoi Pl 57 4 of 12 Listing Image for 116 Hopoi Pl 57 5 of 12 Listing Image for 116 Hopoi Pl 57 6 of 12 Listing Image for 116 Hopoi Pl 57 7 of 12 Listing Image for 116 Hopoi Pl 57 8 of 12 Listing Image for 116 Hopoi Pl 57 9 of 12 Listing Image for 116 Hopoi Pl 57 10 of 12 Listing Image for 116 Hopoi Pl 57 11 of 12 Listing Image for 116 Hopoi Pl 57 12 of 12

$599,000

↓ $30,000

Wailuku

116 Hopoi Pl 57, Wailuku

0 Beds 0 Baths 0 SqFt Land MLS® # 407255

Days on Market: 356

Compass Cell: 808-276-6881

Listing Image for 0 Plantation Estates Dr 1 of 26 Listing Image for 0 Plantation Estates Dr 2 of 26 Listing Image for 0 Plantation Estates Dr 3 of 26 Listing Image for 0 Plantation Estates Dr 4 of 26 Listing Image for 0 Plantation Estates Dr 5 of 26 Listing Image for 0 Plantation Estates Dr 6 of 26 Listing Image for 0 Plantation Estates Dr 7 of 26 Listing Image for 0 Plantation Estates Dr 8 of 26 Listing Image for 0 Plantation Estates Dr 9 of 26 Listing Image for 0 Plantation Estates Dr 10 of 26 Listing Image for 0 Plantation Estates Dr 11 of 26 Listing Image for 0 Plantation Estates Dr 12 of 26 Listing Image for 0 Plantation Estates Dr 13 of 26 Listing Image for 0 Plantation Estates Dr 14 of 26 Listing Image for 0 Plantation Estates Dr 15 of 26 Listing Image for 0 Plantation Estates Dr 16 of 26 Listing Image for 0 Plantation Estates Dr 17 of 26 Listing Image for 0 Plantation Estates Dr 18 of 26 Listing Image for 0 Plantation Estates Dr 19 of 26 Listing Image for 0 Plantation Estates Dr 20 of 26 Listing Image for 0 Plantation Estates Dr 21 of 26 Listing Image for 0 Plantation Estates Dr 22 of 26 Listing Image for 0 Plantation Estates Dr 23 of 26 Listing Image for 0 Plantation Estates Dr 24 of 26 Listing Image for 0 Plantation Estates Dr 25 of 26 Listing Image for 0 Plantation Estates Dr 26 of 26

$995,000

Kapalua

0 Plantation Estates Dr, Kapalua

0 Beds 0 Baths 0 SqFt Land MLS® # 407242

Days on Market: 359

Compass Cell: 808-357-8398

Listing Image for Honoapiilani Hwy 1 of 19 Listing Image for Honoapiilani Hwy 2 of 19 Listing Image for Honoapiilani Hwy 3 of 19 Listing Image for Honoapiilani Hwy 4 of 19 Listing Image for Honoapiilani Hwy 5 of 19 Listing Image for Honoapiilani Hwy 6 of 19 Listing Image for Honoapiilani Hwy 7 of 19 Listing Image for Honoapiilani Hwy 8 of 19 Listing Image for Honoapiilani Hwy 9 of 19 Listing Image for Honoapiilani Hwy 10 of 19 Listing Image for Honoapiilani Hwy 11 of 19 Listing Image for Honoapiilani Hwy 12 of 19 Listing Image for Honoapiilani Hwy 13 of 19 Listing Image for Honoapiilani Hwy 14 of 19 Listing Image for Honoapiilani Hwy 15 of 19 Listing Image for Honoapiilani Hwy 16 of 19 Listing Image for Honoapiilani Hwy 17 of 19 Listing Image for Honoapiilani Hwy 18 of 19 Listing Image for Honoapiilani Hwy 19 of 19

