Tiny homes have taken the housing world by storm in recent years with their ingenious use of space, minimalist design, and environmentally conscious living. That’s why the tiny homes market size is estimated to have an annual growth rate of 4.88% between 2022 and 2027. However, while the allure of a tiny home is undeniable, it's important to recognize that building one requires careful consideration. You need to have a proper budget and evaluate all tiny home cost possibilities, such as the building expenses and the cost of incorporating smart home technology.
This article is about a tiny home cost and how to set up your ideal smart home. Let's delve in!
- How Much Does It Take to Build a House: Estimate Building Costs
- Other Things that Help You in Determining the Cost of Building a Tiny House
- Cost to Build Small Tiny House Vs. Big Tiny House
- How Much Does It Cost to Build a Smart Home?
- Smart Home Cost: Devices
How Much Does It Take to Build a House: Estimate Building Costs
Before delving into the overall tiny home cost, understand the various types of tiny houses.
1. Tiny House on Wheel
A tiny house on wheels is a compact, mobile dwelling construction on a trailer chassis with a special focus on mobility. They offer a minimalist living experience with clever space utilization and cost you around $30,000 to $70,000. This makes them an excellent choice for mobility, flexibility, and a simpler lifestyle.
2. Tiny House on Foundation
It’s a permanent structure built on a fixed site without wheels. They are typically larger than their wheeled counterparts, offering more spacious living areas, customization options, and a traditional living experience.
Tiny houses on foundation cost around $25,000 to $200,000. They suit individuals who prefer a stable, non-mobile living arrangement and are willing to navigate local zoning and building regulations.
Other Things that Help You in Determining the Cost of Building a Tiny House
Let's look at a few things that help in calculating the overall tiny home cost:
Permits, Inspection Fees, and Taxes
Before embarking on your tiny house project, it's essential to account for the tiny home costs related to building permits, inspection fees, and property taxes. Building permits are necessary to ensure your tiny home complies with safety and zoning codes. Inspection fees may be required at various stages of construction.
Furthermore, property taxes will depend on the assessed value of your land and construction over it. It's crucial to conduct thorough research and budget for associated costs to avoid any unforeseen obstacles in your tiny house construction.
Land Price
The expense of acquiring land can significantly impact your overall tiny home cost. In places like Alabama, where land costs around $2,000 per acre, you have the advantage of relatively affordable land.
However, prices are higher in states like New York due to accessibility, size, and the availability of utilities. It's essential to consider all these factors when budgeting for land and to factor in ongoing costs such as property taxes.
Amenities
The choice of amenities plays a substantial role in evaluating the tiny home cost. Consider the expenses associated with appliances, fixtures, and materials for your home's interior. They vary widely depending on your preferences.
Opting for high-end appliances, custom cabinetry, or sustainable features will definitely cost more. Going with simple cabinetry and minimal design can save you money. Hence, it's vital to prioritize and align your needs with your budget to ensure a well-balanced approach to amenities.
Square Footage
The square footage of your tiny house is a crucial factor in determining costs. At an estimated cost of $160 per square foot, smaller tiny homes are generally more cost-effective due to reduced material and labor expenses.
It's worth noting that this square footage cost doesn't involve land or any extras; it is the sheer cost of the structure.
Foundation
Selecting the appropriate foundation for your house is a significant tiny home cost consideration. Normally, a tiny house foundation cost ranges between $5.50 and $8 per square foot, which translates to an estimated total cost of $6,000 to $9,000. In case you find the tiny home costs a bit out of budget, check out other tiny house options like on wheels or in the park.
Cost to Build Small Tiny House Vs. Big Tiny House
Let's discuss the many factors that help understand the difference between tiny home costs and big house costs!
1. Square Footage
Tiny houses cost more per square foot, averaging around $300. Contrarily, the per square foot for larger traditional houses is around $150. Despite this seemingly counterintuitive difference, tiny houses remain significantly more cost-effective than traditional big houses due to their small size.
2. Construction Materials
The size of the tiny house directly affects the quantity of construction materials required. Smaller tiny houses naturally demand fewer materials like lumber, insulation, siding, and roofing. This reduces material costs and makes it possible to opt for higher-quality materials without significantly impacting the budget. Larger houses, conversely, involve a more significant material expenditure, potentially leading to cost-saving choices in terms of materials.
3. Land Costs
The cost of land also significantly impacts the total cost of a tiny house. Smaller homes may be more flexible in their location, as they require less space and can often be placed on smaller, more affordable plots of land. Larger houses might need more extensive or more valuable pieces of land, which can substantially raise the overall cost of the project.
