- Tiny homes offer a slew of unique possibilities
- Maine provides a variety of professional tiny home builders and designers
- Campgrounds and RV parks offer ready accommodations for tiny home-on-wheels residents
In the uncertain economic conditions that prevail in many places today, the subject of securing affordable yet comfortable accommodations has become a hot topic.
As lean times motivate more people to discover some of the surprising benefits that tiny homes bring to the table, the interest in these diminutive abodes has only become more intense.
The motivations behind the increased popularity of tiny homes are probably as varied as those living in them, but there is little doubt that the rise of popular tiny home television shows is related.
If you have a tiny home in Maine and want to insure it, start comparison shopping today by entering your ZIP code above!
TV Show Explosions and Their Influence
The power that mass media channels like television can have over public opinions can be significant. In some instances, the popularity of a given show can create a self-feeding buzz that can result in an explosion of interest in the subject matter of the program.
This explosion of interest in tiny homes is likely the case with FYI Network’s Tiny House Nation. This show features a duo of tiny house enthusiasts who travel the nation raising awareness about the many options available to people interested in the idea of small home living.
Other networks have also joined the show, including Home and Garden Television. HGTV is fielding no less than three tiny house centered programs, including:
- Tiny House Builders
- Tiny House Hunters
- Tiny House, Big Living
Not to be outdone, the DIY Network now has a tiny living show called Tiny Houses: Living Large in a Small Space.
Together, programs like these have helped to demonstrate just how easy it can be for individuals to create their tiny dream home.
Tiny Homes: The Newest American Dream
While television and other kinds of media have certainly done a splendid job of raising awareness about and encouraging construction of tiny homes, there are many other reasons why individuals around the nation are taking a closer look at this lifestyle option.
For one thing, tiny homes can offer people the freedom and joy of homeownership without saddling them with decades-long mortgage payments. Many tiny home owners actually construct their abodes themselves with free or recycled materials.
Even if a prospective tiny homeowner wishes to use spanking new materials, they still stand to save a bundle on costs that can include:
- Heating
- Cooling
- Water bills
- Cleaning
Plus, tiny homes can be constructed in record time compared to a regular house and can also be easily moved from place to place. People who live in these ingenious structures are therefore given levels of mobility and freedom that conventional homeowners can only dream about.
To top things off, tiny homes have very small environmental footprints, and this is a key consideration in terms of green living and conservation.
All in all, tiny homes have given many people a new and possibly better way to live life more on their own terms.
Insuring Tiny Homes in Maine
Even though tiny houses may be small, they are still homes. As such, individuals who are considering making a move to a tiny house should take into account the need for insurance.
If a tiny home is purchased from a certified manufacturer who builds to a certain standard, insurance coverage can generally be easier to obtain. Tiny home enthusiasts who plan to build their own castles may have to demonstrate the code worthiness of the structure before insurance is granted.
In addition to this, the definition of what is a legal dwelling can change depending on jurisdiction. For this reason, it pays for tiny home builders to stay abreast of housing regulations in their communities and future destinations.
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Tiny House Designers in Maine
For individuals who live in the Portland area, Tiny Houses of Maine is right around the corner. In addition to building tiny homes, this firm provides tiny house shells and Accessory Dwelling Units.
Tiny house shoppers who are located in the Windham area will want to check out the goods at Tiny Homes of Maine. This company offers a variety of styles and designs, including tiny houses on wheels.
For people living in Freeport and surrounding areas, Creative Cottages can provide design, building, and even consulting services about all things tiny.
Residents of Smyrna Mills who are interested in the freedom that tiny homes can provide have a local friend in Sturdi-Bilt Storage. This company specializes in custom-built sheds and storage structures.
Overall, Maine has a number of firms dedicated to building tiny homes, often to the specifications of the future residents.
Located in Wakefield, NH, Tiny Houses Northeast is still happy to serve residents of each and every New England state. Whether clients want a tiny home on wheels or something with a foundation, this firm can fill the order.
Where can I park a tiny home in Maine?
Once a tiny home has been built or purchased, the next order of business will be to find a physical place to put it. Tiny houses on foundations will generally be fixed in location, but tiny homes on wheels can make themselves comfortable just about anywhere.
