9 Reasons Why No One Is Actually Buying Tiny Houses
The first time I learned about the concept of tiny houses I told myself,
“Oh yeah…yep, definitely, someday when I can afford it, I’m getting one.”
I wasn’t planning on living in it. I just wanted it for a hangout/writing hideout behind the real grown up house.
Here I am, a decade later and although I’m in the situation financially that I could afford it, I don’t have one.
The odds are great that you don’t either, even if you were like me and thought you’d love one.
My reason for not having one is straightforward…I don’t want one bad enough to put in the time and effort.
But why does it seem like no one else wants one?
Here’s why…
#1 Utilities
My wi-fi stinks at times in my house, in a major city. Imagine being in your tiny house in the middle of nowhere.
Also, the thought of having someone come and hook up electric and gas makes my head hurt.
And how about water?
I’m not grown up enough to research how to do all that and most people in my generation aren’t either.
#2 Poop Smells
Let’s face it, living in a tiny home means living in your bathroom. Unless you have an outhouse detached of course. But where do we draw the line?
How many things can you have detached until you just have a house that’s in a lot of pieces?
Also, if 50% of marriages end in divorce, I’m going to venture to guess it’s in the 70%+ for couples huffing each other’s fart fumes in a tiny house together all day.
#3 Are They for Poor or Rich People?
Tiny houses are such a weird dynamic.
I see them as a fun addition while other people see them as a serious replacement to traditional housing.
Which is going to be the driver of actual sales? People with too much money who are bored or people with not enough money who are desperate and quirky?
#4 Where Do You Even Get One?
Ok if you REALLY want one you’ll figure this out quickly sure.
But, with so many shiny things being sold to us everyday, sometimes we need things plopped right in front of our dumb, distractible faces.
I’ve never had the opportunity to say no to investing in a tiny house, have you?
#5 Minimalism Is Fun to Talk about…But Not Actually Practiced
Damn you Marie Kondo and your life changing magic of tidying up! You made minimalism seem so fun and easy!
You spouted a new wave of faux minimalists who didn’t realize that it’s actually not as easy or fun as it seems.
The only thing most of us are minimalists with is putting out minimal effort to really live a minimalist lifestyle.
#6 They’re Not the Same as Trailers…Well…Ok They’re Kind of Basically Trailers
Anyone who seriously wanted to downsize and live in a tiny house has always had an option.
Trailer parks are full of homes that would make a tiny house feel roomy.
But the guy with the hipster with the curly waxed mustache and his girlfriend with the ironic Pabst Blue Ribbon shirt on don’t want to live in a trailer park…
That’s not quirky.
Why is one cool and the other isn’t? Are both cool? Are neither cool?!?
And how about RVs? Why not just live in an RV?
Exactly… because it’s weird…
#7 Zoning
My eyes gloss over when I hear words like “permit” and “waiting period.”
Most tiny house curious hipsters are probably in the same boat.
#8 Hard to Test Drive
Hey I know I want a beach house because I go to one each year on vacation.
How could you commit to living in a tiny house without at least trying out the concept for awhile?
#9 Can You Sell It?
There is so little precedent for depreciation on tiny homes. Are they difficult to sell? I don’t know. I’d guess so?
All of these things combined make it clear that tiny houses are more in the past than the future.
Tiny houses just aren’t cool enough to justify all these headaches.
(Tiny wave goodbye)
