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Finding The Perfect Tiny House Builder For You

Finding The Perfect Tiny House Builder For You

Finding the perfect tiny house builder for your project can be overwhelming. When you start looking, there are so many builders out there. It’s a bit like trying to choose the perfect shade of white. With so many choices, it is critical you do your research before spending your hard-earned money. This guide will cover what we think are the essential things to look for when choosing a builder to work with.

Reviews and Customer Experience

Every website has testimonials these days. Unfortunately, these are impossible to verify, and well … no one will put up a bad reference. So take reviews on the builder’s website with a grain of salt. Below are two great ways to find out more about your potential builder.

1/ Ask the builder for customer contacts.

 The best way to find out how they treat their customers is to ask for 2 or 3 contact numbers of their clients. Do this over the phone; you’re more likely not to get a perfectly chosen list. Even better, ask to contact any current clients who are halfway through their builds. If their current clients are unhappy, chances are you will be too. If they don’t want you to talk to their previous clients, alarm bells should start ringing.                                    

  2/ Join Facebook groups

Facebook groups are often jam-packed with helpful information and other like-minded people. If you see someone sharing a good experience about their tiny home or builder, comment on their post to find out more or send them a message. Often in these groups, there is a lot of self-promotion. You can weed most of this out by asking specific questions. If it starts sounding like a sales pitch, it probably is. 

The opposite is also true. These groups are also great for people to rant and rave about their bad experiences. Cross any builder off your list that you find being ripped apart in a tiny house Facebook group. There are always two sides to a story, but with so many builders available, it’s not worth the risk.

What is the Tiny House Builders History ?

You need to dig into your builder’s history. Everyone can have a nice website and good reviews aren’t foolproof. So before deciding on your builder, find out the answer to these questions.

How long has the builder been operating?

Does your builder have 30 years of experience, or has he just gone out on his own for the first time? Check the company’s register to see how long they have been operating this particular company.

How long have they been building tiny homes specifically?

Just because you’ve been a builder for 30 years doesn’t mean you can build a great tiny house. 

Tiny homes have their own unique requirements, and your builder should know these challenges inside and out.

Are they a Licensed Building Practitioner (LPB)?

Holding a current LPB shows that your builder is up to date with all regulatory requirements and standards. If they’re not licensed, move on to the next builder.

Have any of the directors ever been involved in a bankrupt company?

It’s said lightning doesn’t strike twice unless you’re dealing with bankruptcy. There are always conditions out of people’s control that cause companies to go into liquidation. Find out if they owned or traded under any other names. If they are not transparent about this, proceed with extreme caution.

Do They Build the Type of Tinyhouse You Like For A price You Can Afford

This might sound obvious, but don’t try to force a square peg through a round hole. A builder can have great reviews, hold a current license, and have a perfect credit record. None of this counts for anything if they don’t build the type of tiny home your heart has settled on. If they specialise in one-bedroom stand-alone cabins, don’t enquire if they will build you a two-bedroom container house.

What Do I Do When I think I've Found My Tiny Housebuilder?

When you think you’ve found the one- it’s time to make contact. But before you make that phone call, make sure you’re prepared. You will be answering as many questions as you ask. By this stage, you should have a good idea of what type of tiny home you want. 

  • Are you interested in one of their plans?
  • Are you looking for a complete custom build?
  • Do you already have land?
  • When are you ready to start building?
  • Are you going to be off the grid?

      Any relationship is a 2-way street; it’s no different with your builder.

tiny home builders

What is their communication like?

A first good move is to test out their communication. Give them a call and see what first impression they make.

Do they have a process for sales leads? Or does it feel like your name is getting scribbled on the back of a pie packet?

Was the person warm and friendly? Or does it feel like you’ve interrupted their lunch?

If no one answers leave a voice mail. If you are still waiting for a call back within two business days, that’s the first strike. Next, try their website. If they have a contact form, use that; if not, send them an email titled “Interested in building a tiny home with you”. If that doesn’t grab their attention, what will? If you are still waiting to hear back, do you think they want your business? Communication will only get worse once they have your money.

Schedule a meeting - preferably in person

Once you’ve made contact with the builder and they’ve made a good impression. It’s time for you to schedule a meeting, preferably in person. There is nothing like sitting across the table from another person and seeing their body language. 

    • Do they look you in the eye when answering your questions?
    • Are they enthusiastic about your potential project?
    • Does this person fill you with confidence?
    • Would you trust this person with your hard-earned money?

This is critical! If you don’t trust the person you’re dealing with, your project will be a disaster.

Questions, questions and more questions

The most significant cause of stress in any construction project is dealing with unexpected issues. The more you know, the clearer you can make your expectations to your builder, and the better they can do their job. Below we have listed some critical questions for you to ask. You can also download this to print off to take to your meeting or email it to your builder to answer.

  • How many tiny homes have they built?

  • Have they built this particular plan or something similar before?

  • How many projects do they have on at the same time?

  • How many builders do they have on staff?

  • If you’re building off one of their plans – will they do variations?

  • At what stages can you inspect your build?

  • What is the expected schedule from start to finish?

  • Who is your point of contact?

  • Who’s responsible for any building permits and resource consents?

  • Can they organise transporting the completed tiny house?

  • Does your new tiny home come with a building warranty? 

  • Is it a fixed-price contract or a quote?

  • Would they be able to provide you with their insurance policies?

  • Do they have a policy that outlines the process if you’re not happy with an aspect of the build?

  • Can they give you an example of a previous cost overrun and what caused it?

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