If you’re considering investing in a tiny house, there are many things to consider. One of the first things you’ll need to decide is if it would be better for you to buy new or used. After weighing your options, you may find that you should build one from scratch! There are a lot of pros and cons to buying used that we will discuss here today.
Pros and Cons of Buying a Used Tiny House
Pros:
- Lower price. You can often find used tiny houses for half the cost or less than buying new ones! This could enable you to afford more features such as solar panels, additional storage space (for example), etc., that might not have been in your budget if you were to buy new.
- Sometimes used houses are of better quality. If you’re looking at a tiny house that’s been well taken care of, then the structure will likely last longer than if it were brand new. You can also take advantage of the previous owner’s knowledge as to how well it works for them.
Cons:
- Need to repair after purchase. Unless you get lucky and find one in pristine condition (and there is nothing wrong with buying something as is), expect an inspection by your contractor before committing to buy anything. Often when purchasing a used item like this, especially where appliances are concerned, repairs may need to be made, so make sure you have enough money saved up for any potential expenses! Also, keep in mind that some older homes or structures can contain asbestos, leading to costly removal services down the line.
- Not exactly what you want. When buying a used tiny house, it may not have all of the features you were hoping for because someone else has already made those decisions before. For example, maybe they didn’t install loft stairs (much safer than ladder style).
- The tiny house may not be certified with the RVIA. This organization gives a seal of approval to any tiny house being sold as an RV and can ensure it meets their safety standards. If you want that certification, then only consider buying from someone who has obtained this designation.
If money is tight, then buying used could be an option for you to consider but just keep these points in mind! You might find yourself paying extra over time with repairs or wishing there was something different about your tiny home once it arrives on-site…or worse–wishing that together with friends/family members who helped build it! However, sometimes people don’t need anything fancy so buying a used tiny house could be perfect!
Pros and Cons of Buying New Pre-Built Tiny Homes
OK, so we talked about buying used, but what should you keep in mind when buying a new tiny home.
Pros:
- It’s brand new, so you don’t have to worry about finding expensive repairs. If you buy pre-made, they have already been inspected to ensure that everything is properly working and safe.
- You get the manufacturer’s warranty, which usually includes parts for any appliances or other things the owner adds. If anything goes wrong with those, it will be covered! This alone could save you hundreds of dollars–especially when combined with their inspection process before selling them to anyone (which should include a thorough look at all systems).
Cons:
- It costs more than buying used, but not always significantly depending on who you’re comparing prices between. If your tiny house can come fully furnished, including appliances, then think about how much money you would spend building this yourself from scratch…it might actually end up being the same!
- You may not be able to get the features that you want. The manufacturer may only sell certain kinds that they specialize in (for example, metal/wooden floors can be expensive!) These include things like appliances, materials used for the flooring or walls, and so forth.
- It’s different than building it yourself! That means you’ll have to adjust your expectations on what is included as far as the quality of construction goes. Sometimes this might mean a more complex setup with installing things such as insulation. In contrast, others are built better to withstand harsher weather conditions but still require some adjustments once moved to their permanent location.
- You don’t get to choose the floor plan and layout, which may be more of an issue than you would think.
Pros and Cons of Building One Yourself
Suppose neither of these options will work for you. Consider starting from scratch and building your own tiny house.
Pros:
- It will be exactly how you want it inside and out (just make sure you know how to build one first!).
- You can include features you would like (for example, a loft with stairs instead of a ladder!)
- You will already be very familiar with your home from the ground up, so you can add doors/windows that are more energy-efficient than someone else might have done. This saves money over time because it won’t require as much heat or air conditioning for those elements to function properly.
Cons:
- If you make any mistakes during construction, they could cost hundreds if not thousands in repair services later on down the line.
- You may lack some skills needed like carpentry, which means hiring others to do this work for you and paying them hourly rates…or just going slower yourself since woodworking isn’t necessarily everyone’s strong suit! If this is your first tiny house, then you’ll need to do your homework and figure out how the process works.
- This option will cost more than buying used with a warranty or pre-built, but it won’t be nearly as much if you have at least some carpentry skills!
- You’ll need to find somewhere else to live while building this tiny home (which will likely cost extra). This may not be an issue if you plan on living in your garage during construction and can move back into it later, but make sure that’s allowed where you’re planning on building it!
Which Option is Best for You?
It’s hard to say what would work best for someone else because everyone has different needs/wants in their home (and budget). To determine which direction might be better suited for your specific situation, I highly recommend that you read up on all of these options and see what features each one includes so that when comparing costs between them, there are no surprises later down the line.