Try before you buy: 10 tiny homes to rent on vacation
Proponents of the tiny house movement believe that less is more.
As these adorable abodes gain popularity through television shows like "Tiny House Nation" and "Tiny House Hunters," it may be tempting to pick up and move into one. After all, they're often significantly less expensive than traditional homes, making them a desirable option for buyers on a budget.
Manufacturers like Rocky Mountain Tiny Homes advertise prices for new homes that range from between $23,000 and $80,000, depending on the size and features. You can order pre-made kits to assemble your own tiny house -- like these from Tumbleweed -- which range from $16,000 to $19,000. The Tiny House Blog even features three homes built for between $489 (they started with an existing shed) and about $11,400. Compare that to the national median home value, which is currently $187,000 according to Zillow.
But is living small really for you? With homes on this list ranging from just 198 square feet to 400 square feet, making a minimalist move permanently would probably require a serious lifestyle adjustment. According to the National Association of Home Builders, the average new single-family home built in the first quarter of 2016 was 2,657 square feet, more than 10 times the size of some of these rentals.
Why not try before you buy? Home sharing site HomeAway and other similar websites like Airbnb offer dozens of tiny home rentals for your next vacation, where you can get a taste of life in a smaller space.
So before you start cleaning out your closet and paring down your possessions for a move to a smaller, less-cluttered life, check out these 10 tiny home vacation rentals.
Vancouver, British Columbia
This one-bedroom, one-bathroom tiny home in Vancouver sleeps up to three people and costs an average of $56 per night. It is 250 square feet, which owner Ches Lam learned is smaller than Vancouver laws allow (398 square feet), according to a December 2015 story released when Lam reportedly advertised the home for $20,000 on Craigslist. According to house's HomeAway page, Lam is still the owner.
Vancouver, British Columbia
The home has a high-efficiency washer/dryer, a kitchen with a dishwasher, a double bed, a sofa, cable television and WiFi.
Hampshire, England
This one-bedroom, one-bathroom tiny cottage in the town of Winchester sleeps two people and costs an average of $87 per night.
Hampshire, England
The boat-shaped cabin has two sofas that convert into one full or two single beds, a kitchenette, shower and toilet, television and internet.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
This studio cabin with one bathroom sleeps up to four people and costs an average of $317 per night.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
The 400-square-foot home has a full kitchen with a dishwasher, fireplace, bathroom with shower and an outdoor fire pit. It's located near the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski area and Grand Teton National Park, according to the listing.
Canyon Lake, Texas
This one-bedroom, one bathroom cabin sleeps up to two people and costs an average of $179 per night.
Canyon Lake, Texas
The 220-square-foot cabin has a king-sized bed, full-sized bathtub and shower, stained glass windows and an outdoor hot tub, grill and garden.
Charlottesville, Virginia
This backyard shed has been renovated into a studio cottage with one bathroom that sleeps up to four people. It costs an average of $100 per night.
Charlottesville, Virginia
The 400-square-foot shed has a fire pit, kitchenette, bathroom, futon and loft with a queen bed.
Staples, Texas
This one-bedroom, one-bathroom cabin sleeps up to two people and costs an average of $131 per night.
Staples, Texas
The 399-square-foot cabin has a front porch with adirondack chairs, side deck with a bistro set and a back deck. Inside, there's a kitchenette, television, electric fireplace, queen bed and a washer and dryer.
Dennis, Massachusetts
This one-bedroom, one-bathroom Cape Cod cottage sleeps up to two people and costs an average of $76 per night.
Dennis, Massachusetts
It is about 300 square feet and is located about half a mile from the beach, according to the listing. It has a full bed, kitchen with an oven, stove and refrigerator, a bathroom with a shower and a side deck with a charcoal grill.
Hillsboro, Oregon
This one-bedroom, one-bathroom home on a lavender farm in Oregon sleeps up to two people and costs an average of $113 per night.
Hillsboro, Oregon
The 198-square-foot cottage has a futon, bed loft and kitchenette. The lavender farm also has alpacas, goats, several friendly dogs and a cat, according to the listing.
Sandpoint, Idaho
This one-bedroom, one-bathroom "gypsy caravan" built with recycled materials sleeps up to two people and costs and average of $79 per night.
Sandpoint, Idaho
The 200-square-foot home has a queen-sized bed, skylights, gas stove, refrigerator, bathroom and an outdoor barbeque grill.
Portland, Oregon
This one-bedroom, one-bathroom tiny house sleeps up to three people and costs an average of $134 per night.
Portland, Oregon
The 350-square-foot house has a loft with a queen bed, kitchenette, fold-down sleeper sofa, small claw-foot tub and private garden.