Tiny House Hunters (2014–…): Season 2, Episode 13 - After Setbacks, a Florida Family Goes Tiny to Regain Their Financial Freedom - full transcript
A Florida family seeks a hurricane-proof tiny home in the hopes of climbing out of debt.
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.
Oh, so adorable!
Adam, Jennipher Leigh, and their
two kids are downsizing
to stay afloat in Florida's
pricy real estate market.
Holy cow.
That is too cool.
So if you add some pontoons,
you have a houseboat.
Oh, this is a place
we could party up here.
Where's the kitchen sink?
Oh, okay.
What about a closet?
The tiny home also has to
withstand Florida's weather.
This is hurricane resistant.
This thing
really moves a lot.
He can shake the house
all he wants.
He's not gonna shake
the cuteness out.
It's pocket-sized.
This is really good. It's
melting really quick, though.
Name's Jennipher Leigh.
I'm 29.
I'm a server
for a local Mexican restaurant.
I'm Adam. I'm 31.
I'm in general construction.
We live here in Cocoa, Florida.
It's in central Florida,
just outside of the beach
and close enough to Orlando
to go visit some of the
amusement parks with the kids.
With their two kids,
Zachary and Violet,
they currently own
a 1,050-square-foot home.
But like many Americans,
a struggling economy has brought
about some challenges.
Unfortunately, we had
a couple circumstances in life
sneak up on us.
We both were working
at the same company
and had lost our positions
in July of 2013.
With their change in jobs,
their four-bedroom house
has become too much.
Here. Oh, that's neat,
with a nice loft bed.
That's sort of like Zach's.
I ended up hopping online,
doing some research,
and came across
the tiny house community.
If we consolidate and we go
to a smaller residence,
it's gonna eliminate
a lot of the bills.
It's gonna eliminate
a lot of the debt
to where
it's more sustainable.
Big step, big throw.
There you go.
The tiny house enables us
to have more freedom
and be able to depend more
on ourselves.
Violet, watch out, baby.
Getting it across to the kids
is gonna be interesting.
I think Violet's young enough
that she's not really gonna
notice the difference,
and I think Zachary,
who's 7--
I'm hoping, you know, he's gonna
make an easy transition into it.
Plus, it's a good moral lesson
for the kids
to know that they don't need
a whole bunch of big space
and fancy things.
When you look around
at the end of the day,
you realize it's not
the materials that you own.
It's, you know,
the quality of your life.
- Now that is neat. I like that.
- That's cool.
And you can tell
this is on a trailer,
so they obviously
move this thing around.
In Florida, unpredictable
weather is the norm,
so they're looking
for a mobile tiny home
that they can easily
move out of the path
of a possible hurricane.
I went through Hurricane Andrew
back in '92,
and I had completely lost everything.
I was living in a trailer with
my family, and we had evacuated,
but when we came back,
everything was gone.
I don't want
my 7- and my 3-year-old
to have to experience that.
We don't want to be locked in,
land-locked.
Wood frame down here
doesn't work. Ooh, that's cool.
Something like this
would be stronger,
you know,
when we ever had to lock it up.
I certainly want something
that's gonna be safe and secure.
I want something
I can still lock up
and not just a flimsy
stick frame-type shed
that's gonna blow over the first
second a storm comes through.
- Oh, man.
- Look at that.
Tiny house to me is anything
under about 250 square foot.
Right now, we've got
a working budget of $30,000.
See, now, that's neat. That
opens up on one end completely.
That is too cool. The style
I'm looking for in a tiny home
is something industrial
or utilitarian.
I like that. The little porch
with the open area
makes it look more open
for the kids.
I'm basically looking for, like,
a country, rustic, chic look,
something warm, lived in, with
a little bit of character.
I really like the idea
of a full bathroom,
a shower, working toilet,
a sink.
And I just-- I want it to have
a little bit of personality.
I want it to be different.
Got the house on the market,
and until that pans out,
we're probably gonna
put the tiny house
here on location
in the backyard.
Eventually, we'll want to get
a piece of land.
It's something that's a major
transition in life for us.
But I believe we can make a very
positive effect come out of it,
being able to get ourselves
back on our feet
and be more independent
and still be able to make it.
Helping them
with their tiny game plan
is real-estate agent and local
tiny house expert Tim Currie.
We do have a small
tiny home community
that's starting to grow.
And we're hoping
to make it larger.
Today, he's showing Adam and
Jennipher Leigh a tiny cottage
that's less than 1/4 of the size
of their current home.
Look how cute!
- It is cute.
- It's so tiny.
It's like a quaint, little
country cottage
with the wood siding and
the metal roof. It's adorable.
If you were to look up cute
in the dictionary,
this house is it.
It's like
a tiny, little dollhouse.
I love it.
Tiny home with wheels.
It's definitely giving me
the country, rustic vibe
that I'm going for.
Got some questions
about the wood siding,
if it's gonna be strong enough
if we were to be hit by a storm.
Well, the good thing
about this is you can hook it
right up to your truck,
and you can outrun the storm.
I love the solar panel on this.
This is cool.
So, how big?
It's 144 square feet.
It's pocket-sized.
It's $26,000,
so it's under your budget.
Oh, look at those mason jar
lights and that red door!
It's so adorable.
I got to see inside.
Oh, wow.