4. Labor Costs
Labor expenses are closely tied to the size and complexity of the project. Smaller homes are generally less labor-intensive and quicker to construct, which can translate to lower labor costs. Larger houses with intricate designs, multiple rooms, and more complex features require a greater amount of labor, increasing construction expenses.
5. Property Taxes
Property taxes include a property's overall value, encompassing the house and the value of the land it sits on. Smaller tiny houses tend to receive a lower assessed value due to their reduced size, potentially leading to more affordable property tax payments. Conversely, larger homes, with their expanded footprint and possibly more intricate features, may face higher property tax assessments.
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Smart Home?
Home automation indeed seems expensive at first, but it has long-term benefits like saving money on energy. A standard four-bedroom, three-bathroom home costs you up to $15,000 for automation. On the other hand, high-end luxury homes with complete automation need you to be ready to spend from $10,000 to $150,000.
Smart Home Cost: Devices
Here's the cost of various smart home devices that help you determine the overall tiny home cost or budget required for automation:
Smart Plug
A smart plug is a device you insert into a traditional electrical outlet to make it "smart." It allows you to remotely control and automate the power supply to any device or appliance that is connected to it.
EVVR Energy Monitoring Smart Plug and Relay
Cost: $39
EVVR Energy Monitoring Smart Plug and Relay is a fantastic Homekit smart plug that offers precise energy monitoring, saving you money with its 99% accurate hourly energy consumption tracking. The Magnetic Retention Relay ensures stability while consuming remarkably less energy.
Safety features include zero-crossing switching protection and overload safeguards, compatible with high-power appliances. Its compact design and 90-degree angle extension cord save space, making it perfect for small living spaces and minimizing your tiny home cost.
Home Entertainment
Smart home entertainment refers to integrating innovative technologies into your entertainment setup. This includes smart TVs, streaming devices, and home theater systems managed remotely.
Samsung 4K Ultra HD Smart QLED TV
Cost: 732.13
The Samsung 138 cm (55 inches) 4K Ultra HD Smart QLED TV is the perfect choice for your tiny house entertainment. This TV boasts a stunning QLED display with a 4K Ultra HD digital video format, delivering an impressive 3840x2160 pixels resolution.
With a 50-hertz refresh rate, your viewing experience will be smooth and captivating. Its TV features include the user-friendly Tizen OS, 2 GB of RAM, along with an amazing 8 GB of internal memory for seamless performance. This TV is powered by the Quantum Processor Lite 4K Graphics processor and offers exceptional clarity and speed.
Security
Smart security systems include various devices like smart cameras, Homekit doorbells, motion sensors, and smart locks. They enhance home security by providing remote monitoring, alerts, and control over your home's security features.
Google Nest Doorbell 720p
Cost: $86.02
This Google Nest doorbell provides a wide 145° diagonal field of view, ensuring you won't miss a thing. Forget about recharging batteries, as it offers 24/7 video access. With 3 hours of free event video history included in the Google Home app, you can review important moments at a glance.
The Nest Doorbell requires a free Google account and the Google Home app to get all updates. For extended features, choose a Nest Aware subscription, which offers up to 30 days of video history and familiar face detection.
Lighting
Smart home lighting systems consist of smart bulbs, fixtures, and switches that can be controlled remotely. They often offer dimming, color changes, and scheduling features, providing energy efficiency and convenience.
PHILIPS Hue LED Smart Bulb Starter Kit
Cost: $192.07
This PHILIPS Hue LED Smart Bulb Starter Kit opens the door to endless possibilities by allowing you to expand your setup with additional Hue light points and accessories. With the option to include a Hue Tap switch for effortless control or a Hue Play to set the perfect ambiance for your next movie night, you can truly personalize your space. Plus, the Hue Hub ensures your Wi-Fi remains fast and uninterrupted as you add and manage up to 50 Hue lights and accessories, enhancing the lighting experience in your compact living space.
Conclusion
The overall tiny home cost varies depending upon the type of tiny home you choose and the amenities added. In case you want to enjoy maximum convenience with advanced features but are worried about smart home cost, make EVVR your partner.
Firstly, connect the EVVR Energy Monitoring Smart Plug and Relay to your appliances to make them smart and energy efficient. You can also get your hands on our extensive EVVR smart home range, including EVVR Smart In-Wall Relay Switch, EVVR Hub, EVVR Center Lite, etc., to enjoy complete home automation. Get in touch and have your favorite tiny smart home products now!