$995,000

Kapalua

Honoapiilani Hwy, Kapalua

0 Beds 0 Baths 0 SqFt Land MLS® # 407241

Days on Market: 359

Compass Cell: 808-357-8398

Listing Image for Paekii Pl Lot 37, Unit A 1 of 18 Listing Image for Paekii Pl Lot 37, Unit A 2 of 18 Listing Image for Paekii Pl Lot 37, Unit A 3 of 18 Listing Image for Paekii Pl Lot 37, Unit A 4 of 18 Listing Image for Paekii Pl Lot 37, Unit A 5 of 18 Listing Image for Paekii Pl Lot 37, Unit A 6 of 18 Listing Image for Paekii Pl Lot 37, Unit A 7 of 18 Listing Image for Paekii Pl Lot 37, Unit A 8 of 18 Listing Image for Paekii Pl Lot 37, Unit A 9 of 18 Listing Image for Paekii Pl Lot 37, Unit A 10 of 18 Listing Image for Paekii Pl Lot 37, Unit A 11 of 18 Listing Image for Paekii Pl Lot 37, Unit A 12 of 18 Listing Image for Paekii Pl Lot 37, Unit A 13 of 18 Listing Image for Paekii Pl Lot 37, Unit A 14 of 18 Listing Image for Paekii Pl Lot 37, Unit A 15 of 18 Listing Image for Paekii Pl Lot 37, Unit A 16 of 18 Listing Image for Paekii Pl Lot 37, Unit A 17 of 18 Listing Image for Paekii Pl Lot 37, Unit A 18 of 18

$545,000

↓ $50,000

Lahaina

Paekii Pl Lot 37, Unit A, Lahaina

0 Beds 0 Baths 0 SqFt Land MLS® # 407243

Days on Market: 359

Compass Cell: 808-357-8398

Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 1 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 2 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 3 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 4 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 5 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 6 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 7 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 8 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 9 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 10 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 11 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 12 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 13 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 14 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 15 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 16 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 17 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 18 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 19 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 20 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 21 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 22 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 23 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 24 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 25 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 26 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 27 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 28 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 29 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 30 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 31 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 32 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 33 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 34 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 35 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 36 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 37 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 38 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 39 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 40 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 41 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 42 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 43 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 44 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 45 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 46 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 47 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 48 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 49 of 50 Listing Image for 0 Makena Alanui Rd 50 of 50

$9,500,000

↓ $500,000

Wailea/Makena

0 Makena Alanui Rd, Wailea/Makena

0 Beds 0 Baths 0 SqFt Land MLS® # 407222

Days on Market: 362

Hawaii Life (W) Cell: 808-357-5000

Listing Image for 152 Eke Pl 1 of 17 Listing Image for 152 Eke Pl 2 of 17 Listing Image for 152 Eke Pl 3 of 17 Listing Image for 152 Eke Pl 4 of 17 Listing Image for 152 Eke Pl 5 of 17 Listing Image for 152 Eke Pl 6 of 17 Listing Image for 152 Eke Pl 7 of 17 Listing Image for 152 Eke Pl 8 of 17 Listing Image for 152 Eke Pl 9 of 17 Listing Image for 152 Eke Pl 10 of 17 Listing Image for 152 Eke Pl 11 of 17 Listing Image for 152 Eke Pl 12 of 17 Listing Image for 152 Eke Pl 13 of 17 Listing Image for 152 Eke Pl 14 of 17 Listing Image for 152 Eke Pl 15 of 17 Listing Image for 152 Eke Pl 16 of 17 Listing Image for 152 Eke Pl 17 of 17

