Frequently Asked Questions

About Teacup Tiny Homes

General

Do you ship to the U.S.A.?

The short answer, YES! ... and n. Our homes can be certified to NFPA 11.92 RV or NFPA 11.95 PM certification designation for U.S.A. Tiny Home RV or Park Models.

We are not HUD certified, and due to the expense of getting certified, we do not currently offer tiny homes on foundations for our US clients.

US Clients will need to arrange independent financing.

How big is a Tiny home?

A general tiny home definition is a home 500 sq. ft. or under on the main floor. There is no confirmed definition of a tiny home, however the 500 sq. ft. tends to be industry standard. (don’t be afraid to ask if you want to go bigger!)

Tiny Home RV vs. travel trailer RV comparison. Why buy a tiny home instead of an RV?

Travel trailer Rv’s are manufactured to be moved frequently with lightweight, affordable materials, and can be built with an all-season package, however typically are not rated for cold weather. These RV’s will depreciate, and with full-time use, deteriorate much faster than a tiny home. RV’s are classified for seasonal living only, however people do live in them all year round.

Tiny Home RV's are built using conventional building materials to ensure they wear the same as a conventionally built home. Tiny home RV's are typically heavier, use higher quality materials, are built specifically for all-season use with better insulation and are customizable.

What type of truck so I need to move my tiny home?

You will need at minimum a ¾ ton truck. Size and weight dependent, we suggest a 1 ton and that may increase with a larger and oversize home. We also suggest a diesel vs. a gas model for more power. Don’t let this part stress you out. We can arrange delivery and set up for you if moving your tiny home yourself is not an option!

How do utilities work in a tiny home?

Utilities are really quite easy. at Teacup, we have built many tiny homes to serve many different people's needs. You can check out this great blog here to learn more.

But, basically, it works like this:

Water: water hooks up to the home with a garden hose. You can do an onboard tank, but most of the time, an off-board source is best so it doesn't use up important space inside.

Power: It plugs in the same way as an RV and a cord runs to an external source. This source can be shore power, or a solar system or generator.

Sewer:

Do you have access to sewer? If yes, then a standard flush system is the way to go. If no, then we will discuss options that will work best for you, and we have The Teacup Academy to help you know what to do when your tiny gets to you.

How do I set up a tiny home?

It is important to be thinking about what needs to be done after your tiny home gets to you. Without proper hook-up and maintenance, your tiny home may not function properly. At Teacup, we have an online training portal that all of our clients get access to that teaches you how to install your tiny after delivery and how to maintain it to protect your investment.

Where can you put a tiny home?

Across Canada and the USA the logistics are basically the same. Teacup Tiny Homes builds RV's, park models or modular homes. This means that you can park or place your tiny home wherever these types of units are allowed.

What is allowed varies from parcel to parcel.

It is up to the client to find a location to use their tiny home. Use Facebook groups, place an ad, and get into tiny home communities for more help.

Can you build wider than 8.5 ft. ?

This is also a yes and falls under the Z241 PM, Park Model, build standards. If you are looking for a tiny home wider than 8.5 ft. you would be looking for a park model. Are certified to build park models to this standard in Canada. However, Canadian park models can not have lofts due to code changes.

DESIGN & CUSTOMIZATION

Do you allow customization?

As part of our Client Journey, we believe it is important for our clients to have a home that functions for them. With this in mind, we can do slight changes to our plans interior features, finishes and colour selections. Features that can be tweaked or personalized are reviewed in the on-boarding meeting and the associated costs are outlined in the pricing proposal and purchase agreement.

BUILDING A TINY HOME

What is your experience and background?

Jen McCarthy, the owner of Teacup has been designing homes since 2004. Spending her entire career in residential home construction she has integrated her passion for beautiful looking spaces and the ambition to create more functional living spaces for people into every Teacup Tiny Homes.

Before we went tiny, our team was (and still is) highly involved in the residential home building industry. For decades of combined experience, our team has spent our professional careers passionate about building quality products. Everything from conventional homes, to manufactured homes, multi-family, and even renovations. Our team consists of certified journeymen contractors to complete our work, certified moisture control installers for our building envelopes, and are collaborating with professional engineers and certification bodies to ensure you receive a product that will last you years into the future. Want a resume? Feel free to contact us and we will send over all our bragging rights!

