Is it cheaper to buy or build a tiny house?

It is generally cheaper to build a tiny house than to buy a prebuilt one, but there are many factors to consider, such as size, design, permits, and materials.

How long do tiny homes last?

Tiny homes can last between 30 and 50 years with careful maintenance, but this can vary based on materials and construction method used. Typically, a tiny home without a base will deteriorate faster than one on wheels.

How much does it usually cost to build a tiny home?

Building a tiny home usually costs between $30,000 to $60,000, but can range from $8,000 to $150,000 based on different factors.

What are some budget-friendly materials I could use to build a tiny home?

Consider using plywood interior siding, a cost-effective and sustainable material, to keep the expenses lower when constructing a tiny house. It's a budget-friendly option for building materials.

What are some popular external additions for tiny homes?

Popular external additions for tiny homes include decks, patios, small yards, skylights, plant decorations, and different siding options like wood, steel, or metal sheets. These can enhance both the aesthetics and functionality of a tiny home.

Hangan Tiny Home Fraser 7.2 Review: Worth The Investment?

I reached over to shut off the alarm clock. It always seems to go off at the most inconvenient times, like midnight. It's funny that it took me two weeks to figure out how to turn it off. But I suppose if that's the biggest challenge I face while living in my new Hangan tiny home, then things are probably going pretty well, don't you think?

Since I've never lived in a tiny home before, it's hard for me to make a fair comparison. Instead, I'll give an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of Hangan's Fraser 7.2 model, which is the tiny home model I just purchased. (The 7.2 refers to 7.2 metres in length).

Let's see if we can capture photos to visually demonstrate my points as well!

I decided to go with the Fraser 7.2 model from Hangan tiny homes Australia.

Quick Overview

Firstly I should say that the meditation and/or sleeping area (see pic below) is worth noting for its huge "nature TV" window... which is great if you like star gazing, sunsets or watching kangaroos hop by.

Just make sure though that the placement of your dream tiny home takes into account factors such as the location, environment and weather. In my case, the ideal positioning for the tiny home was dictated by a limited 'turn-around' area.

Ideally I would have gone with an east or north entrance for Vedic reasons, but maybe that can be for the near future. Right now the north windows receive ample sunlight during the summer, while the large west window and south window (and door) become excessively hot.

Having said that, it's just a matter for me to find some suitable block out blinds or use window tint. (Probably a similar experience for all tiny houses). Overall though, the large open plan design of the Fraser 7.2 is really great.

Sustainable living in a tiny home? Plus a galactic sized window for star gazing!

The Tiny Home Journey and Financial Freedom?

You might know the story… So this particular Hangan model (Fraser 7.2 m) cost me AU$100,000 (plus about AU$2,000 for the extra window and GL90 compost toilet).

What I first noticed was how HIGH the thing is. It really is a gigantic box on wheels. The tall ceiling is a really nice touch, and the LOFT was essential too, especially if you have a bit of stuff to store!

The build process took around four months and I was in email contact with the Hangan team the whole way through. I thought the pricing was excellent compared to other tiny homes I researched.

The new tiny home interior with chin up bar and storage space above bathroom.

The Hangan Tiny House Pros and Cons

Residing in a caravan for two years before moving into my small house, I can tell you that living in a tiny home is a million times better!

Being able to put down a 30% deposit was incredibly convenient for me. Then I just had to hussle gather enough cash for the other four payments. It's amazing how it happens when you have deadlines!

The tiny home lifestyle is a unique and unconventional way of living. It's not for everyone but having the opportunity to gradually pay off the house over a period of four months is a real incentive. It fascinates me that you can have a tiny home built for $100,000.

Anyways, here's some more thoughts on the whole process...

The Good Stuff

I asked for an extra window (snugly fits the standup desk underneath it perfectly)
Loft is essential for extra gear or storage
Big bed space and huge window is great for reading, studying, sleeping, meditation
Double glazed windows reduce outside noise
Induction cooktop - still learning how to use it (need new cooking equipment for induction)
You'll need a fridge that fits and is reasonably quiet too (I’m currently using a CHIQ 86 Litre bar fridge)
Compost toilet is good (took a lot of time and difficulty to set up)
Gray water system still a work in progress
Apparently it's solar ready too
Abundance of power points!

