aPODments - new housing solution in larger cities?

I'm with you, aPODments, I thought it was a corny name, but I didn't name these micro living environments, someone else did.

They are smaller than a typical apartment (like a tiny home is to a traditional home), but in many cases take up only a few hundred square feet.  

These particular aPODments, are located in Seattle, Washington.  But they have become so popular this company is now planning to build them in Portland, Oregon; California, and New Jersey. http://tinyhouseblog.com/apartment-living/seattle-apodments/

To see if this was the only company building these type of micro-housing complexes, I did a search on Google Images for apodments and I came up with tons of pictures - some that had nothing to do with the micro-housing industry, but the majority of them did.

Seen from the sleeping loft

I see potential for the Amarillo market in meeting needs for many an adult with a small income. 

Let me know if you like the idea of aPODments to meet current housing needs.

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Linda Quiggle is a licensed REALTOR and can be reached at 806-355-9601.  Prudential, Ada REALTORS is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential company, an Equal Housing Opportunity.

Follow her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/findinghomesforaqueen

Follow her team on www.homesofamarillo.info

Space Saving Furniture

On this blog I have been discussing the topics of living minimally and living in smaller spaces, Tiny Homes.  I am sure that you are like my husband and think, "She's crazy, how do I make my furniture work in a 200 sq.ft. space?" 

Well, you don't.  

With your new tiny space a new tiny space mentality has to be developed; adjustments in the way you think about space. Once you have made the decision, you have to embrace your new "normal" - the new paradigm you have defined for yourself.  I have lived in small spaces, but have always tried to just make my large furniture pieces fit and it never really did; I always felt claustrophobic about not having enough space to even walk around and no place to practice my hobbies or entertain friends.


A company called Resource Furniture is making it easier for tiny home residents. They have designed a wide spectrum of multi-functioning furniture pieces that take very little room to transform and give you multi-functional rooms that work and look good: sofas/beds, tables/beds, wall units/beds, home office space/beds, chairs that turn into step stools, and chairs that function as book storage. 


They also give you choices for the finishes, fabric, and wood. You can customize until your heart is content with the look.  

Spend the few minutes it takes to watch the video on this YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nljmEUeLbY  .  
When you have looked at the video, give me feed back.

If you want more info, like I did, here is the link to their webpage:  
http://www.resourcefurniture.com/node/606

Thanks to my friend Janis Cannon for turning me on to this product.

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Linda Quiggle is a licensed REALTOR and can be reached at 806-355-9601.  Prudential, Ada REALTORS is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential company, an Equal Housing Opportunity.

Follow her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/findinghomesforaqueen

Follow her team on www.homesofamarillo.info  or www.facebook.com/homesofamarillo

Tiny Homes for the Homeless

I was just discussing the topic of "Tiny Homes for the Homeless"  with a work friend a few weeks ago. I believe that tiny homes could really meet the needs of really homeless people, or those who have simply had their incomes reduced so much that they can't live in a traditional structure anymore. What do they do?

I few months ago we talked about shipping containers being re-purposed as tiny homes for those needing an alternative living arrangement. My friend thought this was an idea that could work.  I think the traditional tiny home could work as well. 

However, In this mornings tiny house blog I read an article about Gregory Kloehn who has a new project, The Homeless Homes Project, where "tiny structures built out of illegally dumped garbage and industrial waste are becoming more than an environmental stance or garbage art. These little homes are fast becoming a collaborative project between different groups who want to help shelter people who live on the streets."  This gentleman is taking tiny to a new level, but has done so for a good reason - it provides sleeping space out of the elements, and it can be moved by simply pushing them.

I would like to see Amarillo adopt such a compassionate method of interacting with our homeless.  Let me know if this is something you think is worth pursuing.

Check out this link for more information.  

http://tinyhouseblog.com/humanitarian/gregorys-homeless-homes-project/

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Linda Quiggle is a licensed REALTOR and can be reached at 806-355-9601.  Prudential, Ada REALTORS is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential company, an Equal Housing Opportunity.

Follow her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/findinghomesforaqueen

Follow her team on www.homesofamarillo.info

Molecule Tiny Homes Tour

When I read the title of this blog in another article, I thought it was going to be about tiny homes that were even smaller than normal, "Molecule".  However I discovered that it was actually a tiny home builder's name; Molecule Tiny Homes.

Since more and more people are interested in living tiny, but don't want to climb a ladder, I found the home discussed in the link below, very do-able.  I would not want to live in a home quite this small on a full time basis, especially with another person, but if you are single it could be made to work.

Again, this home is using all typically unused space for additional storage; under the staircase being the one that most intrigues me. (Why don't builder's do that in traditional 2-story homes?)

This home was built with a solar panel installed on the roof of the home, but accessible by way of the main loft and through the opening skylight.  It has a tub (small), a composting toilet, and the tiniest bathroom sink I have ever seen.

