Michelle Jones discovered the tiny house movement well before most of us, struck up a friendship with Dee Williams, and had her 84sf tiny house built by Dee’s company PAD. She’s been quietly living tiny in Portland, OR backyards for 11 years now, and in a lot of ways, tiny living has helped to guide and inspire her unconventional career choices. In this interview, Michelle shares her reflections on living tiny for 11 years and some of the unexpected things she has learned along the way.

Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/154

In This Episode:

• Living tiny before it was a thing: Michelle's instincts, journey, and "aha" moments
• Is there room for a relationship in a tiny home?
• Getting to know your tiny house and preparing for the different outcomes of difficult situations
• Setting up systems for your environment and the importance of redundancy
• How living tiny helped Michelle realize and pursue her purpose
• Building your house out of materials that are meaningful to you
• Staying tiny for 11 years: how to keep from accumulating too much
• When living tiny helps you connect with and depend on your community
• What the Wayfinding Academy does differently than most institutions of higher learning
• Michelle's tips for finding tiny house parking

This week's sponsor: Tiny Tuesdays

Did you know that I personally send a tiny house newsletter every week on Tuesdays? It's called Tiny Tuesdays and it's a weekly email with tiny house news, interviews, photos, and resources. It's free to subscribe and I even share sneak peeks of things that are coming up, ask for feedback about upcoming podcast guests, and more. It's really the best place to keep a pulse on what I'm doing in the tiny house space and also stay informed about what's going on in the tiny house movement.

To sign up go to thetinyhouse.net/newsletter. I'll never send you spam and if you don't want to receive emails, it's easy to unsubscribe.

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The home you build or buy may be the single biggest purchase you’ll ever make. That’s why choosing the right builder is such a consequential decision. But since we’ll only ever need to do this once or twice in our lives, it’s very easy to be taken advantage of, or miss red-flags before we plunk down our life savings on a tiny home. My guests this week, Paul Dashevsky and Jon Grishpul started the company GreatBuildz to connect homeowners with reliable, pre-vetted contractors. In the interview, I’ll ask them the tough questions about what to look for in a contractor, and they share so many gems! Don't miss it! Also, Paul and Jon created a downloadable checklist "How To Choose A Contractor" and they're making it available to listeners of the show. You'll be able to download that at thetinyhouse.net/153.

Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/153

In This Episode:

• You have homework: the steps you should take before you call a contractor
• The basic things your contractor must have and why
• Can licensed contractors legally build you a tiny house?
• How to determine whether a contractor is right for you
• Types of contracts and what to look for when comparing bids
• Why you should read the contract or have an attorney help you out
• Should your builder provide a warranty?
• Payment schedules and reasonable expectations
• You hired an out-of-state builder. How do you check in?

This Week's Sponsor: Tiny House Engage

Is this the year that you're finally going to embark on your dream of living tiny? If you're serious about building or buying a tiny house, then I'd like to personally invite you to my online community where you can connect with other tiny housers, get your questions specific questions answered, and get support on your journey.  If you need some encouragement or just need to know how someone else solved a problem, you’ll get those answers in Tiny House Engage. I’m also very active in the community, answering questions and keeping an eye on things, so if you want to interact with me, this is a great way to do it. 

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 Chad Deschenes is a building inspector who is usually called in when issues like air quality, mold, and moisture have gotten out of control. Chad is here to blow the whistle on some of the standard tiny house building methods, and share some common problems he sees in buildings, large and small. Plus, Chad will share the one system that EVERY tiny house must have. Chad has kindly shared lots of photos to go along with this interview, and you can find them on the show notes page at thetinyhouse.net/152

In This Episode:

• Every home, even brand new construction, should have an inspection
• Symptoms of a mold issue and the lasting effects
• The one system you must have in your home (tiny or not)
• Workmanship matters: this is where people consistently get it wrong
• SIPs, insulation, vapor barriers, and your roof
• How to detect mold in your house and is it fixable?

This Week's Sponsor: Tiny House Decisions

Tiny House Decisions is the guide that I wish I had when I was building my tiny house. And it comes in three different packages to help you on your unique tiny house journey. If you're struggling to figure out the systems for your tiny house, how you're going to heat it, how you're going to plumb it, what you're going to build it out, then tiny house decisions will take you through the process systematically and help you come up with a design that works for you. Right now I'm offering 20% off any package of Tiny House Decisions for podcast listeners. Head over to https://www.thetinyhouse.net/thd and use the coupon code tiny at checkout!