Everything Else

Could use a vent for dispersing heat on the higher section of the tiny house (is one in the bathroom but it is under the loft)
Could use a vent for dispersing heat from fridge space
Would have liked an external entry access area (just a preference) for things like bicycle gear
Bathroom sink is very small probably better for Gandalf
Adapting to the Australian heat with lots of window glass
In the build process would have been good to order a window and door tint (UV protection, mirror etc) and have it incorporated into the glass

The Finished Product

The tiny house exterior is constructed using Weathertex and looks to be super solid. I'm not a builder but Weathertex seems to be as eco sustainable as they get.

Inside, the walls are painted panels, and I specifically requested the use of Low VOC paints as much as possible. The level of attention to detail is quite good.

I prefer the Weathertex 'wood' finish more than the Colorbond exterior cladding. I'd recommend you go and actually look at the Weathertex colour choices in person. Don't be like me and just do it online! (The silver top ash looks absolutely stunning and I probably would have gone with that instead).

many australians could use tiny home built like this

How many Australians could use a tiny house like this?

The tiny house is equipped with a Mitsubishi air conditioning system and honestly it's only been turned on a couple of times. With double glazed windows and block out blinds who needs AC!?

I've only lived in the house for a month though!

You're able to modify the interior layout, incorporate custom designs, and make other changes during the planning phase. The only addition I made to the original plan was adding an extra window. Very smart move in hindsight!

An Amazing Tiny House?

North facing side showing the (near) kitchen window and additional 'office' window!

Here are some things I can think of:

There's plenty of natural light, so I hardly ever turn the ceiling lights on. (They are super bright). However, I do go to bed early!
There's a large amount of storage space available.
It could use some IKEA furniture to make the most of the space (but who doesn't need that?)
The bathroom doorway is just the right size for installing a chin-up bar!
It was a bit challenging to install the fly screens on the windows since they didn't come with any instructions.

Challenges of Tiny Homes

It was either a tiny house or a container home, so I went with the tiny.

A tiny house comes with heaps of challenges. Lots of little things you don't realise until you're living in one!

Things like where to fit an under-sink water filter system... or do you go with an external water filter setup? And where do you put all that 'need-for-breakfast' stuff?

Everything is about space in a tiny home. You need to think about hanging things, towel rails, pantry space, clothing space and so on. Fortunately the Fraser 7.2 comes with an abundance of storage. (The under bed storage and two full sized wardrobes are very convenient!)

Tiny Houses Are Only 70% Done

The extra window for my stand up desk area. (Excuse the mess I'm still moving in!)

To get your tiny house started, all you have to do is...

Connect to the main power supply and
Attach a tap to the water pipe, right?

I'm sure it's that easy!

It's only when you do things like order a compost toilet that needs to be installed beneath the tiny house, (including the necessary spouting for exhaust), that things can get tricky.

But that's all part of the learning process. What was really helpful was the tiny home delivery people who knew exactly how to ensure the tiny house was level on the ground. That was a real life saver!

So unless you're buying a Coodo, Nestron or Elsewhere Pod, there's a little more work to do than what comes in the (tiny) box!

What About Custom Tiny Houses?

The bathroom with a Green Loo compost toilet, tiny sink and magic mirror.

How much customising do you need?

The Hangan tiny home Fraser 7.2 is a beautifully crafted tiny home, and I can't wait to start cooking delicious "master chef" delicacies in the kitchen area. Just need to familiarise myself with the induction stove!

Hangan offers a variety of models, and throughout the construction process it was easy to communicate with the Hangan team. They constantly updated me with pictures of each stage of the build and sought my approval on specific details, such as my preferred tap ware.

So many Australians could really enjoy living in a minimalistic style tiny home like this. It's very achievable financially. Maybe the Australian dream home is metamorphosing into a tiny home? Whatever the case, Hangan tiny homes come highly recommended in my books.

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