In a state as large as Maine, it can pay dividends if owners of tiny homes on wheels stay aware of possible parking areas. Since regulations can change from community to community, tiny house owners shouldn’t assume that they can park on just any piece of empty land.
One parking option that is easy and efficient is parking the tiny home on private property. A private property could include the backyard of a friend or family member, or on any piece of private land.
Campsites often fit the bill in this area, and frequently offer amenities such as access to water and electrical power. One such campsite that is amenable to the needs of Tiny House residents is located on private land in North Yarmouth, ME.
This facility provides roomy lots for tiny homes, as well as offering some basic utility and sanitation services. It also serves customers on a short or long-term basis, making it perfect for the freedom-centric tiny house lifestyle.
In addition to this option, recreational vehicle parks are generally equipped to fit the needs of tiny home owners.
To this end, an organization called Tiny House Community administers a website that provides a comprehensive RV park map. Users simply zoom in on the state and region of choice to reveal RV lots and communities that are welcoming to tiny house residents.
Auto Insurance for Tiny Houses on Wheels in Maine
Since tiny homes on wheels are designed to be transported from place to place, it’s important for owners to be aware of the auto insurance laws that cover their abodes.
Like many laws, auto insurance regulations can widely vary from state to state. Because of this, tiny home residents who are planning to move from place to place should stay updated about changes to laws that may apply to them.
In general, if a given tiny home on wheels is 13 feet high or less it is usually legal to transport. Width is another story, with some areas mandating a maximum width of 8 feet and other jurisdictions allowing for wider structures.
This possible restriction on travel is a good reason why prospective tiny house owners should carefully consider the benefits and drawbacks of mobile versus stationary tiny homes before beginning construction.
Perhaps the most attractive feature of tiny houses on wheels is their mobility.
These homes give owners the freedom of living just about anywhere the tiny house can get to. Opting for a tiny home also makes it unnecessary for homeowners also to become land owners, thus providing another degree of freedom.
Building a tiny house on wheels can also allow owners to circumvent local residential regulations. In many areas, dwellings on wheels are simply considered to be towed property.
That being said, in other areas tiny homes are considered to be a form of recreational vehicle.
Because of this, it’s important for owners of tiny homes on wheels to know a little something about the RV insurance laws in the communities that they visit. This knowledge will help them avoid the possible penalties of operating their homes on public roads without proper insurance coverages.
RVs also often require certain kinds of insurance that aren’t available for automobiles. Some examples include:
- Full-Timer Coverage
- Emergency Expenses
- Vacation Liability Coverage
Tiny home dwellers can secure the best deals for themselves by always remembering to comparison shop for insurance.
A good place to start the search for RV insurance in Maine is Tiny House Northeast. Not only does this firm offer a variety of tiny home related services, but they also offer tiny house owners access to lists of insurance companies serving RVs and tiny homes.
Since tiny houses are sometimes classified as manufactured homes, it is necessary for owners to know a little bit about the difference between a manufactured and a modular home.
The main difference is that manufactured homes are constructed to particular Federal standards, while mobile homes are not necessarily held to the same set of specifications.
Comparison Shopping for Tiny House Insurance
One effective way to get companies to provide discounts is to comparison shop. Use the services of a comparison site to view the offerings of many insurance companies at once. Shopping in this way gets the insurance companies to compete in order to win the business of customers.
One other method of reducing overall insurance bills involves a strategy called bundling. You just have to purchase different types of insurance from the same provider. An example could include a tiny house owner buying coverage for:
- Their car
- Valuables
- Their home
All of those would then be bundled into one lower payment.
In addition to the savings offered by bundling itself, some companies go even further and provide additional discounts to customers simply for bundling in the first place. Ultimately, the best way to secure the most desirable insurance deal is to shop around.
Many satisfied owners of tiny homes can attest to the joys that come with the lifestyle. Prospective tiny home owners that make good use of the information in this article will be taking a big step towards joining this group.
If you are looking to get a tiny home in Maine, start comparison shopping today for the best insurance rates. Enter your ZIP code below!