$749,000

Kaanapali

152 Eke Pl, Kaanapali

0 Beds 0 Baths 0 SqFt Land MLS® # 407012

Days on Market: 383

Berkshire Hathaway Maui Prop-L Cell: 808-280-7061

Listing Image for 57 Awalau Rd A 1 of 22 Listing Image for 57 Awalau Rd A 2 of 22 Listing Image for 57 Awalau Rd A 3 of 22 Listing Image for 57 Awalau Rd A 4 of 22 Listing Image for 57 Awalau Rd A 5 of 22 Listing Image for 57 Awalau Rd A 6 of 22 Listing Image for 57 Awalau Rd A 7 of 22 Listing Image for 57 Awalau Rd A 8 of 22 Listing Image for 57 Awalau Rd A 9 of 22 Listing Image for 57 Awalau Rd A 10 of 22 Listing Image for 57 Awalau Rd A 11 of 22 Listing Image for 57 Awalau Rd A 12 of 22 Listing Image for 57 Awalau Rd A 13 of 22 Listing Image for 57 Awalau Rd A 14 of 22 Listing Image for 57 Awalau Rd A 15 of 22 Listing Image for 57 Awalau Rd A 16 of 22 Listing Image for 57 Awalau Rd A 17 of 22 Listing Image for 57 Awalau Rd A 18 of 22 Listing Image for 57 Awalau Rd A 19 of 22 Listing Image for 57 Awalau Rd A 20 of 22 Listing Image for 57 Awalau Rd A 21 of 22 Listing Image for 57 Awalau Rd A 22 of 22

$749,000

↓ $50,000

Haiku

57 Awalau Rd A, Haiku

0 Beds 0 Baths 0 SqFt Land MLS® # 406847

Days on Market: 403

Coldwell Banker Island Prop(P) Cell: 808-446-5762

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Not Forgetting the Don’ts of Buying a Tiny Home

A Row of Tiny Homes

Thinking of a new home could be exciting, but new homeowners shouldn’t get ahead of themselves too quickly. Moreover, they could spend too much time and effort that they could apply elsewhere during the process. Therefore, homeowners should be aware of the following don’ts when buying a tiny home:

  1. Be Afraid of Decluttering

Buying a tiny home means living only with the essentials. To achieve this, an excellent way to start is to let go of unnecessary things. However, decluttering can be a challenge for some, especially when transitioning to a tiny house. Some of the reasons for struggling to declutter are the following:

  • Thinking you might need it someday

  • Feeling guilty for wasting money or getting rid of a perfectly good item

  • The object is sentimental or something that you’ve used in the past

  • The task of decluttering is overwhelming

  • Thinking that your house will be boring without them

Determining your reason for struggling is important so you’ll know how to overcome them.  Likewise, you can donate or sell useful, perfectly good, or sentimental items that you have like old clothes, bulky furniture, and other decor. Otherwise, throw out broken or useless things such as broken appliances and a pile of scratch papers. Remember, your goal is to fix the clutter issue and prevent it as you move into your tiny home.

  1. Work By Yourself

Starting a new project, such as building parts of your tiny home, may sound like something you can accomplish by yourself. Unfortunately, too many things could cause the project to fail, especially if you don’t know the basics of building something. 

The structural and functional aspects are best left to the experts. Consulting a tiny home builder and researching building options could clarify whether to proceed with the project or purchase a complete home instead.

  1. Ignore local residential laws

Not everyone will buy a tiny home to live in as a permanent residence; using it as a vacation home or rental could also be an option. For this reason, the new tiny homeowner should familiarize themselves with the local rules, regulations, and laws whether they want their tiny home on the mainland or on some vacant land in Maui

Wrapping Things Up

Tiny home living is becoming a trend, but the question remains: will it be suitable for every person or family? It’s not a question everyone will answer straight away. Some will do more research, while others must experience tiny home living for themselves. One thing is for sure: considering the dos and don’ts will help narrow down the options.

Get In Touch With Evan!

Evan Harlow Maui

Evan Harlow ranks among the best real estate agents on Maui annually and is in the top 1% of Coldwell Banker agents worldwide in production. Evan has the expertise, experience, and work ethic to help you achieve your real estate buying and selling goals. We promise exceptional service and support from the beginning of the process through closing and beyond. See what Evan's clients are saying on Google.

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