Going Tiny in Stages

So you want to go tiny! That’s great! And we can totally help you with that. But before you jump into the details, like choosing a floor plan or figuring out which features to include in your Teacup, it’s a good idea to prepare yourself emotionally.

Going tiny is a journey! It’s a highly rewarding one, but it’s a road that includes doing research, overcoming obstacles, and, most importantly, getting to know yourself on an even deeper level. Here at Teacup, we want to be there for you at every stage of the process. That’s why today, we’ll be going through the various stages of the journey, so you’ll know what to expect.

Are you ready? Let’s do this.

Dream.

The first stage of going tiny is to be able to see it so clearly in your mind that you can practically reach out and touch it. This is the stage in which you build Pinterest boards, spam your friends and family with shares from our Instagram feed, and bring up tiny homes to anyone who will listen.

Dreaming is a pivotal stage because it allows your Teacup tiny home to become a reality in your head and heart. Everything that comes next will depend on you holding tight to that truth, so go ahead and dream! Just one note of caution, though, some people get stuck in the dreaming phase. And if you don’t want that to be you, it will be vital that you take further steps to make your Teacup a tangible reality. So what’s the next step? Research.

Research.

Once your Teacup is so real you can feel the breeze coming in through the window of your downstairs bedroom in our new Ellie model, it will be time to do your research! 

First, you’ll want to thoroughly vet your builder. Obviously, we hope you choose us, but regardless, here is our post about how to spot a high-quality tiny home builder. A tiny cottage might be small, but it’s a significant investment, so you’ll want to be confident in who you choose to build it!

Next, you’ll want to figure out financing (here’s a link to our financing quiz!), look into parking (more about that on our FAQ page!), and ultimately connect with other Teacup owners to get the full scoop about the third stage: how to declutter.

Declutter.

Many people start to worry about decluttering during the dreaming stage. But don’t let your tiny home dream become a tiny home nightmare before you’ve even worked through the steps! Remember that this is a journey; it’s best to tackle things one piece at a time.

When you do get to the decluttering stage, however, it’s a great idea to make contact with other tiny homeowners. You’ll want support at this stage because it can be emotional.

Decluttering requires that you let go of things, which can feel like letting go of a piece of your identity. But while that can be scary, it can also serve as a refreshing opportunity to become your most authentic self in the present!

There’s more to say on this front, but just know that bringing a Teacup into your life doesn’t mean you need to get rid of everything you own. It also doesn’t mean you have to do it all in one haul! There is no rule that says you can’t have a storage unit, keep container tubs in the basement of your traditional home, or ask (nicely) if you can keep a few boxes of sentimental items at your sister’s while you decide if you’re ready to part with them. Remember that decluttering is about creating more room to breathe, not less!

Take Action.

If you’ve been dreaming, researching, and decluttering for a while, then it’s time to take action! 

Taking action is quite possibly the scariest step of all, but it’s 100% the most important one. And don’t worry; our team at Teacup is behind you all the way. Here’s what you’ll want to do.

If you haven’t already, use our estimate building tool to build the Teacup of your dreams. This tool will give you a price point that will allow you to move on to the financing part of the equation.

If you plan to finance your Teacup, you’ll want to get specific on where that financing will come from and what you’ll have to do to qualify. And if it turns out that you’re not quite in a position to borrow yet, no worries. But if that’s the case, here is our post about How to Get Into a Better Position to Borrow.

When you know the house you want to buy and you’ve figured out the logistics of doing so, it’s time to set up a Discovery Call. We know you’ll still have a million questions, so the Discovery Call will be a chance to get thorough answers. 

Eeeeek! Are you ready for this next part? After the Discovery Call, it will be time to say yes to your Teacup!

It might be nerve-wracking, but going tiny is like jumping off a high dive; after you jump, you can’t help but be successful. You will land, and in this case, you will land in the Teacup tiny home of your dreams! 

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Whew! Are you as pumped up as we are? We love to hear from you as you work through the steps, so don’t be a stranger! Feel free to DM us on Instagram or tag us in posts if you have any questions along the way.

If you’d like further emotional support, this is another great post: Your New Life is Going to Cost You Your Old One. It will help you be brave!

And if you’d like more help with the logistics of going tiny, here is our post about How to Prepare for Your Tiny Future.

One day, you’ll look back on this time fondly as the moment before your Teacup dream came to fruition. In the meantime, though, remember to have compassion for yourself. Going tiny is a process, and you are about to say yes to life in a huge way, so remember to celebrate the wins as you go.

Alright, well, that’s all for today! If you haven’t yet, we’d like to invite you to subscribe to this blog. That way, we can continue to offer support. And wherever you are in the process, whether you are dreaming, researching, decluttering, or finally taking action, know that we see you. Keep up the great work, and we can’t wait to meet you when the time is right.

Until then, 

-Jen