Waring's Induction Range

It doesn't have a permanently installed range or cooktop, but as I have seen in other tiny home environments, the Waring Commercial Induction Range 120V, 1800W, or equivalent, will give you instant cooking without taking up the installed appliance space. You could even have a wall oven installed under the counter top, or utilize a counter top oven like Kitchen Aid's 12-Inch convection bake

KitchenAid's Countertop Oven

countertop oven.

Take a few minutes to view the video where Jason Dietz, the owner/builder of Molecule Tiny Homes provides additional information about this particular home, and how he builds in general.

http://tinyhousetalk.com/molecule-tiny-homes-tour/


Check back often as I post nuggets of information as often as I find them.  Sometimes that is daily, other times just weekly.

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Linda Quiggle is a licensed REALTOR and can be reached at 806-355-9601.  Prudential, Ada REALTORS is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential company, an Equal Housing Opportunity.

Follow her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/findinghomesforaqueen

Follow her team on www.homesofamarillo.info

Things to consider before building your Tiny Home

I worked in residential construction for over twenty years, and I have a four year degree in interior design, so I am always thinking about a better way to build something.  In case of my current passion, the tiny home, I have had some issues with some designs I have seen, so I have put my mind to answering them; now I can share these thoughts with you.

Things to consider before you build:

1.  Windows; they need to be tempered glass

for safety’s sake.  They will be less likely to 

break while towing it and less dangerous to 

the human element if they do break.

2. Collapsible awnings to cover your 

windows would add additional protection 

while towing, and would add sun protection 

when you are parked.

3.  Over frame the house to protect it from shearing and distortion from wind shear when it 

is towed at highway speeds.  Consider framing and bracing with metal studs.

4.  Flexible materials throughout.  Plywood is more flexible than drywall.  And don’t tile your 

shower walls; they are not flexible at all.

5. Make sure that all your plumbing and electrical pipes and wires are securely strapped to 

joists/studs so they don’t shirt and/or break.

6. Make sure the weight is distributed evenly within the house.  Don’t put all your appliances 

and the bathroom on the same side.  Also consider how much weight will be riding on the 

tongue of the trailer.

7.  You will need to add extra insulation on the front of the house (tongue side) and make 

sure that all gaps in your cladding are sealed.

8. If you plan to tow your tiny house yourself there are some maximum height and width 

requirements that you need to stay within.  No taller than 13.5’ tall and you can still pass 

under power lines, into gas stations, and through toll stations.  It is also recommended that 

you don’t go wider than 8.5’ wide so you don’t run into issues with large tractor trailers.

9. Like any travel trailer, you need to make sure that your trailer is registered and has a 

visible license plate when traveling.

10. Make sure you have an extra trailer tire.  This special size of tire is harder to find, and 

impossible if you are stuck in a sparsely populated area with no services.

11. Research the towing package of a truck before hooking up to make a cross country 

trip.  

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Linda Quiggle is a licensed REALTOR and can be reached at 806-355-9601.  Prudential, Ada REALTORS is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential company, an Equal Housing Opportunity.

Follow her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/findinghomesforaqueen

Follow her team on www.homesofamarillo.info

Insuring your Tiny Home

Insuring your tiny home is not something I had actually thought about until I came across this article a few minutes ago. 

Everyone who owns a travel trailer or motor home no doubt has insurance coverage, but what about that tiny home you want to pull across country or put in a park?  

Here is some good news, if you live in California, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Colorado, Arizona and Washington, you can now get coverage for your precious tiny home.  

Click the link for additional information: http://tinyhouseblog.com/announcement/tiny-house-wheels-insurance/

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Linda Quiggle is a licensed REALTOR and can be reached at 806-355-9601.  Prudential, Ada REALTORS is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential company, an Equal Housing Opportunity.

Follow her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/findinghomesforaqueen

Follow her team on www.homesofamarillo.info

Tiny Living: Living without sacrifice

Many of you groan when thinking about such a drastic downsizing move as living in a tiny house and minimal; by choice.  You may think it is an undo-able sacrifice. Oh, yeah, one more complaint I have heard from others: tiny living must be ugly and and have no style or bling. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

I have watched HGTV for decades.  There used to be a program focused entirely on designing for small spaces.  I loved it because the designers always made the small space beautiful as well as functional.  

I found a new tiny home built on a 28' trailer providing 221 sq.ft. of living space plus two lofts that add another 128 sq. ft.  It is modern and sleek and has a full sized range in the kitchen, plenty of light and stairs to the sleeping loft.

This is a great space, but like any travel trailer/tiny home, it needs a good sized truck to haul it around. 

Let me know if you think this tiny home is appealing and functional.

For more information: 
http://tinyhouseblog.com/yourstory/living-without-sacrifice-solutions-top-5-tiny-house-limitations/

___________________________________________

Linda Quiggle is a licensed REALTOR and can be reached at 806-355-9601.  Prudential, Ada REALTORS is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential company, an Equal Housing Opportunity.

Follow her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/findinghomesforaqueen

Follow her team on www.homesofamarillo.info