How long does a Teacup Tiny Home take to Build?

Overall our build timelines are 10 to 12 weeks depending on the size, complexity an customization of the plan.

Modular or foundation series Teacup Tiny Homes often take 6 to 8 months from the start of design to the day you are moving in.

We suggest booking your build a MINIMUM of 6 months in advance to avoid delays as spring and summer possession book up quickly.

What size do you build your tiny homes?

We build our tiny homes to be 8.5 ft. wide and 13.5 ft. tall. Our Park Models are 10 ft. wide and will require a permit to be moved irregularly.

Do you build with slide-outs?

We do have an exclusive product line that has slides. It is available to our partners at Golden Beach Resort in Ontario. Want more square footage? Find your perfect featured plan.

RULES & REGULATIONS

Do I need a permit to pull a tiny home?

Your Teacup Tiny Home will be built to comply with road regulations. Our certified tiny homes can be pulled province to province and state to state. Different states and provinces have small differences in their Transportation Acts. It is important to check those regulations as you travel with your tiny home. Also, very important to check overpass heights on your route! Homes that are certified to CSA Z241 Park Models will need a permit to be transported. *It is important to note that an oversized (10'-0") D.I.Y. tiny home on your own that is NOT certified as a park model will not be permitted in B.C. or Alberta (updated Jan 2020)

Where can I park my tiny home?

Where you can park or install your tiny home depends on the type of certification and style of build you are looking for.

Typically, a tiny home RV can be used in an RV park, a mobile home park, a park model park, or can be installed on a site with a foundation in municipalities.

Modular tiny homes are great for installing on a piece of land, or for use as a secondary dwelling unit, granny suite, or small single family dwelling.

All of these options need to be thoroughly investigated in the sought-out area you are considering.

Different than conventional home building, Teacup does not find you a place to park, nor do we accept any responsibility for the location in which you choose or how your unit is used. It is the responsibility of the client to do their due-diligence.

Where can I park a tiny home in Alberta?

It depends on what your tiny home is certified as. Tiny Homes on wheels are certified as RV's or Park Models, you are looking for a location where you can park and set up an RV or Park Model. There are many locations across Alberta where you can park a tiny home including RV parks in Cochran, The Crowsnest Pass, Edmonton and more. There are also many Facebook groups that have location lists available. Check out these locations in The Crowsnest Pass specifically for Teacup Tiny Homes. CLICK HERE

COST & FINANCING

How do I get financing for a tiny home?

YES, we have financing options!

CLICK HERE to see if you may be eligible for financing through our Teacup Partners. Submit your information and you will be taken to a quick and easy 5 question assessment that will help you see if you may be qualified or if you may need to do a little extra work.

We build our homes Certified to CSA and/or NFPA 1192 and it makes it much easier to obtain financing. If you are located in the USA we are partnered with LIBERTY BANK to lend our clients up to 100K USD upon approved financing.

Please note: You cannot get a mortgage on a tiny home on wheels. You are looking for either a personal loan or an RV loan.

If you know you need some extra cash for your tiny home, get in we can assist you with getting in touch with the right people to try to make your tiny home dream a reality.

Cosigners have also been very beneficial to have to secure RV loans and financing for your tiny home.

Things you will need for financing:

Good credit
Last 2 year's tax returns
Proof of savings and worth
Pay your bills on time
Typically a minimum of a 20%-30% down payment. Although some of our financiers can arrange with less.

How much does a tiny home cost?

Our average tiny homes fully built typically range from $ $155,000.00- $240,000.00 CAD.

Price is very dependent on the weight of the home, style (which will determine the GVWR) and the products in which are installed. This has a huge impact on the frame or foundation and the weight of the axles used to support the load. We recommend leaving a minimum of $20,000 CAD for personalization and upgrades to ensure your tiny home will meet your needs.

To view our up to date Teacup Pricing, CLICK HERE

OTHER

Are Teacup tiny's built for all season/ cold weather climates?

YES! We offer both 3 season and all-season build packages. Our all-season building systems have been created to combat the extreme cold. Proper site installation is required for the best prevention. All water lines and pipes (with the exception of hook-ups) are located on interior walls, or on the warm side of the building envelope.

We also include an in-floor heat system as STANDARD. Please don't overlook this feature, as it is paramount for successful of cold weather comfort.