Tiny House Hunters (2014–…): Season 2, Episode 11 - World Traveler Goes Tiny - full transcript

Across the nation,
people are going small--

really small...

These are so cute!

...buying tiny houses,

some just a microscopic
100 square feet.

Whoa.

This is a tiny house.

It looks really small.

This tiny trend
is picking up big steam,

with everything from
converted train cars and barns

to yurts
and microhouses on wheels.



I'd be a gypsy
on the run.

Oh, wow.

Look at it, Adrianne.
Isn't it cute?

- Um, no.
- World traveler Whitney

is looking to pack her life
into a tiny house,

and her globe-trotting friend
Adrianne is along to help.

Dang, is this it?

On wheels, of course.

Doesn't it remind of you
of, like, our dorm rooms?

What if you have
other people, though?

Where's the bed?

Oh, is this it?

I think you need to give it
a chance.

But is there
a transportable tiny house



that Whitney will love and
her best friend will approve of?

Where's the toilet?
- Okay, I spotted it.
- No way.

- You don't like it?
- No.

- Do it!
- All right.

Belay on.

You're doing great, Whitney.

I'm Whitney.

I'm from Maple Valley, Washington,

about 20 miles
outside of Seattle.

Right now, I'm currently
going back to school.

I'm taking lodging management
classes right now.

Yeah.
You're awesome.

Being in the Northwest, I love
to go outside and do things.

I like to go hiking
any time I can.

What a beautiful day out.

I know.
I felt that last mile.

Usually, she's hiking

with her best friend
and travel buddy Adrianne.

Whoop-whoop!

Whoop-whoop!

Isn't there a waterfall
around here somewhere?

The two have traveled
all over the world together.

- Remember throwing up?
- Yep.

8 of 13 hours to Dubai.
That was hell.

This is such
a pretty village.

I loved
living out of a backpack.

Something about the simple life

of just bringing
four or five outfits.

After traveling, I definitely
can appreciate less space.

Right now, at 25, it's not
like a mid-life crisis.

But I'm definitely
getting to the point

where I want to do
something different.

I was a very lucky kid.

I grew up with a lot of space,
my home being 6,000 square feet.

I mean, I'm very thankful for
what my family worked hard for,

But for me, I just really
want a simple life.

So Whitney's looking
to make a radical change.

Currently, I have a two-bedroom,
two-bath apartment.

I don't even use
one of the rooms anymore.

I've slowly been
getting rid of everything.

- How's that?
- It's good.

- Thanks.
- You're welcome.

It's been easy to downsize
a lot of my stuff,

and I'm looking for a tiny house
to call my home.

I think the idea of a tiny house
is a really interesting one.

I think it's just a really
radical change.

I'm really glad
to have Adrianne with me.

She's not afraid to tell me,
"Be realistic."

It's pretty small, though.

I mean, you know
I want it to be small.

Whitney's hoping for something
less than 100 square feet

that she can put on her family's
property in Maple Valley.

Under 100? Okay,
you have to be realistic now.

I'm definitely here
to, you know,

kind of help her see reality.

It's gonna be hard to find one,
I think.

I have $40,000 to $45,000
to spend on a tiny house.

Oh, look at that one.

That's pretty cute.

Yeah, it's pretty nice.

I do like
more of the cabin look.

I love the reclaimed wood,
raw wood.

To give her two cats
extra space,

Whitney's also hoping
for two lofts.

Two lofts is a big thing for me.

I think with the cats,

it kind of almost makes it
like it's three floors.

I mean,
I want a plug-and-play kitchen.

This kitchen
is, like, huge.

Really? You don't want a--
Don't you want an oven?

I don't really want to mess
with propane or gasoline,

so I'm just gonna have a little
toaster and a little Crock-Pot,

and that's all I want.

Look at the wheels
on that one.

Why are you
so set on wheels?

For me,
a tiny house is on wheels.

I want to be able to move it
with me.

I think Whitney
would be better off

with a house on a foundation

just so that she won't
have to worry about

the actual troubles and hassles
of moving it.

I want to travel around.

I don't want to be stuck
in one place.