Oh, I like the space up there
with the vaulted ceiling.
Got some cute, little areas here
for storage.
I'm really loving
all this counter space in here.
I'm really digging that.
Is that the loft up there?
That's the loft, yep.
Where are we gonna
put the kids?
Well, the good thing
about this,
this chair doesn't come
with the tiny home.
Move it right out of the way,
you could put
a bunk system here,
possibly that converts
into some type of sofa.
Okay.
I'm really loving the wood.
It's giving me
that country, rustic feel.
Yeah, I just-- I don't see
a lot of the industrial look
that I was kind of after
in the accents inside.
Peek in the bathroom here.
Oh, babe, this is a neat basin.
Oh, wow. Look at that.
That's definitely country here.
- Yeah, I like that.
- Yeah, and it
gives you a little privacy.
Throw some grapes in there,
you can make some wine.
What is this, Tim?
Looks like a composting toilet.
It actually is, yep.
It's designed
for a tiny home like this.
Okay. Yeah, I really like the
cabinet space we got in here.
Two burner gas over here.
What we have in here
is a mini-fridge. Awesome.
I'm gonna go
check out the loft.
Go ahead.
Watch your step.
Oh, look at that.
It's low. No standing.
Do you really think
there's enough room up there
for both of us
to get comfortable?
I mean, it's definitely
a little cramped up here, and
once you get a mattress, it's
gonna be a little higher, too.
- There's no closet.
- Yeah, is there any storage?
There isn't any storage.
But you've got some room
in your budget where you could
build something.
We'd really have to
find a little spot, then,
to make some adjustments
to get it all to fit.
I mean, it's very narrow,
and it's definitely
a little bit of a haul
to get up and down.
It's adorable.
I'm really, really loving
the wood siding
and the mason jar lights
and the red door.
It's definitely speaking
country rustic to me.
It doesn't really
have a lot
of the, you know, industrial
structure that I'm looking for.
Not having a closet is
a little concerning, you know,
in that space, it would be
something we'd have to modify.
I really do like that it's
on a trailer for mobility.
When you were coming
down the stairs,
this thing really
moves a lot.
This doesn't really
feel like it's gonna be
that sturdy of a structure
for us.
He can shake the house
all he wants.
He's not gonna shake
the cuteness out.
Yeah, but you can hook it up
to the back of the truck
and take it out
during a storm.
I just really don't
anticipate travel
when we've got something bearing
down on us like a bad hurricane.
So Tim has found them
a more sturdy tiny home
with an industrial feel.
- Wow, look at this thing.
- What is it?
Tim has completely
lost his mind.
It's a green box.
Oh, I love that view.
Cocoa, Florida, residents
Adam and Jennipher Leigh
are in the market
for a tiny house
that's a fit
for their young family of four
and that will also keep them
safe during a hurricane.
They saw a cottage-style
tiny home on wheels
that Jennipher Leigh adored
and was well within
their $30,000 budget,
but it lacks
industrial details for Adam
and, while mobile,
might not fare well in a storm.
So today, their agent, Tim,
is showing them an all-metal
storage container home.
Wow, look at this thing.
- What is it?
- It's a green box.
Storage units
are built really rugged.
Basically, they're shipped
across the ocean,
so they take
a lot of bumps and bruises,
and they make a great home.
They're just built to last.
Tim has completely
lost his mind.
This is not anything
of what I wanted.
Definitely got my attention.
Wait till you have
a look inside.
This is more than just your
average storage container.
Oh, wow.
Look at that.
Little hidden entrance.
I love that big glass window.
If you could
step around front...
Okay.
Oh, what?
What is that?
That is too cool.
- That's unbelievable.
- That opens up some space.
- Dude, that is awesome.
- I love the wood siding.
It's kind of giving it that
country chic I was looking for.
And I bet this thing'll
take a hit in a storm.
We don't have to worry
about anything there.
Yeah, this is tough.
It weighs about 7,000 pounds,
so you don't have to worry
about it picking up
and blowing away on you.
So how much?
$28,000.
Wow, that's in budget.
How big is it?
It's 160 square feet.
All right.
Oh, wow.
Look at all the wood.
Oh, that is neat.
Yeah, and everything in here
is custom-made.
Like, hand-stained.
That is really cool.
You've got storage
behind there,
plenty of storage
to keep all your belongings.
Okay.
I really love this wood.
I love the stain on it
and the roughened edges.
It really gives it
a cozy look.
This is definitely more than
just a shipping container.
To see it opened up
and to see that it has
some of the country
rustic qualities
that I was looking for
is definitely a surprise to me.
But it's so big. It takes up
so much of the space.
Couldn't we utilize more space
under there, like a--
Yeah, maybe a bench seat
would've been better,
something we can
actually fold out
that's temporary for sleeping.
It's a loft bed,
and it's kind of neat
that it'll transition easy for
Zach since he's already got one.
Yeah, but where
are we gonna sleep?
For you guys,
you got this pull-out bed
right here
that you can sleep on.
- That's cool.
- And it tucks away conveniently.
Also, you've got a desk here
that you can use as a desk.
You can use it to eat.
Great thing--
It slides right back away
where you won't see it.
- It's out of the way.
- But this thing's so big,
it blocks off all this
natural light right here.
The light switches back here
are kind of covered.
You can't just walk in
and turn on the lights.