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It’s every homeowner’s nightmare to discover a small patch of mold, and then learn that their floor, subfloor, and insulation have all become a soft, rotten waste. But that’s exactly what happened to my guest today, Chris Murphy. Chris and his wife Bri had to move out of their tiny house unexpectedly when it was discovered that there was a terrible moisture issue in both the floor and walls. In this interview, Chris tells his story so we can all learn from the critical mistakes that were made in Chris and Bri’s tiny home.

Full Show Notes and Images: https://www.thetinyhouse.net/151

In This Episode:

• From tiny house dweller to houseguest in 3 days
• How Chris's subfloor was built and how it should have been built
• Ask which spray foam your builder is using
• The builder's response
• How do you even fix a mold-ridden subfloor?
• Vapor barriers and insulation to get rid of extra water
• Why you should engage with others in the tiny house movement
• Where do you park in a town where tiny houses are illegal?

This Week's Sponsor: Tiny House Decisions

Tiny House Decisions is the guide that I wish I had when I was building my tiny house. And it comes in three different packages to help you on your unique tiny house journey. If you're struggling to figure out the systems for your tiny house, how you're going to heat it, how you're going to plumb it, what you're going to build it out, then tiny house decisions will take you through the process systematically and help you come up with a design that works for you. Right now I'm offering 20% off any package of Tiny House Decisions for podcast listeners. Head over to https://www.thetinyhouse.net/thd and use the coupon code tiny at checkout!

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It’s every homeowner’s nightmare to discover a small patch of mold, and then learn that their floor, subfloor, and insulation have all become a soft, rotten waste. But that’s exactly what happened to my guest today, Chris Murphy. Chris and his wife Bri...

Lindsay Wood is an evangelist for tiny living, and these days she’s as busy as ever. As the pandemic has put economic pressure on a large swath of the country, tiny houses are being increasingly seen as a solution to housing affordability and inequality. But there are some big legal hurdles to get over before we get there, and in this interview, Lindsay helps us explore them.

Full Show Notes and Images: https://www.thetinyhouse.net/lindsay-wood-2

In This Episode:

• Could tiny homes be included in the eviction moratorium?
• Lindsay's affordable housing investment plan
• New legislation in CA that's great for ADU owners
• Why the ordinances in CA can help legalize tiny homes elsewhere
• The reasons that many cities have not allowed tiny houses
• Additional expenses that are necessary to ready a site for tiny house parking
• Alternatives to trailers
• The difference between 'traditional affordable housing' and 'tiny house affordable housing'
• What is THIA doing to help with the housing crisis?

This Week's Sponsor: PrecisionTemp

Let’s face it, most Tiny House dwellers want their homes to be small, but not uncomfortable. That means reliable, unlimited, hot water. Precision Temp’s propane-fired hot water heaters reliably provide unlimited hot water, and they’re specifically designed with tiny homes in mind. In fact,  the NSP 550 model was installed in my own tiny home, and the reason I chose it was because it did not require a large hole in the side of my home like other RV hot water heaters. Instead, it mounts discreetly through the floor of the tiny house and works quietly and reliably. With their patented VariFlame technology, these are the only gas-fired tankless water heaters approved by RVIA and are ANS certified. Features such as cold weather and wind protection, precise electronic temperature control, and onboard diagnostics are standard. With higher efficiency and 55,000 BTUs of power, these units produce far more hot water than traditional water heaters. And since they don't come on unless you want hot water (or to protect against freezing), you may find that you use as little as half the propane or natural gas as before. So go ahead and take that long, hot shower! Precisiontemp is offering listeners of the Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast $100 off plus free shipping using the coupon code THLP. Head over to PrecisionTemp.com and use the coupon code THLP for $100 off any order plus free shipping. That website again is PrecisionTemp.com, coupon code THLP. Thank you so much to PrecisionTemp for sponsoring our show!

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Contracts, Evictions, Housing Law. These topics might make your eyes glaze over, but they are becoming big issues for the tiny house movement. My guest today is Jody Gabel, a trial attorney with 25 years of experience in mobile home park law, RV tenancies, landlord/tenant and housing law, and local government issues. On the show, we’ll explore the challenges and solutions facing tiny house dwellers, landlords, and communities. I learned a lot and I know you will too!

