The holidays bring us all together. Allll of us. Kids, parents, grandparents. If you're lucky maybe even some "great grands." Everyone is enjoying delicious food, sharing time together recalling favorite memories and even making plans for the future. Maybe someone is looking to downsize. Maybe someone doesn't want to live alone anymore. Maybe someone needs more help with the kids.
Maybe a tiny home could be the solution to somebody's need. Like it is for Sarah Hunter and Chandra Linnell of Easthampton. They bought a home in town about four years ago -- just around the time their son, Soren, was born. Both working parents, Hunter and Linnell, like many of us, could use some extra help in the childcare department. And now that Linnell's mom, Ramona, has sold her home and moved to Easthampton to be closer to the family -- a tiny home in their backyard is the perfect solution to Grandma and Soren spending a lot more quality time together. And we've all read the studies that show the benefits to both grandparents and grandchildren when multi generations can spend more time together.
"We love the sense of community here," Hunter said. "We really didn't want to have to move to another town to have the space we need and now we don't have to."
I wouldn't want to leave their neighborhood either. Their home has a gorgeous view of Mount Tom. They love to walk to the neighborhood ice cream store and they're close to Soren's school. Easthampton is in the middle of both of their jobs. Gaining approval to build a tiny home or ADU (the official name of a tiny home -- detached Accessory Dwelling Unit) ensures they can continue to enjoy their neighborhood and community for years to come.
According to Chris Lee, president of Backyard ADUs, an Easthampton-based builder of backyard tiny homes, more and more towns around the area are adopting planning codes to allow such buildings.
"Tiny homes are are legal across New England. Planning boards across the country are making it easier for homeowners to build backyard tiny homes because ADUs represent a wonderful way to tackle the housing crisis that impacts all of us," Lee said.
"Whether making space for an aging family member, downsizing on your own land, or creating a rental unit that can generate passive income and help build wealth...building a backyard tiny home is often easier and cheaper than converting existing space or building an addition," Lee said.
And as you can see here, you don't need anything special to build a tiny home on your property -- Hunter and Linnell's setup could be any one of our backyards:
Backyard ADU homes range in size from 400 to 900 square feet and the one Hunter and Linnell chose is 526 square feet. All of the company's modular tiny homes are incredibly "Green." They are eligible for Energy Star Certification and can be made Net Zero Admissions -- which means the home produces as much energy as it consumes throughout the year -- for little to no extra cost. Because the homes are modular builds, most installations can be completed in about two weeks with minimal disruption to yards and neighbors. Each Backyard ADU is freestanding with it's own electric and gas connection, it's own cable and Internet and is easy to retrofit if you have accessibility concerns and can be made ADA Compliant.
It's not like you get some generic, cookie cutter home either. Each ADU is customizable. Hunter and Linnell let Grandma pick out the countertops and all of the customizations in their building. She was also able to include a full bathroom with a bathtub since long baths were not something she was willing to give up for tiny home living. Their ADU also has four foot tall crawl space below the home for plenty of storage. So while downsizing is a worthy goal -- you don't have to give up everything.
Most important to neighbors is the fact that these tiny homes look just like actual homes. They "fit" the neighborhood and are not an eyesore.
The other advantage of building a tiny home can't be quantified by cost. The fact that an ADU provides just enough physical separation for multi-generational families to still maintain privacy and autonomy while still close enough for convenience and bonding.
"Having Grandma a short walk away in the backyard is the perfect distance for everyone to still feel in charge of their own home," Lee said.
Lee has supported Hunter and Linnell throughout the whole process of their tiny home project -- from figuring out what was the right fit for their property, to overseeing the planning approval process, and of course now on to the building of the house and connecting the utilities. They hope to break ground in December and Grandma could be living in the backyard by February (weather depending).
I love how ADU's can fix a family's short and long-term housing needs. With the Hunter-Linnell family, for example, Grandma is going to enjoy the tiny home for now and then down the road, it may provide an independent living space for Soren. Or, perhaps Sarah and Chandra will move into the tiny home someday and Soren will live in the big house. By planning for today, they're providing many options to keep their family close knit for decades to come.
I love how tiny homes can help with 'Aging in Place' -- which is defined by The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the ability to live in one's own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level".
I love how tiny homes can help with the housing crises. In the instance of this family, building an ADU in the backyard is going to free up apartment space in downtown Easthampton that another family can use once Grandma moves into the tiny home.
I love how tiny homes can offer an affordable solution to multi-generational housing needs. Hunter and Linnell considered adding on to their current home to build an "in-law" apartment but the cost of that construction was going to be nearly double that of their tiny home purchase. The family is affording the approximate $125,000 cost with funds that Grandma has from the sale of her home before she moved to the area. And she'd rather be spending her money on a home that will continue to benefit the family for years to come, rather than rent.
There are so many benefits for all ages. If you'd like to learn more about Backyard ADUs you can visit the company's website or follow them on Facebook. They also offer FREE webinars every Tuesday at 6 p.m. on the topic of "Understanding the Rules for Backyard Tiny Homes in Western Mass." You can sign up here and maybe start your family on the path to housing solutions for all generations.
*Some images courtesy Backyard ADUs and the Hunter-Linnell Family
This is such a great idea!
Posted by: Lisa | 11/28/2019 at 08:22 AM
I hope this is available in my town soon. These houses are adorable!
Posted by: Tina | 12/03/2019 at 07:22 AM