Whatcha think about the kitchen?
I mean, it's kind of small,
but it's got all these drawers.
Pretty neat thing about that is
it's made from reclaimed fence.
It's got this nice, little
cabinet to put pots and pans.
Where's the kitchen sink?
Well, the kitchen sink
- is actually in the bathroom.
- Okay.
I'm not too sure
about a porcelain bowl
being something I would
wash dishes in, though.
Well, keep in mind that
this one is under your budget,
so you have some money that
you can change that out with.
Okay. I do like
the sliding door, though.
If you slide it this way, you've
got privacy for your shower.
If you slide it this way, you've
got privacy for your bath.
Yeah, but is a sliding door
really gonna give you
secure privacy
in the shower?
I'm a mom of two. I don't really
get privacy anyway.
I really love
this wood in here.
And this is reclaimed
from a pallet.
This is kind of that woods,
earthy feel in here,
where you got the metal
industrial and security
that I was after
on the outside.
The great thing about this
is it expands your inside
living space out.
It's gonna be a place
- we can hang out a lot.
- Definitely.
It still feels
really industrial to me.
The kitchen area
is kind of small.
And once you put in a fridge,
I mean, that makes it
even smaller.
And then the kitchen sink--
It's in the bathroom.
Yeah, but like Tim said,
we might have a little money.
If it fits our budget,
we can arrange that sink.
What's it gonna take
to move this thing?
I mean, you said
it was 7,000 pounds.
Yeah, you would have to hire
a crane to get it moved for you.
That's kind of a bit much.
Well, I mean, are we really
gonna be moving around?
Besides, I mean,
I love the structure on this.
This thing's gonna be nice,
you know,
for protection in a hurricane
if it were to come.
Okay, but with the hurricanes,
when this thing's all closed up,
I mean, it's made of metal.
You get all four of us in there,
it's gonna be kind of cramped,
and it's gonna be loud.
I would kind of like something
a little more mobile.
I mean, that's a big deal.
So Tim has found them a house
that can ride out a storm
and be more easily moved.
It's listed at $34,000.
Ooh. Oh, wow.
That's a little
- outside the budget.
- A little more than our budget.
Adam, Jennipher Leigh,
and their two young kids
are selling their
1,050-square-foot house
to get out of debt and into
a more affordable tiny home.
With a budget of $30,000,
they're looking for something
that's both mobile
and that can withstand the punch
of a Florida hurricane.
They've seen
a cottage-style cabin
that Jennipher Leigh loves,
but while mobile,
it isn't sturdy
or storm-resistant
enough for Adam.
They also saw
an extremely durable
industrial shipping container
that Adam likes,
but it would require
a costly crane to move it,
and the floor plan isn't as open
as Jennipher Leigh wants.
Their agent, Tim,
is now showing them
a tiny home designed for both
mobility and extreme weather,
but at 306 square feet,
it's still smaller
than the average two-car garage.
You know, with this home
being 306 square feet,
I thought it would give them
a little elbow room
for their family.
It certainly is blue.
It's definitely
screaming Key West at me.
Well, keep in mind that paint
color can be easily changed.
I like the wood deck on it.
Is that a metal roof?
That roof is made out of
the same material as the sides.
It's called PIP.
It's insulated paneling.
So it's pretty sturdy then?
The great thing about this
is it's hurricane-resistant.
- Okay.
- And it's fireproof, as well.
Ooh, I like that.
Yeah, they use this in
industrial freezer applications.
- And I see it's on a trailer.
- Yep. So it can be towed.
You're gonna need a permit
to tow it,
'cause it is a little wider.
But the other great thingOkay.
Is this is built to be either
used on land or on the water.
So if you add some pontoons,
- you'll have a houseboat.
- Oh, interesting.
Oh, that's a neat option.
How big is it?
It's 306 square feet.
Okay.
It's listed at $34,000.
Ooh. Oh, wow.
That's a little outside
- of budget.
- A little more than our budget.
Yep. Once you guys
get inside,
you'll see where that extra
money comes into play.
Oh, I definitely like
this wood deck, though.
That's really nice.
Yeah, gives a little more space
out here.
And this big sliding window.
Yeah, and this is impact
resistant, as well.
Now this is what
- I'm talking about.
- Oh, wow.
- Look at this space.
- I like the metal.
This really has that industrial
utilitarian look on the inside.
And look at the kitchen, babe.
You got lots of space in here.
I don't know if I'm too keen
on the fact
that there's no cabinet doors,
though, and the carpet.
But a full-size refrigerator
in a tiny house--
That's kind of exciting.
I am really liking
all these wood touches, though,
around the windows,
all that on the borders.
It really does add
that little bit of country
that I'm looking for.
Oh, wow.
Oh, nice.
Got a little basin sink.
I do like the full
stand-up shower. It's nice.
And think of all the space
that you have in here.
Yeah.
Now this is what
I'm talking about.
A king-size bed?
That's awesome.
Yeah, and check out the storage.
We got tons of space in here.
This kind of gives us
that privacy with the kids
- if we can get them out there.
- That would be pretty awesome.
What do we have over here?
Is this another closet?
This goes
to your outside deck.
- What?
- A deck? Another one?
Oh, wow. Stairs.
Yeah.
It takes up the whole house.
Oh, this is a place
we could party, up here.