It's a new beginning.

Not every day
you can buy your own house.

So even though it's tiny,
I like that it's mine.

Helping Whitney go tiny

is local
Seattle real-estate agent

and tiny-house aficionado
Michael Ackerman.

A tiny-house lifestyle
or movement

is just really starting
in Seattle,

and, I think,
kind of nationwide.

But I find that there's a trend.

Rather than going
for square footage,

people are much more
concentrating on the livability,

how a home performs and
functions for their lifestyle.

Today Michael is
showing them a cabin-style home

that's roughly
three times the size

of the average
children's playhouse.

255 square feet.

It's adorable.
It's a cabin.

It's got a porch.
The walk-up is amazing.

It's priced at $57,000.

And I know
that's a little bit above.

But I think
you should see it.

I chose this house for Whitney

even though
it was above her price range

because everything
she had described to me,

not trying to push her on price,

but I wanted her to end up
with a home that she loves.

On wheels, of course.

Wow, look at those wheels.

Double wheel.
That's, like, heavy-duty.

To tow this home,

Whitney would need a truck
with a 3/4-ton towing capacity.

Wow.

So you think you're gonna be
able to move this?

You know,
you're gonna have to then,

every time you move it, like...

This makes me
a little nervous.

This is a lot more
than I was picturing.

It'll be part of the education
- process for you.
- Exactly.

- Oh, wow.
- Huh? Isn't it cute?

This is adorable.

This is 255 square feet.

This is actually really big,
and I'm not-- Yeah.

This is feeling tiny
but livable.

I love it. Wow.

The wheel wells
that you see here,

these little risers,
actually cover the wheels.

So I can't ever... You can't.

...move this in any way.

The plus
is the home is on wheels.

The challenge
is the house is on wheels.

So something
has to cover them,

and this is where
the wheels are.

The wheels wells was kind of
a disappointing thing.

I'm about comfort,
and that takes away

- functionality of my living room.
- Oh, wow.

Beautiful granite countertops.

Oh, I love-- Oh!

I wish it was smaller,

and I wish that it
just took up less space.

Yeah, there's a lot of
counter space, like, wasted.

Maybe you'll learn to cook--
to love to cook more.

Do a 180
right through this door.

Oh, cute door.

I see a toilet.

- Yes.
- Whoa.

What kind of toilet
is that?

This is a composting toilet.
Very popular in Europe.

It looks very serious.

It's just so large
and in charge.

And then shower.

- Oh, wow.
- Oh, wow.

And if my toilet's
so close,

I can just shave my legs
like this, you know?

Like, whatever!
Go with it.

One-stop shop. Exactly.

You have two lofts.

Two choices.

Yes, so you got a loft
up here,

and this side,
you have--

I would say
this is a sleeping loft

'cause it's very large.

- You got me?
- I got it, yeah.

Oh, wow. Whoa.

How's it look?

Really awesome.
Like, check it.

Oh, whoa.

Hey. This is big.

It feels like
it's a whole nother room.

Like, this is awesome.

Two lofts was
a great, great surprise today.

It's kind of like three floors
in a home.

So I could picture me
storing things,

having a little reading area.

A lot of room
to play around with.

It's really cute up here.

I mean, it's definitely a lot
smaller than the other loft.

I just like
that I could have, like,

a loft
for each of my cats.

It's an adorable house.

Just the outside factor alone
is just so "wow."

Yeah, I think the layout.

I think it has
a really great layout.

The double lofts
I think is huge.

Cabin feel.
I love the porch.

- I love the kitchen.
- Yes.

After being in here
for a little while, though,

I'm starting to think
it's actually a little too big.

And I love the wheels, but,
like, the biggest thing is...

- The wheel wells.
- ...the wheel wells.

They take up kind of some of
the usable square footage, yeah.

A pretty significant--

255 square feet
is a lot of a house.

It's over budget.

For over $10,000
over her budget,

it needs to be perfect.

So Michael has found Whitney

a more budget-friendly tiny home
with less space--

a lot less space.

- Oh, wow.
- Look it, Adrianne.

