Fast, convenient, and nature-friendly—these are just a few of the benefits of building tiny houses. It’s no wonder why tiny house kits are so in demand these days.  

Excited to build your first tiny house? Don’t let your zeal overwhelm you—somewhere out there is the right tiny house kit for you. However, to find it, you should prepare to do a few actions. 

Below, we listed five kickass tips. These will help you find that one almost perfect tiny house kit. 

How to Find the Right Tiny House Kits

With the spread of lists on Google and deals on Amazon, it can be daunting to find the right tiny house kit. That’s why we want you to make an informed shopping choice. To find the right tiny house kit, you must create a list of your preferences, study your town’s building code, set a budget, browse for reliable sites, and then prepare a contingency plan. 

We expanded on those steps below. Follow our tips, so you won’t regret anything! 

1. Create a list of your preferences. 

This will help shorten the time and minimize your effort in searching. You don’t want to realize halfway in the construction that you don’t like the floor plan, right? So, take the time to list down your preferences on your Notepad app or on a Google spreadsheet—whichever you prefer will do.  

Your personal taste

Are you the hardcore minimalist, the mid-century fanatic, or the vintage lover? You’ll find different sorts of tiny house kits that cater to your taste. So, decide what style you want—this way, you can narrow your Google search results as well. 

Number of living occupants 

Next, list down the number of occupants in the house. If you’re living alone, you can do well with a 10×40 kit or something even smaller. Obviously, if you’re living with your significant other or your family, choose a bigger size than 400 square meters. 

Mobile or stationary?

You can find kits and prefab models of tiny houses on wheels online. If you’re the adventurous and nature-loving type, go for those models on wheels. Regardless, take note that it’s quite challenging to find legal areas for tiny homes. But if you happen to find an empty legal lot for tiny houses, then go for stationary models. 

Surroundings of your tiny house 

Whether you want a mobile or stationary tiny house, make sure its surrounding area is still spacious. You have to secure a setback at the rear, front, and side areas of your property. Setbacks are the distance from your property line to the main street. It’s imposed by the national building code. 

Needed appliances

Another factor that will affect your choice is your essential equipment. Make sure to list down only the appliances that you really need. Any unnecessary tools will occupy space in your tiny home, which will compromise your mobility inside.

2. Study your town’s building codes about tiny houses. 

You will be buying a DIY kit that’s most probably manufactured by builders with a vast knowledge of the US building code. Nevertheless, not all regulations about tiny houses are universal. Therefore, we suggest you still take the time to study your town’s rules about tiny houses. 

In general, tiny houses in the US should have the following: 

1. Living room or entertainment area with a ceiling height of 6 ft and 8 inches.
2. One functioning bathroom, with a ceiling height of 6 ft and 4 inches.
3. Easily accessible emergency opening like a door or a window.

Some states like Texas are well known to be relaxed with the Tiny House Movement. Texas even has no required minimum square meter for tiny houses, which is why there are over 29 million tiny properties by population in the state.

States like Colorado, Nevada, and South Carolina also allow tiny homes construction, as long as you follow the mandated property and lot dimensions. However, other states like Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, and Iowa are very unaccepting or dismissive of tiny houses. 

As a result, your search for building codes should be more location-specific. 

While reading your city’s codes, run through your list of preferences. Check if your preferences violate anything. If you need more information, we suggest you check out this guide about tiny homes regulations in every state.

3. Set your budget for the tiny house kit. 

Secured about your list of preferences and your locality’s rules about tiny houses? If you are, then it’s time to talk about your budget. 

There are many price ranges of house kits you can read online. According to Tiny House Giant Journey, the average overall cost of building a tiny house will be $25,000. Meanwhile, some built their tiny houses with a budget of $17,000, including the appliances.

On the web, you can buy tiny house kits that cost under $5000. You can also spend on pre-designed tiny house plans or even buy an old van and recreate it into a house, all for $12,000 to $35,000. 

However, don’t expect to spend those same amounts. Those expenses varied upon the skill and construction knowledge of the builder. Even some first-time builders spent less compared to seasoned builders. 

Moreover, you won’t be going to spend on a DIY kit, and then after that, you’re done. You’re still going to spend on other stuff, such as:

1. Electrical work
2. Water/plumbing
3. Panelling
4. Roofing 
5. Other construction materials (ex. Hammers, nails, wires, etc.)
6. Appliances (You might have to buy new equipment because some device for traditional houses aren’t really designed for tiny houses.)
7. Courses (If you’re serious about quality, you have to spend on workshops, too. After all, this is your home we’re talking about.)
8. Other hidden costs (You have to prepare for these expenses as well. Better be safe than sorry.)

When budgeting for building a tiny house, just keep in mind that you’ll never have a final budget. Just expect to spend extra costs along the way.  

RELATED: This is How Much it Costs to Live in a Tiny Home

4. Browse the internet for the best tiny house kits.  

You listed your preferences. You read your city’s building code. And you already have a reasonable (but impartial) budget for a tiny house kit. Now, it’s time to hunt! 

To help you, we listed these sites where you can buy tiny house kits. Since you’ve taken the time to know what you really need, then you’ll probably spend less time searching for the right tiny house kit. 

• 84tinyliving.com – They sell blueprints and blueprint + trailer packages.
• Amazon – You’ll find cheap house kits here, but your search won’t be as refined as when you shop on other sites.
• Wheelhaus – They ship their models to you, but the pricing of each model can vary depending on the state.
• MBShouse – MBS House ships flatpack kits to you, which you can assemble in the lot you desire.
• Allwood Outlet – They sell kits with free shipping. They also offer to finance. 
• Tiny House Me – This shop sells stationary tiny houses and houses on wheels.

Found the sites that you like? Great, now, choose your top three sites. Make sure these sites have the kits that fit your preferences, your locality’s building codes, and most especially your budget. 

RELATED: The 11 Best Tiny Home Kits That Won’t Break the Brank

5. Prepare for contingencies. 

We have one last advice for you. Since life is very unpredictable, we suggest you create contingency plans. 

For example, what if your shipping gets delayed or it arrives with incomplete parts? What if you realized you need more help assembling the tiny house, and you can’t call anyone on short notice?

That’s why you should plan ahead. Connect with other homeowners who have built their tiny homes. Ask about their experiences and request for resources. Watch YouTube videos of vloggers who built their own tiny houses. 

You can also enrol in short online courses on building a tiny house or interior design basics. 

It never hurts to prepare. 

RELATED: Tiny Houses: A Good Idea or a Terrible Investment?

Conclusion

In the end, it all comes down to your preferences, budget, and long-term sustainability. So, be careful of spending on something unnecessary. 

Also, don’t expect to find the most suitable tiny house kit right away. Along the road, your needs and preferences might change. 

So, just take your time and never hurry… After all, your aim in building a tiny house is to be resourceful, right? 

Related questions

What is a prefab tiny house?

Prefab is the shortened version of the word “Prefabricated”. These system-built or prefab tiny houses were designed and constructed in a factory by building professionals. After that, they are shipped to the lot where the house will permanently stay. 

Where to find free tiny house plans?

You can find several free blueprints here: 

• 27 Adorable Free Tiny House Floor Plans
• 5 Free DIY Plans for Building a Tiny House
• 21 DIY Tiny House Plans [Blueprints]