Just add some railings,
and we're good to go.
- Oh, yeah.
- Awesome.
I love the industrial look.
You know, the fact that it's got
the raw metal exposed
with all the screws
and hardware visible,
that really stands out
to my style well.
I do like the idea
that we could have some privacy
with our own bedroom.
Yeah, putting the kids here
would be great.
And keep in mind, too,
later on down the road,
you could always turn this
into a boathouse.
That's a neat option.
Yeah.
It's definitely mobile.
I'm not too thrilled about
the fact that it's over-budget.
I kind of agree. Something
that's gonna be over budget
really has to be, you know,
absolutely perfect to walk into,
'cause we're not gonna have
any more discretionary spending
to make immediate changes for.
With three distinctly
different ways to go tiny,
they've got a big decision
to make.
This is tough.
Our house hunters are moving on
up to a much smaller space.
Could you live in a tiny house?
See how people
make the small space work
- Oh.
- 8 years ago.
Yeah.
Hoping to achieve
financial stability,
Adam, Jennipher Leigh,
and their two kids
have decided to downsize.
After seeing three vastly
different tiny options
and with a budget of $30,000,
it's time for them to pick their
new, smaller home, sweet home.
What do you think about
that little country cabin
that's 144 square foot?
- That is so adorable.
- But is it practical?
It's the smallest one
out of the three we looked at.
But it's adorable.
And it's under budget
at $26,000.
It is, but
that loft space was--
While it could work,
it was really small.
Yeah, but the size of that
kitchen, I mean,
that kitchen had
a lot of storage
and a lot of counter space.
Still don't like the fact that
how wobbly that thing is.
We have to hook it up
to a trailer.
I'm not really sure that
getting out of town
when a hurricane's bearing down
on us is gonna be a fun thing.
Yeah, but it's not gonna need
a permit in order to move,
and it's not gonna need
a crane.
What about that shipping
container at $28,000?
That one came under budget.
Opening that thing up and seeing
what was all packaged inside,
I really liked it.
The fact that it's that sturdy,
those things are designed to be,
you know, at sea in storms.
It's really gonna be safe
for us.
I'm not too, you know, thrilled
about the fact
that that loft area takes up
almost that entire living space,
and it really blocks off
that big main window
and blocks off
a lot of the natural light.
I'm not too thrilled
about the fact
that it's gonna take a crane
in order to move it, though.
It's mobile if we need it.
Now what do you think
about the big blue houseboat?
It was over budget.
$34,000, you know?
I really like the idea
of the deck on top, though.
I'm not too sure if that's
what's gonna make it worthwhile
to go that far over budget
for us.
Being over budget, yeah,
but the fact that we have
all that privacy,
that's definitely something
to think about.
Love the hardware
and that industrial look inside.
And I like the fact
that it's definitely mobile.
I mean, it's on the trailer.
Yeah, you need a permit, but we
could turn it into a houseboat.
This is tough.
All three of them
have their pros and cons.
Yeah, but there is one
that kind of stands out to me
a little bit more
than the others.
That's the
shipping container home.
You know, it definitely has
a good balance
of, you know,
what we both want.
I mean, it's under budget.
We can make
those simple changes.
There's not a lot
that we have to do.
I think we can
make it work, though.
I can't believe
I'm about to say this, but...
I'm gonna be living
in a big, green box.
While moving the shipping
container here to the backyard,
we had to have a crane
come and deliver it,
and it was a pretty
interesting experience.
I had a lot of neighbors
coming out
to try to see what was going on,
as they hadn't seen a tiny home
like this before.
Here you go, honey.
It's been about 2, 3 weeks
since we moved in.
Definitely
a transition period,
getting used to
the smaller space
and everything with the kids.
But overall, the experience
has been wonderful.
Right now, we have
our shipping container home
parked in our current backyard.
Since the house
is on the market,
we have completely shut off
the main house,
and we are living in
the tiny home to get used to it.
You got them
- about ready, babe?
- Yeah.
Come get in your seats.
Mama's got mac and cheese.
Final purchase price
was $28,000.
With this under our
budget, it was great for us
to save a little money and
get everything that we needed.
Is it good?
Oh, don't spill.
With the extra money
left over from the budget,
we put in a mini-fridge.
We added a shower curtain
so Adam would feel a little more
privacy in the shower.
We also changed out
the sink in the bathroom
to a standard
stainless wash sink.
- You gonna wash dishes?
- Yeah. I will have that.
Definitely had to
make a couple compromises.
I had to compromise
on the mobility, obviously,
with this thing taking a crane
in order to move it.
It's not very mobile.
No, it is mobile
without being mobile.
But as far as, like,
the country chic,
I got that on the inside
with the wood.
I got the security
and the safety
should we have to
go through a hurricane.
It is definitely
a little difficult
to get used to
sharing a space with the kids
'cause we're used to
having our own private bedroom
and their having
their own beds.
Zach and Violet, I think,
love the tiny house.
They love being able
to kind of use it
as their own,
little play fort.
Where's your other flip flop?
This whole experience
has been fun and exciting.
With an open mind,
it's just an easy transition.
You just have to adapt.
Making some chicken, babe.
The whole tiny house has
definitely given us hope.
It's relieved
a whole lot of stress.
- How about this one?
- We sleep better at night.
We're happier.