Is this it?

- Hey, Adrianne. Hi.
- Hi.

After living
out of a backpack,

world traveler and Washington
State native Whitney

is ready to ditch
her two-bedroom apartment

and live smaller, a lot smaller.

With the help of her
best friend, Adrianne,

and a budget of $45,000,

she's looking for a mobile,
tiny home all her own

that she can park
on her family's property.

First, they saw
a mobile two-loft cabin

that Whitney loves,

but at $57,000,
it's way over budget.

And even though it's on wheels,
the house weighs 8,000 pounds,

and it'd be difficult
to move herself.

So now, her agent, Michael,

is showing her a more
budget-friendly tiny home.

How big is this one?

Well, this house
that we're gonna be looking at

is 98 square feet.

It is on wheels.
Here it is.

Oh, my gosh.
Oh, that's cute.

- It's beautiful.
- Wow.
Look at the shape.

It's $11,000, which I know
is a little under your budget.

That's awesome.
Could do a lot.

This is reclaimed wood
that the builder used.

Oh, man.
It's beautiful.

I don't think all three of us
will fit in there,

so I'm gonna let
you two...

Sounds great.
Thank you, Michael.

So excited.

Wow.

Oh, wow.

Look at it, Adrianne.

Isn't it cute?

Oh, it's cute.
It's...

Is this it?

Yeah.
Like, how much more do you need?

It's small.

Doesn't it remind you of, like,
our dorm rooms in college?

In college, exactly,
when we were freshmen.

Like, look at--

Oh, I see.
So it's like a--

Yeah, a plug-in.

A plug-and-play kitchen.

Every time you want to cook,
you're gonna plug it in?

I mean, how many burners
do you use?

It's so cute.

You know,
it's a whole nother floor.

Oh, my gosh.
Are we in a different room?

We are.
This would be my living room.

Oh, this is kind of cool.

See?
This could be my closet.

What about your cats?
What are you going to do?

I mean,
you have two of them, so...

They're gonna have to, like,
learn to like each other more.

Not to be a cat lady, but that's
pretty important to me.

Where's the bed?

I don't know.

A nice comforter.

Oh, no way.
You really pull it out?

Oh, man.
It's kind of a workout.

So is it a twin?
Does it go further?

Oh, it's pretty big.

I like this.

I mean, how much more
do I need to sleep?

I have a cup holder here.
I can put a light here.

Yeah.

You may have other people.
It's just kind of--

That's true.

"Oh, excuse me.
Let me walk over you."

All right.
You ready to see the bathroom?

The bathroom.
Oh, that's cool.

It's like a whiskey barrel.

Oh, that's super cute.

I think that's awesome,
with the tile.

Where's the toilet?

Where is the toilet?

Do you think
he uses the barrel?

I don't think you can go
in there.

Okay, I spotted it.
Right there.

See? What?

Yeah, you can roll it out,
muscles. Go.

Okay.

No way.
This is the toilet?

I like it.
- You don't like it?
- Um, no.

You'd actually
go in this?

- It's a chemical toilet.
- What does that mean?

I don't have to worry
about septic.

It's like
a human litter box?

Yeah, exactly. The cats' one
could be next to it.

Ah, I just love the feeling
in this house

and, like,
the smell of the wood so much.

Oh, it's cute,
but it's small.

It's only $11,000.

That's a lot cheaper
than most people's cars.

That's a very good point.

But, I mean, look at
what you're getting for $11,000.

I wish it had, like,
a loft, I guess.

The toilet.

I think you need to give it
a chance.

I think it'd be easier to tow
than the big one.

I know you want to do
the tiny-house thing.

I think you love it
right now,

but to really think
about living in it...

That's true.
That's true.

...if you're gonna be
living in it full time...

What about something
that stays put?

How about a house
that you don't have to worry

about having to move?

What about
an actual tiny house,

like, a small,
normal tiny house?

Michael's found Whitney

something permanent
with more space,

but it might take
a little adjusting to.

I mean,
I feel like I should test it.

Like, one drink, two drinks.

- Which way? Through?
- I'm going through.

