While many people are obsessed with the idea of a Tiny Home on Wheels (THOW), they are not necessarily the best solution for everyone.

THOWs are brilliant due to their versatility and manoeuvrability.

You can instantly add a second one as your family grows, without the huge inconvenience of a renovation.

They are not subject to planning regulations, so in theory you can park one wherever there is level, accessible ground- making them perfect for sites where you wouldn’t get approval for a traditional home.

But the same type of house that's a great fit for you won't necessarily work for your next door neighbour, so.. how do you know?

Start by asking yourself these questions:

1. Where am I going to park it?

If you're planning to park it on your own land long term, does it make sense to spend the $15-20k extra on a trailer with wheels, when it's going to be a more or less permanent dwelling?

In this scenario, it may make more sense for you to buy or build a modular home or container home that meets building and planning guidelines. This way, you get all the advantages of a fixed home such as:

• the peace of mind of knowing you can't be asked to move on by council.
• capital growth
• the option for a traditional mortgage, which can considerably increase your buying capacity, while reducing your weekly payments drastically due to the longer loan term (35 years for a standard mortgage rather than 7 which is the current max asset finance loan term).

There are still scenarios where a THOW might be the best option when sited on your own land:

• when there's no building envelope (such as cheaper, farming zoned land)
• when you know you won't be there long term and you want the option of taking your home with you
• if you have the cash for a THOW, but not a fixed home and all the associated permits and approvals

If, however, you know buying your own land is not an option for you, or you would prefer not to buy land right now, you'll need to rent a parking space.

The most critical thing you need to know is this- when renting land, we can only assist with locations for Tiny Houses on Wheels (including caravans, buses and motorhomes.)

There are a few reasons for this, but primarily because a dwelling that isn't on wheels is subject to the usual planning and building permits. We don't mind a grey area, but fixed Tiny Homes are very black and white legally speaking.

You may be able to find a very rural land owner via other avenues who's willing to take this risk, but it's an incredibly risky option we would never recommend.

If you know for sure you’ll need to be renting land through us, you’ll need to be looking at a THOW, caravan, bus or similar.

2. Where (in Australia) do I want to live?

If the climate zone where you'll be living is going to be extremely cold (like Tasmania or the Blue Mountains), or extremely hot (like Darwin or Cairns), you'll need to be looking at a dwelling with great insulation that can be easily heated and cooled. You may want to be looking more at a well-insulated container home or granny flat that won’t cost you a kidney to heat and cool, rather than a caravan with paper thin walls. You'll also likely want to be on mains power so you don't need a high end $50k solar package to power the 24/7 air conditioner.

3. How often (if ever) will I need to move it?

If you know your parking spot is going to change more than once or twice in as many years, an option on wheels would make sense and be most cost-effective.

Having said that, despite popular opinion, container homes and homes on skids are still easy to transport on a flat bed, low loader or crane truck too- if there is room to manoeuvre a semi trailer. Granny flats and similar are still transportable- they may just need some extra ground prep work or foundations, the cost of this needing to be factored in.

Just be aware that these are really only an option on your own land, as planning approvals will apply.

4. How much space do I actually need?

Tiny Houses are, ironically, trending larger and larger all the time, with multiple builders now offering three bedroom models.

That being said, just because you can, doesn't necessarily mean you should.

If you have two or three small children, this might work for you for a few years.

But if you have teenagers? You're going to be hard pressed to find a THOW that will meet your needs comfortably and provide adequate privacy.

And unless you’re planning on moving to a climate where you can live outside virtually 24/7, you may be better off considering a granny flat or modular home. If your heart is really set on a THOW, consider two smaller THOWs with separate sleeping spaces, rather than one enormous one. While the outlay will definitely be higher, you'll have loads more flexibility (and potentially sanity!).

Keep in mind that a setup that large can nudge close in price to a three bedroom modular home though, so if upfront price is important to you, there may be little difference between both options at this point.

5. What can I afford to spend?

The home you choose should be based on what you can afford- not the other way around.

If your budget is low initially, look at options that allow you to add a module down the track as funds permit. Some Tiny House on Wheels builders specialise in connectable homes (like Quay Tiny Homes in Vic), otherwise modular homes are more Lego-like in their ability to be added to later.

Lastly, don't overthink yourself into "analysis paralysis"!

The dwelling you choose should be a great fit for your current life, things change and you can't plan for EVERY contingency.

Choose the type of house that works best for you right now, that you can comfortably afford.

It doesn’t have to be your forever home.

That’s the beauty of Tiny Houses- when you outgrow one, it’s a far easier process to swap one for another than it is to have to sell and then buy a traditional home and all that entails (moving fans, real estate agents, open homes, conveyancers, legal fees.. ouch!).

Want more info to start researching Tiny life?

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