We're laughing more.
The kids are laughing more.
You know, it's not
the material and the money,
it's the family and the heart
that matters
at the end of the day.
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.
Oh, so adorable!
Adam, Jennipher Leigh, and their
two kids are downsizing
to stay afloat in Florida's
pricy real estate market.
Holy cow.
That is too cool.
So if you add some pontoons,
you have a houseboat.
Oh, this is a place
we could party up here.
Where's the kitchen sink?
Oh, okay.
What about a closet?
The tiny home also has to
withstand Florida's weather.
This is hurricane resistant.
This thing
really moves a lot.
He can shake the house
all he wants.
He's not gonna shake
the cuteness out.
It's pocket-sized.
This is really good. It's
melting really quick, though.
Name's Jennipher Leigh.
I'm 29.
I'm a server
for a local Mexican restaurant.
I'm Adam. I'm 31.
I'm in general construction.
We live here in Cocoa, Florida.
It's in central Florida,
just outside of the beach
and close enough to Orlando
to go visit some of the
amusement parks with the kids.
With their two kids,
Zachary and Violet,
they currently own
a 1,050-square-foot home.
But like many Americans,
a struggling economy has brought
about some challenges.
Unfortunately, we had
a couple circumstances in life
sneak up on us.
We both were working
at the same company
and had lost our positions
in July of 2013.
With their change in jobs,
their four-bedroom house
has become too much.
Here. Oh, that's neat,
with a nice loft bed.
That's sort of like Zach's.
I ended up hopping online,
doing some research,
and came across
the tiny house community.
If we consolidate and we go
to a smaller residence,
it's gonna eliminate
a lot of the bills.
It's gonna eliminate
a lot of the debt
to where
it's more sustainable.
Big step, big throw.
There you go.
The tiny house enables us
to have more freedom
and be able to depend more
on ourselves.
Violet, watch out, baby.
Getting it across to the kids
is gonna be interesting.
I think Violet's young enough
that she's not really gonna
notice the difference,
and I think Zachary,
who's 7--
I'm hoping, you know, he's gonna
make an easy transition into it.
Plus, it's a good moral lesson
for the kids
to know that they don't need
a whole bunch of big space
and fancy things.
When you look around
at the end of the day,
you realize it's not
the materials that you own.
It's, you know,
the quality of your life.
- Now that is neat. I like that.
- That's cool.
And you can tell
this is on a trailer,
so they obviously
move this thing around.
In Florida, unpredictable
weather is the norm,
so they're looking
for a mobile tiny home
that they can easily
move out of the path
of a possible hurricane.
I went through Hurricane Andrew
back in '92,
and I had completely lost everything.
I was living in a trailer with
my family, and we had evacuated,
but when we came back,
everything was gone.
I don't want
my 7- and my 3-year-old
to have to experience that.
We don't want to be locked in,
land-locked.
Wood frame down here
doesn't work. Ooh, that's cool.
Something like this
would be stronger,
you know,
when we ever had to lock it up.
I certainly want something
that's gonna be safe and secure.
I want something
I can still lock up
and not just a flimsy
stick frame-type shed
that's gonna blow over the first
second a storm comes through.
- Oh, man.
- Look at that.
Tiny house to me is anything
under about 250 square foot.
Right now, we've got
a working budget of $30,000.
See, now, that's neat. That
opens up on one end completely.
That is too cool. The style
I'm looking for in a tiny home
is something industrial
or utilitarian.
I like that. The little porch
with the open area
makes it look more open
for the kids.
I'm basically looking for, like,
a country, rustic, chic look,
something warm, lived in, with
a little bit of character.
I really like the idea
of a full bathroom,
a shower, working toilet,
a sink.
And I just-- I want it to have
a little bit of personality.
I want it to be different.
Got the house on the market,
and until that pans out,
we're probably gonna
put the tiny house
here on location
in the backyard.
Eventually, we'll want to get
a piece of land.
It's something that's a major
transition in life for us.
But I believe we can make a very
positive effect come out of it,
being able to get ourselves
back on our feet
and be more independent
and still be able to make it.
Helping them
with their tiny game plan
is real-estate agent and local
tiny house expert Tim Currie.
We do have a small
tiny home community
that's starting to grow.
And we're hoping
to make it larger.
Today, he's showing Adam and
Jennipher Leigh a tiny cottage
that's less than 1/4 of the size
of their current home.
Look how cute!
- It is cute.
- It's so tiny.
It's like a quaint, little
country cottage
with the wood siding and
the metal roof. It's adorable.
If you were to look up cute
in the dictionary,
this house is it.
It's like
a tiny, little dollhouse.
I love it.
Tiny home with wheels.
It's definitely giving me
the country, rustic vibe
that I'm going for.
Got some questions
about the wood siding,
if it's gonna be strong enough
if we were to be hit by a storm.
Well, the good thing
about this is you can hook it
right up to your truck,
and you can outrun the storm.
I love the solar panel on this.
This is cool.
So, how big?
It's 144 square feet.
It's pocket-sized.
It's $26,000,
so it's under your budget.
Oh, look at those mason jar
lights and that red door!
It's so adorable.
I got to see inside.
Oh, wow.
Oh, I like the space up there
with the vaulted ceiling.
Got some cute, little areas here
for storage.
I'm really loving
all this counter space in here.
