Are you considering the tiny house lifestyle but unsure where to park your dream home? Downsizing and simplifying our lives was the first step towards our tiny house journey. We bid farewell to cable television, thanks to the convenience of streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. As we embarked on this adventure, we realized that finding land to park our tiny house would require some consumer education. Just like products that need a pitch to showcase their benefits, tiny houses require explanation and demonstration to potential landowners.
Searching for Land: Think Beyond Craigslist
When most people start their search for parking spots, they typically turn to Craigslist. While it can be a useful platform for posting wanted ads, finding someone with available land in the desired area can be quite rare. Many landowners are unaware of the tiny house movement and require some education before considering a rental arrangement. Responses to our Craigslist ads can be divided into three categories: those seeking information, those charging high rental rates, and those genuinely interested in discussing the idea further.
Discovering Nextdoor: Your Local Social Network
In our search for land, a friend suggested Nextdoor, a social network that connects you with your immediate community. Signing up involved verifying our address, which created a sense of belonging and security. Posting ads on Nextdoor produced a significantly higher response rate compared to Craigslist. We connected with our neighbors, scouted properties, and engaged in meaningful conversations in a matter of days. If you're actively seeking land for your tiny house, I highly recommend exploring Nextdoor. You might be pleasantly surprised by the responses you receive.
During our Nextdoor search, we found two great leads on properties within our city. However, after careful consideration, we realized they weren't ideal for our situation. Despite this, our experience on Nextdoor was positive, and it reaffirmed our belief that there had to be a better way to find the perfect spot.
A Targeted Approach: Going Door-to-Door
Rather than relying solely on online platforms, we decided to take matters into our own hands. We identified neighborhoods with suitable lot sizes and physically visited these areas. Our goal was to introduce ourselves to the neighbors, explain the concept of tiny houses, and express our genuine interest in finding land. To assist in our endeavor, we designed a postcard that showcased our faces, a picture of a tiny house we liked, and a brief introduction about ourselves. On the other side, we included a link to our website and a list of skills we could offer in addition to rent.
By approaching this process with a neighborly mindset, considering what we could bring to the table, we found the experience to be much more enjoyable. It wasn't an easy path, requiring physical and mental effort, but the positive responses we received from our neighbors were well worth it.
Hitting the Pavement: Discovering Hidden Gems
Initially, our plan was to knock on every door in a particular neighborhood. However, as time went on, we realized the importance of focusing on properties where we could physically park our tiny house. Our area offered a mix of rural land and houses secluded from the main road, tucked away in hilly terrain. This required meticulous planning and execution, but it exceeded our expectations. Along the way, we encountered incredible people and ultimately had five properties to choose from. We decided to build on one and later moved our tiny house to another after construction.
Now, over three and a half years later, we couldn't be happier in our current spot. We're grateful to have found amazing and genuine people to rent from, and every minute spent in our tiny house feels like a dream come true.
Embark on Your Tiny House Journey Today!
Are you ready to start your own tiny house adventure? Check out our high-quality tiny house trailers and shells for a solid foundation. If you want to learn more about the tiny house movement, we've got you covered with our best-selling book on Amazon. Visit our website for stunning pictures of our tiny house and explore our entertaining abode plans. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram for daily inspiration.
Finding the perfect spot for your tiny house may require some creative thinking, but the rewards are immeasurable. Start your search today, and let the joy of tiny living fill your days.