After traveling the world

and loving
living out of her backpack,

Whitney now wants
a simpler life.

So she's giving up
her two-bedroom apartment

and searching for a mobile
tiny house she can park

on her family's land
outside of Seattle.

With the help
of her best friend, Adrianne,

they've seen a log cabin
on wheels

that Whitney really likes.

But it's well over
her $45,000 budget.

And at 255 square feet,
it would be difficult to tow.

Then Michael found them

a much smaller rustic
camper-style home on wheels

that was well under budget
at $11,000.

But at just 98 square feet
and with no loft,

it would be a tight squeeze
even for one person.

So today Michael's showing them
a model of a stationary cottage

Whitney could build
with a lot more room.

But at just 140 square feet,

it's about the size
of a children's bouncy house.

So this is more of
a Craftsman-style home.

It is $50,000.

- No wheels
- No wheels.

- Hey.
- But it has a porch.

It does. Yes.

Without wheels,
this house would require

a permanent foundation
on a plot of land.

This house is adorable.
I love the color.

I love the front porch.

The Craftsman style
is beautiful.

I like the doors.

- Oh, wow.
- Oh, wow.

Isn't it cute?

- This is really cute.
- Yeah.

I mean,
it feels really spacious,

really big in here.

Get lots of natural light.

- Yeah.
- It is true.

I mean, I would have to pick
one place to put my house

to enjoy all those features,
without wheels.

This is my kitchen?

That's the whole kitchen.
Don't get lost.

The cleaning
will take me hours.

This is a great
little nook, Whit.

I wanted a plug-and-play
kitchen, so definitely.

It's small, but, I mean,
what more do you need?

- Maybe a little mini-fridge.
- Oh, yeah.

Underneath the stairs.

- Oh, that's a good idea.
- Yeah.

Look at all this usable space
you have to add--

You know, you can put, like,
a little couch, a little table.

I thought, the details
in the home,

someone spent a lot of time.

I really liked the French doors.

How big is the loft?
What size of bed?

It is a little bit limited
in space.

Oh, wow.
It's, uh, pretty small.

How's it look, Whit?

It's pretty tiny up here.
Come check it out.

I mean, you and me
could fit up here, but...

This is really small.
This is tight.

I think the cats
would love this.

Definitely, I would say,
a downfall of the house.

I mean, for a weekend,
I think it would work,

but for every day?

I mean, I feel like
I should test it,

like, one drink,
two drinks.

You guys haven't seen
the bathroom yet?

- Down the hall?
- Down the hall. Yes.

I got it.
Right in here.

Oh, a toilet, Whit.
Look at that.

Something you don't
have to roll out and...

It's true.

It's a nice
full-size shower.

Yeah, yeah.

I mean, definitely,
privacy is one concern.

It's be a nice view.

A loo with a view.
Like in Africa, remember?

Oh, yeah.
That's a good point.

Well, there is a little bit
more storage

that we haven't
talked about yet.

- Thank you.
- Thank you.

You're welcome.

They added this
- onto the back.
- Ta-da!

- Oh, wow!
- Isn't that great?

- Oh, whoa.
- That is a lot of storage.

Yeah.

Oh, it's like a whole
nother place in here.

What is that?

If you pull hard, yeah.

Oh, my gosh.

It's a bar.

Yeah, I was gonna say.
"It's a dry bar!"

There's actually
almost a second loft up here.

It's a second loft.

You could do seasonal clothes.
You could do suitcases.

Why does this loft look bigger
than the one inside?

This is, like, a huge bonus.

This kind of makes me scared,
in a way,

what I'm trying
to go away from

by, like,
so much storage.

I don't really want to open up
an area for me

just to store things I'm not
gonna ever look at or use.

That's a good point.

You'll have to use
self-control.

But it's nice
to have it here.

It's a lot
to wrap my head around.

Because I definitely--

I was so against
having a house without wheels.

I would need to get
- a foundation.
- Yeah.

See, aren't you
glad you looked at one here?

You have shown me a lot
of things I never considered.

Gosh, this bar now!