I'm really digging that.
Is that the loft up there?
That's the loft, yep.
Where are we gonna
put the kids?
Well, the good thing
about this,
this chair doesn't come
with the tiny home.
Move it right out of the way,
you could put
a bunk system here,
possibly that converts
into some type of sofa.
Okay.
I'm really loving the wood.
It's giving me
that country, rustic feel.
Yeah, I just-- I don't see
a lot of the industrial look
that I was kind of after
in the accents inside.
Peek in the bathroom here.
Oh, babe, this is a neat basin.
Oh, wow. Look at that.
That's definitely country here.
- Yeah, I like that.
- Yeah, and it
gives you a little privacy.
Throw some grapes in there,
you can make some wine.
What is this, Tim?
Looks like a composting toilet.
It actually is, yep.
It's designed
for a tiny home like this.
Okay. Yeah, I really like the
cabinet space we got in here.
Two burner gas over here.
What we have in here
is a mini-fridge. Awesome.
I'm gonna go
check out the loft.
Go ahead.
Watch your step.
Oh, look at that.
It's low. No standing.
Do you really think
there's enough room up there
for both of us
to get comfortable?
I mean, it's definitely
a little cramped up here, and
once you get a mattress, it's
gonna be a little higher, too.
- There's no closet.
- Yeah, is there any storage?
There isn't any storage.
But you've got some room
in your budget where you could
build something.
We'd really have to
find a little spot, then,
to make some adjustments
to get it all to fit.
I mean, it's very narrow,
and it's definitely
a little bit of a haul
to get up and down.
It's adorable.
I'm really, really loving
the wood siding
and the mason jar lights
and the red door.
It's definitely speaking
country rustic to me.
It doesn't really
have a lot
of the, you know, industrial
structure that I'm looking for.
Not having a closet is
a little concerning, you know,
in that space, it would be
something we'd have to modify.
I really do like that it's
on a trailer for mobility.
When you were coming
down the stairs,
this thing really
moves a lot.
This doesn't really
feel like it's gonna be
that sturdy of a structure
for us.
He can shake the house
all he wants.
He's not gonna shake
the cuteness out.
Yeah, but you can hook it up
to the back of the truck
and take it out
during a storm.
I just really don't
anticipate travel
when we've got something bearing
down on us like a bad hurricane.
So Tim has found them
a more sturdy tiny home
with an industrial feel.
- Wow, look at this thing.
- What is it?
Tim has completely
lost his mind.
It's a green box.
Oh, I love that view.
Cocoa, Florida, residents
Adam and Jennipher Leigh
are in the market
for a tiny house
that's a fit
for their young family of four
and that will also keep them
safe during a hurricane.
They saw a cottage-style
tiny home on wheels
that Jennipher Leigh adored
and was well within
their $30,000 budget,
but it lacks
industrial details for Adam
and, while mobile,
might not fare well in a storm.
So today, their agent, Tim,
is showing them an all-metal
storage container home.
Wow, look at this thing.
- What is it?
- It's a green box.
Storage units
are built really rugged.
Basically, they're shipped
across the ocean,
so they take
a lot of bumps and bruises,
and they make a great home.
They're just built to last.
Tim has completely
lost his mind.
This is not anything
of what I wanted.
Definitely got my attention.
Wait till you have
a look inside.
This is more than just your
average storage container.
Oh, wow.
Look at that.
Little hidden entrance.
I love that big glass window.
If you could
step around front...
Okay.
Oh, what?
What is that?
That is too cool.
- That's unbelievable.
- That opens up some space.
- Dude, that is awesome.
- I love the wood siding.
It's kind of giving it that
country chic I was looking for.
And I bet this thing'll
take a hit in a storm.
We don't have to worry
about anything there.
Yeah, this is tough.
It weighs about 7,000 pounds,
so you don't have to worry
about it picking up
and blowing away on you.
So how much?
$28,000.
Wow, that's in budget.
How big is it?
It's 160 square feet.
All right.
Oh, wow.
Look at all the wood.
Oh, that is neat.
Yeah, and everything in here
is custom-made.
Like, hand-stained.
That is really cool.
You've got storage
behind there,
plenty of storage
to keep all your belongings.
Okay.
I really love this wood.
I love the stain on it
and the roughened edges.
It really gives it
a cozy look.
This is definitely more than
just a shipping container.
To see it opened up
and to see that it has
some of the country
rustic qualities
that I was looking for
is definitely a surprise to me.
But it's so big. It takes up
so much of the space.
Couldn't we utilize more space
under there, like a--
Yeah, maybe a bench seat
would've been better,
something we can
actually fold out
that's temporary for sleeping.
It's a loft bed,
and it's kind of neat
that it'll transition easy for
Zach since he's already got one.
Yeah, but where
are we gonna sleep?
For you guys,
you got this pull-out bed
right here
that you can sleep on.
- That's cool.
- And it tucks away conveniently.
Also, you've got a desk here
that you can use as a desk.
You can use it to eat.
Great thing--
It slides right back away
where you won't see it.
- It's out of the way.
- But this thing's so big,
it blocks off all this
natural light right here.
The light switches back here
are kind of covered.
You can't just walk in
and turn on the lights.
Whatcha think about the kitchen?
I mean, it's kind of small,
but it's got all these drawers.
