Tiny homes were the thing to have, that is before lockdown meant we were all longing for space and creature comforts in our flats and houses.
Trysh and Saul Martinez have found the perfect solution for that, though, building a tiny home that’s also on wheels, so they can move around and be part of nature as well as saving money and space.
Trysh, 31, and her husband Saul, 32, both from Southern California, began building their home in August of 2018 using materials purchased locally in their area.
The incredible home came in at $25,000 (£19,272), and has given them the chance to pursue their careers as rehabilitation therapists.
Speaking to Jam Press, Trysh explained, ‘My husband and I both have student loans and we didn’t want to take out any more loans or a mortgage or pay for ongoing rent.
‘The financial reasons were reinforced by our plans to be travel rehab therapists, like travel nurses, but rehabilitation therapists who work for 13-week hospital contracts all over the country.
‘By living tiny, we are seeking financial freedom and a more conscious and purposeful living with less material things to focus on the more important aspects in life.’
The only help the couple had in the project was with specialist bits like electrics and plumbing. Everything else – from the structure to the decorating – was all DIY.
‘Saul did a lot of research and planning based on other YouTube videos,’ Trysh said.
‘He had a general sense of the design plan, like dividing the house areas: kitchen, living area, bedroom loft, bathroom, storage loft, but the details of the build were build-as-you-go to adapt based on what materials we could find for reduced costs.’
As well as getting a brand new home from the project, Trysh also says that it helped strengthen the couple’s relationship.
She said: ‘We got to see each other’s strengths and weaknesses. I personally saw Saul’s character through the ups and downs of the build.
‘I was able to first hand see his tenacity, patience, and calm demeanour even in the most stressful moments, as well as his quick problem solving, resourcefulness, and very effective budgeting.’
The transformation didn’t come without its challenges though, as Trysh admits, ‘Looking for land and the thought of having to move abruptly is pretty stressful.’
‘Tiny house city ordinances in San Diego have recently changed and they are more lenient for allowing tiny houses now, but prior to that, we felt like we were walking on eggshells and feared having to move or getting cited by the city.
‘Should we decide to move, it would take another long and thorough search to find the perfect land we could park at and that makes the mobility aspect tougher in reality.’
For anyone else thinking of building their dream home on wheels, Trysh advises, ‘Do your research, watch YouTube videos, ask other DIY tiny house builders, and look into all the different ways and approaches you could do to maximise your budget, time and space while making it as custom and unique as you’d want your house to be.
‘Identifying your priority areas – the areas you anticipate will be most frequently used in the house – always helps in deciding square footage and amenities.’
For Trysh and Saul, however, those hours of studying and building were 100% worth it.
Trysh says: ‘I actually still find myself in awe looking at the littlest and the biggest details, remembering how he built every single piece of the house as we are now living in it.’
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source https://metro.co.uk/2020/08/06/couple-spend-25k-tiny-home-wheels-travel-country-work-13094358/
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