Full show notes and links at thetinyhouse.net/149

In This Episode:

• Read your contract, read the lease, understand the expectations, and get it in writing
• What to look out for in a contract and what to be cautious of
• What does "replevin" mean and how might it apply to you?
• Do you want to rent to tiny house dwellers? Here's what you need in your contract
• Sometimes exceptions are reasonable and appropriate
• How to protect yourself and your build
• The obvious and not-so-obvious effects of COVID on the tiny house movement
• Should your builder have you sign an NDA?
• What should you do if you have an issue with your builder or landlord?
• The importance of knowing your rights as a resident and where to find the info

This Week's Sponsor: PrecisionTemp
Let’s face it, most Tiny House dwellers want their homes to be small, but not uncomfortable. That means reliable, unlimited, hot water. Precision Temp’s propane-fired hot water heaters reliably provide unlimited hot water, and they’re specifically designed with tiny homes in mind. In fact,  the NSP 550 model was installed in my own tiny home, and the reason I chose it was because it did not require a large hole in the side of my home like other RV hot water heaters. Instead, it mounts discreetly through the floor of the tiny house and works quietly and reliably. With their patented VariFlame technology, these are the only gas-fired tankless water heaters approved by RVIA and are ANS certified. Features such as cold weather and wind protection, precise electronic temperature control, and onboard diagnostics are standard. With higher efficiency and 55,000 BTUs of power, these units produce far more hot water than traditional water heaters. And since they don't come on unless you want hot water (or to protect against freezing), you may find that you use as little as half the propane or natural gas as before. So go ahead and take that long, hot shower! Precisiontemp is offering listeners of the Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast $100 off plus free shipping using the coupon code THLP. Head over to PrecisionTemp.com and use the coupon code THLP for $100 off any order plus free shipping. That website again is PrecisionTemp.com, coupon code THLP. Thank you so much to PrecisionTemp

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If it has wheels, chances are someone has made a moveable tiny house out of it. On today’s show, the “it” I’m referring to is a 1985 Railroad Camp Car. My guest is Hannah Doss, who converted said railroad car into a gorgeous moveable tiny house in just 3 months and for less than 9000 dollars.

Full Show Notes and Images: https://www.thetinyhouse.net/148

In this Episode:

•  What is a railroad camp car and how can you find one for yourself?
• The budget breakdown: creative ways to accumulate materials and what costs the most
• Did you know about the 10-year rule in some RV parks?
• How Hannah and her friend, Toobz, came up with the mural
• What inspired Hannah's children's book?
• It's not all rainbows and butterflies, but it's definitely worth the work
• Monthly expenses in the RV park and impromptu tiny house tours
• Creative bed configuration and repurposed store displays

This Week's Sponsor: Tiny House Engage

Is this the year that you're finally going to embark on your dream of living tiny? If you're serious about building or buying a tiny house, then I'd like to personally invite you to my online community where you can connect with other tiny housers, get your questions specific questions answered, and get support on your journey.  If you need some encouragement or just need to know how someone else solved a problem, you’ll get those answers in Tiny House Engage. I’m also very active in the community, answering questions and keeping an eye on things, so if you want to interact with me, this is a great way to do it. 

Send us a text

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I love looking at tiny house plans. Just seeing how other designers solve the space-related challenges of a tiny house is inspiring. That’s why I was super excited when I discovered PinUpHouses, the international design studio run by my guest Joshua Woodsman. PinupHouses sells digital plans for over 150 small and tiny houses, cottages, and sheds, and they’ve been doing for many years. Today, I’ll ask Joshua what got him into tiny houses in the first place and what he’s learned from designing so many of them.

Full Show Notes and Images: https//www.thetinyhouse.net/joshua-woodsman

In This Episode

• Housing trends in Germany and how they affect the Czech Republic
• Simplify everything: Joshua's dream for a streamlined building process
• Joshua's fully off-grid container house
• What philosophy and the architecture of slums have in common
• The purpose of the Magenta and France houses
• What's coming up for Pinup Houses next?

Sponsor:

Take 20% off Tiny House Decisions using the coupon code tiny

Tiny House Decisions is the guide that I wish I had when I was building my tiny house. And it comes in three different packages to help you on your unique tiny house journey. If you're struggling to figure out the systems for your tiny house, how you're going to heat it, how you're going to plumb it, what you're going to build it out, then tiny house decisions will take you through the process systematically and help you come up with a design that works for you. Right now I'm offering 20% off any package of Tiny House Decisions for podcast listeners. Head over to https://www.thetinyhouse.net/thd and use the coupon code tiny at checkout!

Send us a text

Support the show

Listen. Subscribe. Rate. Review.

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Follow Ethan.

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Want to say 'thank you' for the show? Buy me a coffee!

I love looking at tiny house plans. Just seeing how other designers solve the space-related challenges of a tiny house is inspiring. That’s why I was super excited when I discovered PinUpHouses, the international design studio run by my guest Joshua...