Pretty neat thing about that is
it's made from reclaimed fence.
It's got this nice, little
cabinet to put pots and pans.
Where's the kitchen sink?
Well, the kitchen sink
- is actually in the bathroom.
- Okay.
I'm not too sure
about a porcelain bowl
being something I would
wash dishes in, though.
Well, keep in mind that
this one is under your budget,
so you have some money that
you can change that out with.
Okay. I do like
the sliding door, though.
If you slide it this way, you've
got privacy for your shower.
If you slide it this way, you've
got privacy for your bath.
Yeah, but is a sliding door
really gonna give you
secure privacy
in the shower?
I'm a mom of two. I don't really
get privacy anyway.
I really love
this wood in here.
And this is reclaimed
from a pallet.
This is kind of that woods,
earthy feel in here,
where you got the metal
industrial and security
that I was after
on the outside.
The great thing about this
is it expands your inside
living space out.
It's gonna be a place
- we can hang out a lot.
- Definitely.
It still feels
really industrial to me.
The kitchen area
is kind of small.
And once you put in a fridge,
I mean, that makes it
even smaller.
And then the kitchen sink--
It's in the bathroom.
Yeah, but like Tim said,
we might have a little money.
If it fits our budget,
we can arrange that sink.
What's it gonna take
to move this thing?
I mean, you said
it was 7,000 pounds.
Yeah, you would have to hire
a crane to get it moved for you.
That's kind of a bit much.
Well, I mean, are we really
gonna be moving around?
Besides, I mean,
I love the structure on this.
This thing's gonna be nice,
you know,
for protection in a hurricane
if it were to come.
Okay, but with the hurricanes,
when this thing's all closed up,
I mean, it's made of metal.
You get all four of us in there,
it's gonna be kind of cramped,
and it's gonna be loud.
I would kind of like something
a little more mobile.
I mean, that's a big deal.
So Tim has found them a house
that can ride out a storm
and be more easily moved.
It's listed at $34,000.
Ooh. Oh, wow.
That's a little
- outside the budget.
- A little more than our budget.
Adam, Jennipher Leigh,
and their two young kids
are selling their
1,050-square-foot house
to get out of debt and into
a more affordable tiny home.
With a budget of $30,000,
they're looking for something
that's both mobile
and that can withstand the punch
of a Florida hurricane.
They've seen
a cottage-style cabin
that Jennipher Leigh loves,
but while mobile,
it isn't sturdy
or storm-resistant
enough for Adam.
They also saw
an extremely durable
industrial shipping container
that Adam likes,
but it would require
a costly crane to move it,
and the floor plan isn't as open
as Jennipher Leigh wants.
Their agent, Tim,
is now showing them
a tiny home designed for both
mobility and extreme weather,
but at 306 square feet,
it's still smaller
than the average two-car garage.
You know, with this home
being 306 square feet,
I thought it would give them
a little elbow room
for their family.
It certainly is blue.
It's definitely
screaming Key West at me.
Well, keep in mind that paint
color can be easily changed.
I like the wood deck on it.
Is that a metal roof?
That roof is made out of
the same material as the sides.
It's called PIP.
It's insulated paneling.
So it's pretty sturdy then?
The great thing about this
is it's hurricane-resistant.
- Okay.
- And it's fireproof, as well.
Ooh, I like that.
Yeah, they use this in
industrial freezer applications.
- And I see it's on a trailer.
- Yep. So it can be towed.
You're gonna need a permit
to tow it,
'cause it is a little wider.
But the other great thingOkay.
Is this is built to be either
used on land or on the water.
So if you add some pontoons,
- you'll have a houseboat.
- Oh, interesting.
Oh, that's a neat option.
How big is it?
It's 306 square feet.
Okay.
It's listed at $34,000.
Ooh. Oh, wow.
That's a little outside
- of budget.
- A little more than our budget.
Yep. Once you guys
get inside,
you'll see where that extra
money comes into play.
Oh, I definitely like
this wood deck, though.
That's really nice.
Yeah, gives a little more space
out here.
And this big sliding window.
Yeah, and this is impact
resistant, as well.
Now this is what
- I'm talking about.
- Oh, wow.
- Look at this space.
- I like the metal.
This really has that industrial
utilitarian look on the inside.
And look at the kitchen, babe.
You got lots of space in here.
I don't know if I'm too keen
on the fact
that there's no cabinet doors,
though, and the carpet.
But a full-size refrigerator
in a tiny house--
That's kind of exciting.
I am really liking
all these wood touches, though,
around the windows,
all that on the borders.
It really does add
that little bit of country
that I'm looking for.
Oh, wow.
Oh, nice.
Got a little basin sink.
I do like the full
stand-up shower. It's nice.
And think of all the space
that you have in here.
Yeah.
Now this is what
I'm talking about.
A king-size bed?
That's awesome.
Yeah, and check out the storage.
We got tons of space in here.
This kind of gives us
that privacy with the kids
- if we can get them out there.
- That would be pretty awesome.
What do we have over here?
Is this another closet?
This goes
to your outside deck.
- What?
- A deck? Another one?
Oh, wow. Stairs.
Yeah.
It takes up the whole house.
Oh, this is a place
we could party, up here.
Just add some railings,
and we're good to go.
- Oh, yeah.
- Awesome.
I love the industrial look.
