We found ourselves in the same position that a lot of Kiwis find themselves in - the prospect of moving home in an already pressured housing and living crisis. This is where it all started.
We weighed up our options: rental, lease and purchase. Rentals and lease - few and far between, loads of applicants to compete with. Purchasing a home - multi-buyer contracts, high interest rates and high repayments.
We had to think outside the square. While we were still seeking the elusive rental or suitable purchase, we needed a secure back-up plan.
We started our journey investigating Tiny Homes on Wheels (THOW) - designs, sizes, options, prices, quality, materials. We didn't really stumble across anything that ticked all our boxes, and what did come close was so expensive it seemed out of reach. Then came the light-bulb moment - we can do this ourselves, for our family. So we started - and this is how Smart Housing Solutions came to be.
We decided on modular - a 10×4 one-bedroom tiny home accompanied by a 7×4 two-bedroom cabin unit. We were accommodating a family of four and wanted space. We arranged the cabin and THOW in an "L" shape with the use of decking to create the flow we wanted without being under each other's feet. All the living spaces opened out onto the deck area for family unity. The large stacker door in the living area was welcome in the summertime and created the illusion of more space. We included a full-width internal four-door cavity slider between the master bedroom and living area to achieve an open space of 24m².
The floor plan for the 10×4 Tiny Home was designed to allow external access to the bathroom and laundry, accommodating access without needing to go through the master bedroom. That left us with an internally spacious bathroom and laundry - using every square metre without compromising on space.
External cladding was an important factor - we wanted to create a real "home" look for our tiny living space. We didn't want a surround of iron walls that would be hot in summer and noisy in rain. Palliside was our choice. A bit more expensive, but in our opinion better value long-term, with its easy maintenance and 25-year guarantee. It's also lighter than iron or timber, which mattered for a home built on a sub-frame and trailer.
Our personal experience has given us the drive, the passion and the opportunity to offer the same affordable options to you. Smart Housing Solutions is a family-operated business; keeping our running costs low, we pass those savings on through our affordable range of tiny homes and cabins. Tiny living doesn't need to break the bank to get what you dream of - that's what it's all about.
