Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long does it take from the time I custom order a Tiny to driving it away?
There are a number of factors that go into answering this question. Our commitment is to collaborate with you to create a design specific to your price and living needs, create build specifications, go through the build process, and deliver your completed Tiny ready for you take on your big adventure!
This will usually take 6-10 months from start to finish depending on size, layout, parts availability, and other external and design/build factors.
What if I don't want to wait for a custom Tiny?
Check out our Available Tinys page to see if there are any Tinys currently available for you to drive home today!
Are your custom Tinys off-grid capable?
The choice to go off grid can be complex and varied. For one, many who live in a tiny are striving to reduce their footprint on the earth. One of the best ways to do that is to go completely self sufficient, or partly self sufficient. This could mean installing a composting toilet rather than a traditional flush toilet. Going this route can help create fertilizer for your plants in the long term and remove your tiny from having to be connected to a septic, sewer, or holding tank in the short term.
Other ways to decrease your footprint is to collect your roof runoff in a cistern and use it for washing dishes, and showering. This can remove your need to be on a city water supply if you do a good job of managing your water supply.
You may also consider installing solar or wind generaltion to supplement or replace your need to be on a more traditional power supply like PUD or a generator.
Taken from a practical sense we feel that removing some, if not all, dependence on city water, power, and sewer/septic will increase the flexibility of your tiny house. The fewer connections to these outside systems the fewer barriers (physical and regulatory) can be placed for you to live where you want to live and live the way you want to live.
Is it legal to put my Tiny over here?
Living tiny offers numerous benefits and will most assuredly be liberating. But because tiny homes are still a relatively new concept, lawmakers have not yet been able to catch up. Some locations welcome tinys with open arms, while other are skeptical and timid. As a result, there is no one simple answer to the question,"Is it legal for me put my tiny house there?"
Laws across the nation vary, depending on where you want to put the tiny house and how you want to use it. Here in Washington, the governor signed Senate Bill 5383 on May 9, 2019, which legalizes tiny houses, effective July 28!
While it can feel daunting, some advance research and planning will likely make your tiny home transition more smooth and long-lasting. Here are a few resources to get you started
Washington Tiny House Association A nonprofit organization dedicated to legalizing tiny homes in Washington. They were involved in the passage of SB 5383.:
American Tiny House Association A nonprofit organization dedicated to legalizing tiny homes across the nation.
How do I pay for a custom Tiny?
One of the first thoughts when considering whether to transition to tiny house living is how to finance your new Tiny. As with the laws, lenders have not been able to keep up with the trend. Lenders are constantly entering the market, which means it is best to keep your radar up and continue looking for new options. We hope to be able to offer financing in the near future, but in the meantime, here are a few financing options we found that may work for you:
LightStream According to their website, LightStream is a division of SunTrust Bank and offers funding and refinancing for tiny homes.
SoFi We called and confirmed that personal (unsecured) loans are available up to $100,000 that can be used for tiny homes.
Prosper Peer-to-peer lending up to $40,000.
Rock Solid Funding According to their website, Rock Solid Funding specializes in"trailer financing and other recreational equipment loans."
Lending Club Peer-to-peer lending up to $40,000.
Are Tinys from Big Door Tinys RV certified?
You may have heard many tiny home owners talk about their tinys being "RVIA Certified." RVIA certification refers to certification issued by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association. The RVIA is a national association representing RV manufacturers and builders and has created a certification program. There are other RV certifications issued by state regulatory boards.
So does Big Door Tinys obtain RV certification for its Tinys? The short answer is no. And this is by design. When tinys first started cropping up and were lesser known, governmental agencies did not know how to treat them. As a work around, tiny home builders began certifying their tiny homes as RVs so that their tiny homes could be placed in any location that an RV could. And it was just that - a work around.
According to RVIA, an RV is "a vehicle designed as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel or seasonal use." Our Tinys are custom built quality tiny homes built on trailers that are designed for and capable of permanent living. Despite their obvious differences, governmental agencies would apparently abide by the RV classification and allow tiny homes to be placed under the same law. This provided some comfort to tiny home owners.
But as time has gone on, more and more state and local governments are recognizing that tiny homes and RVs are different, are passing laws that specifically define tiny homes as something other than an RV, and creating laws that specify where tinys can be located. For example, here in Washington, the state passed a law defining a tiny home as something different than an RV, designating where tiny homes can be placed, and requiring separate building standards to be issued later this year. Governments are also quickly becoming savvy to the improper label; they recognize that a tiny home with an RV label does not make it an RV.
While there may have been a time and place for certifying tiny homes as RVs, that time has passed. In the current landscape, there is risk to RV certification. First, if you successfully convince regulators that your tiny home is an RV, you will be stuck placing your tiny home in an RV-allowed location. Frequently, this means you have to move it at regular intervals, or place it in an RV park. Second, you may be unwittingly committing insurance fraud. If you insure your tiny home as an RV, your insurance company may not pay your claim when they realize you have a tiny home and not an RV. Third, a government agent may call your bluff and not apply RV laws at all.
The time has come to appreciate tinys for what they are - tiny homes on wheels, not RVs.