You know, the fact that it's got
the raw metal exposed
with all the screws
and hardware visible,
that really stands out
to my style well.
I do like the idea
that we could have some privacy
with our own bedroom.
Yeah, putting the kids here
would be great.
And keep in mind, too,
later on down the road,
you could always turn this
into a boathouse.
That's a neat option.
Yeah.
It's definitely mobile.
I'm not too thrilled about
the fact that it's over-budget.
I kind of agree. Something
that's gonna be over budget
really has to be, you know,
absolutely perfect to walk into,
'cause we're not gonna have
any more discretionary spending
to make immediate changes for.
With three distinctly
different ways to go tiny,
they've got a big decision
to make.
This is tough.
Our house hunters are moving on
up to a much smaller space.
Could you live in a tiny house?
See how people
make the small space work
- Oh.
- 8 years ago.
Yeah.
Hoping to achieve
financial stability,
Adam, Jennipher Leigh,
and their two kids
have decided to downsize.
After seeing three vastly
different tiny options
and with a budget of $30,000,
it's time for them to pick their
new, smaller home, sweet home.
What do you think about
that little country cabin
that's 144 square foot?
- That is so adorable.
- But is it practical?
It's the smallest one
out of the three we looked at.
But it's adorable.
And it's under budget
at $26,000.
It is, but
that loft space was--
While it could work,
it was really small.
Yeah, but the size of that
kitchen, I mean,
that kitchen had
a lot of storage
and a lot of counter space.
Still don't like the fact that
how wobbly that thing is.
We have to hook it up
to a trailer.
I'm not really sure that
getting out of town
when a hurricane's bearing down
on us is gonna be a fun thing.
Yeah, but it's not gonna need
a permit in order to move,
and it's not gonna need
a crane.
What about that shipping
container at $28,000?
That one came under budget.
Opening that thing up and seeing
what was all packaged inside,
I really liked it.
The fact that it's that sturdy,
those things are designed to be,
you know, at sea in storms.
It's really gonna be safe
for us.
I'm not too, you know, thrilled
about the fact
that that loft area takes up
almost that entire living space,
and it really blocks off
that big main window
and blocks off
a lot of the natural light.
I'm not too thrilled
about the fact
that it's gonna take a crane
in order to move it, though.
It's mobile if we need it.
Now what do you think
about the big blue houseboat?
It was over budget.
$34,000, you know?
I really like the idea
of the deck on top, though.
I'm not too sure if that's
what's gonna make it worthwhile
to go that far over budget
for us.
Being over budget, yeah,
but the fact that we have
all that privacy,
that's definitely something
to think about.
Love the hardware
and that industrial look inside.
And I like the fact
that it's definitely mobile.
I mean, it's on the trailer.
Yeah, you need a permit, but we
could turn it into a houseboat.
This is tough.
All three of them
have their pros and cons.
Yeah, but there is one
that kind of stands out to me
a little bit more
than the others.
That's the
shipping container home.
You know, it definitely has
a good balance
of, you know,
what we both want.
I mean, it's under budget.
We can make
those simple changes.
There's not a lot
that we have to do.
I think we can
make it work, though.
I can't believe
I'm about to say this, but...
I'm gonna be living
in a big, green box.
While moving the shipping
container here to the backyard,
we had to have a crane
come and deliver it,
and it was a pretty
interesting experience.
I had a lot of neighbors
coming out
to try to see what was going on,
as they hadn't seen a tiny home
like this before.
Here you go, honey.
It's been about 2, 3 weeks
since we moved in.
Definitely
a transition period,
getting used to
the smaller space
and everything with the kids.
But overall, the experience
has been wonderful.
Right now, we have
our shipping container home
parked in our current backyard.
Since the house
is on the market,
we have completely shut off
the main house,
and we are living in
the tiny home to get used to it.
You got them
- about ready, babe?
- Yeah.
Come get in your seats.
Mama's got mac and cheese.
Final purchase price
was $28,000.
With this under our
budget, it was great for us
to save a little money and
get everything that we needed.
Is it good?
Oh, don't spill.
With the extra money
left over from the budget,
we put in a mini-fridge.
We added a shower curtain
so Adam would feel a little more
privacy in the shower.
We also changed out
the sink in the bathroom
to a standard
stainless wash sink.
- You gonna wash dishes?
- Yeah. I will have that.
Definitely had to
make a couple compromises.
I had to compromise
on the mobility, obviously,
with this thing taking a crane
in order to move it.
It's not very mobile.
No, it is mobile
without being mobile.
But as far as, like,
the country chic,
I got that on the inside
with the wood.
I got the security
and the safety
should we have to
go through a hurricane.
It is definitely
a little difficult
to get used to
sharing a space with the kids
'cause we're used to
having our own private bedroom
and their having
their own beds.
Zach and Violet, I think,
love the tiny house.
They love being able
to kind of use it
as their own,
little play fort.
Where's your other flip flop?
This whole experience
has been fun and exciting.
With an open mind,
it's just an easy transition.
You just have to adapt.
Making some chicken, babe.
The whole tiny house has
definitely given us hope.
It's relieved
a whole lot of stress.
- How about this one?
- We sleep better at night.
We're happier.
We're laughing more.
The kids are laughing more.
You know, it's not
the material and the money,
it's the family and the heart
that matters
at the end of the day.