With three distinctly
different ways to go tiny,

it's time for Whitney
to make a decision.

- Like, excited but stressed.
- Yeah.

Our house hunters
are upgrading to tiny houses.

Could you live in something
this small?

You know,
you can't keep looking

at tiny houses forever.

Seattle native Whitney
is saying goodbye

to her oversized
two-bedroom apartment

and hello to tiny living.

After seeing several places
with her best friend, Adrianne,

and with a budget of $45,000,

it's time to decide which
tiny home is right for her.

Like, excited
but stressed.

Yeah.
Oh, understandably so.

They saw a 255-square-foot cabin
on wheels for $57,000.

It was really cute.

The cabin with the two lofts
and the porch,

functionality-wise,
that's everything I need--

I think I need, long run.

Oh, the layout was great.

That was a great size
to live in.

Yeah.

To move? Do you see me driving
down the road in that?

Will you be able to move it
and have a vehicle to move it?

$57,000.

My budget is serious,
but at the same time, I'm lucky.

Like, my house is less
than a lot of people's cars.

Yeah. That's true.
That's a really good point.

Then they saw a 98-square-foot
microhouse priced at $11,000.

That house is incredible
'cause it's under budget.

I mean,
literally $30,000 under budget.

98 square feet sounds really
easy and manageable to move.

The placement, for me,
of the bed,

I don't think
it's quite as functional

between guests
and having animals, you know?

They also saw a 140-square-foot

stationary
Craftsman cottage model

that she could build
and place anywhere for $50,000.

How awesome was that?

The one with all the storage
in the back?

Yeah.

That one was
slightly over budget.

Yeah.
Like, it was really cute.

I really like the--

And the color of it
was so sweet,

and I loved
the little kitchen.

It was something
worth considering.

It just comes down
to what you want

and what works best
for you.

Take one out of the equation
and narrow it down to two.

The Craftsman style
is so adorable,

but I really do not see
me and the kittens

living happily ever after
in the Craftsman style.

Okay.

So then, between the two
ones with the wheels...

I'm literally looking at a home
that's either $11,000

or a home that's $57,000.

I think what I love about
tiny houses is the adventure.

It reminds me of camping,

us being out in, like,
the Serengeti,

but I can't do that
every day.

I need a little bit bigger
of a house, I think.

And I felt,
coming home to the cabin,

the 255 square foot,
felt like a home.

- Yeah, you made a decision?
- Yeah.

- Yeah?
- Yeah.

I'm gonna be a little bit
more in debt, $57,000,

but I'm getting
my tiny house of my dreams.

Yay! Congratulations!

- Double high five.
- Yay!

Looks good.

The house is so pretty.

You can go ahead
and unhitch it here.

It looks awesome.

I've only been
in my home for 4 days now.

I have decided to park my home
at my family's property.

I actually really love it.

I go sit out there,
listen to the birds chirp,

hang out, look over the pond.

I feel like
I'm on a whole nother world

when I'm in my tiny home.

How about we trade?

I'll look back there,

and I think we'll find
the perfect spot.

To finally be living tiny
is my dream come true.

My kitchen's almost complete.
It's amazing.

I can cook
almost anything on this.

Very excited.

The price of my home
was $57,000.

After moving and the towing,
it was $59,000.

I think that every dollar I went
over budget was necessary.

I love it.
I feel like it's perfect.

I didn't settle.

I'm glad I went with this loft

because I have
some good headroom.

I just love the classy feel
when you walk in.

I feel very rustic
and in my cabin.

This bench thing
works pretty well for us.

Yeah, it really does.

The wheel wells, for me,
it was the biggest concern.

I was worried
about the functionality.

Fortunately, I love
to sit on the floor already,

and it's kind of
a nice little shelf.

I joke it's custom-done.

It's very homey.

All her little personal touches,

the way she's decorated it,
it's awesome.

All the way up.
Come on, Blue.

- Good boy.
- Good boy.

Tiny living every day takes me
back to living in a backpack

but not the inconveniences,
so it works great for me.

Come here, baby.

My future, I'm excited for.

Now that I have my tiny home,
anything's possible.