Amazon has progressively grown as they have dabbled in the retail, book publishing, and grocery industry. Aside from the various industries they associate themselves with, their delivery time is impeccable, and their customer service is not too shabby either. So how surprising is it to know Amazon can help you step into homeownership?

For the average person, it is probably not too surprising. As people have grown more fond of minimalistic living, tiny homes have also grown in popularity. Since Amazon is great at keeping up with trends and expanding into other industries, it is not unusual for Amazon to start to offer Tiny Home options through their site.

But before you get excited, order your tiny house builder kit, and start building your home, be careful what you share online because home insurance and social media can be a bad mixture when trying to find low rates. Insurance companies use social media to configure rates for clients, so be sure to follow this guide thoroughly before sharing your new home building project with all of your followers!

How can Amazon sell tiny homes?

Tiny homes are all about living small and minimalistic. There is no one definition for tiny homes, but they are usually homes that are much smaller than the average house. Their popularity has increased throughout the United States as citizens search for ways to diminish the economic and financial strain of life.

Though there is not a solid definition for a tiny home, the goal is to live small while still having everything you need. For a general reference, tiny homes are usually around 2.4 x 5 meters and have a living area, sleeping loft, kitchen, and bathroom. They are intended to be easily moved, so they are typically constructed to fit a trailer.

The structure of these tiny homes is very similar to sheds and small cabins which is how Amazon can sell them. You can find these structures listed as “Cabin Kit” on Amazon’s website and they sell for roughly 20 thousand dollars — and this price is already cheaper than what your average home would sell for.

Construction of Your Amazon-Bought Tiny Home

Amazon advertises that it can only take two days to construct these tiny homes with the kits they deliver right to your doorstep. Constructing a traditional home requires one having to visit multiple stores to get the needed materials. So having all of the supplies already together gives an advantage to this route.

One of the tiny home designs sold is called the Lillevilla Getaway. It is a wooden home that features three rooms on the main level and a loft on the attic-level, averaging 292 square feet. It is promoted as a “build-it-yourself” kit, and the home includes a deck.

Now, since this is something that the average person can build, it does not come with instructions for installing gas, water, electricity, and any other utility needed within a home. You can construct the foundation of your home by yourself, but unless you are equipped with the necessary electrical skills, you will have to call in professionals.

To make up for the lack of utilities, these homes come with windows to let in natural sunlight. Installing utilities can cost anywhere from ten to thirty thousand dollars. Add that to the initial cost, updating this tiny home from Amazon with utilities would be just under $100,000.

The average cost of a home is just around $200,000 in the United States. If you take this cheaper route to own your home, be sure to avoid home improvement scams when searching for a professional to install utilities which could cost you more money and time to fix.

Location of Your Amazon-Bought Tiny Home

Now that you know that Amazon ships ready to build home kits and that you have to find a professional to install utilities, you have to figure out where to set up your future home.  This should actually be decided before you order everything and hire someone to construct your gas, water, and other utilities.

The costs of living in the suburbs can actually be unreasonably high due to Home Owner Association (HOA) fees, so if saving money is your goal, you should look to stay on the outskirts of the suburbs or even in a more rural setting.

Being that these types of tiny homes are intended to stay in one place once finished, it would be ideal to buy a plot of land and install a permanent foundation beneath it. There are also tiny home communities where people can rent a lot and place their tiny home on the land with other tiny home homeowners.

The instructions for the building of the foundation on a tiny home are pretty flexible and can be tweaked for creating a foundation that is not as permanent.

Depending on your desired location, purchasing one acre of land can range from $5,000 to $45,000 while renting a lot to place your tiny home on can cost about one to two hundred dollars a month. Choosing between the two options depends solely on personal preferences and circumstances.

Is tiny-home living right for me?

Choosing to live in a tiny house is a decision that only you can make because only you know what your desires in life are more than anyone else. If you are someone who loves to go big and to be dramatic with decor, then this may not be the route you want to take.

This type of home is ideal for someone who enjoys leading a minimalist lifestyle. You should also keep in mind that living in a small area can present unexpected issues down the road. For example, expecting a new baby can make living in a tiny home uncomfortable.

Before you make the decision to plunge into the tiny home life, weigh out every potential possibility.

If you decide that you want to take this route to homeownership, take the time to save your money for this project for any unexpected mishaps can happen. As you save, be sure to avoid falling short on your financial goals so you can live care-free in your tiny-home as soon as possible.