What choices do I have?

All of our homes are built to a standard exterior size of either 10.7m long by 3m wide, or 9m long x 3m wide. We have a variety of floor plan options to choose from. We have a set of standard floor plans to choose from, these can be altered to suit your needs. All colours and end finished can be changed.

Any changes you make to these designs may incur an additional cost. Everyone we have built to date has been different as people have different ways of living. The interior layout can be designed to meet your living pattern. With guidance from us exterior windows and doors can be set where you would like them.

What standard are they built to?

Mainland Tiny Homes are built and certified as meeting the NZ Building Code. This is the same standard as any normal house is built to. Christchurch City Council inspects and issues a Code Compliant Certificate.

Are there limits on where I can put my Tiny Home?

Your local Council will be able to tell you about their particular zoning and other rules they apply to both the number of dwellings you can have on a particular site and mobile dwellings (Tiny Homes) in general.

Where do you deliver to and what is the cost?

We deliver anywhere in the South Island using a Hiab truck.  Our Tiny Homes are not able to be towed on the road as they can weigh 6 tonnes or more and our trailers are not built to a warrant of fitness level.

Delivery is free for all Tiny Homes within 200km of our factory in Christchurch to an easy access site, outside that we add a cost, based on distance and specific issues of your site at $14.50 per km.

What do I need to do about the site where my Tiny Home is going to be?

We may arrange an inspection of your proposed site and discuss with you how you need to prepare prior to delivery. This includes how we get the truck access to your site. Site preparation is your responsibility. This may include speaking to your local council about what is required specifically for your site.

How long do they take to build?

This depends on the number of other customers ahead of you. Once we start building the turnaround time is very fast – usually within 3-4 months.

What are they built of?

Mainland Tiny Homes are built on a locally made galvanised 6-wheel trailer. The walls and roof are rolled galvanised steel again locally manufactured. The exterior wall cladding is an Australian hardwood with a 25-year warranty It is manufactured using waste chips under high heat and wax - no other chemicals. The roof is NZ-manufactured long-run colour steel. Interior walls are lightweight PVC wall panels and our floors are wood grain laminate planks.

Are they insulated?

Yes, our Tiny Homes are fully insulated to the standard required by the Building Code (floor, walls, ceiling) along with double-glazed windows to provide warmth and quiet. 

Can I go for Off-grid living?

Our Tiny Homes can easily connect to your local council’s services, water, wastewater and sewage or they can be built for off-grid living. You may be required by the local council to apply for Resource Consent to allow your Tiny Home to connect to council-owned services.    There are several off-grid options (Solar, Rain Water, Compostable Toilet, Grey water etc) you want will be an extra cost.

A gas Infinity unit is supplied with a connection for gas bottles. The gas infinity will provide instant hot water and power your gas hob and oven

What are my heating options?

Mainland Tiny Homes are very warm – however, we can discuss a variety of different heating options from heat pumps to radiant heating to suit your needs. These are additional to the cost of the home

What is included in the fixtures and fittings?

Our Tiny Homes come complete with built-in bedroom joinery, shower, toilet, basin, vanity, washing machine, all kitchen joinery, bench, butlers sink, 2 or 4-burner gas or electric hob and an electric oven.

If I need to borrow Finance what is available?

The major banks are reluctant to give a mortgage on any dwelling (fixed or mobile) that is smaller than 42 sqm. There are some finance companies who will lend on Tiny Homes. We can discuss these options with you.

What is the process once I have decided to buy one?

When you decide to buy one of our Tiny Houses you and your salesperson/agent will sit down and decide what layout you want, covering off such things as where to put doors and windows, where you will have the bedroom(s), bathroom, kitchen layout, lighting and any specific additions such as heat pump, dishwasher, additional storage etc. 

We allow for up to 10 hours of our salesperson’s time to assist you with getting all of the elements of your Tiny Home sorted. Our contracted design service will take all of your information from the salesperson and provide a preliminary design. You can make changes at this stage.

The designer will be given any changes you make and produce a final plan. This will be given to you for approval. Any additional major changes you make at this stage will be done at $150 per hour additional cost to you. The minimum charge for this will be $250 plus GST.

What happens once I have approved my plan?

The salesperson will provide you, within 3 days, a final fixed price for your Tiny Home and a contract for you to sign.

What are the payment terms for my Tiny Home?

Once you have settled on the design and the contract has been signed a 20% deposit is required prior to applying for building Consent or ordering materials for your build. 

When do I pay for the balance of my Tiny Home?

We will bill you at the end of each month based on progress in line with any normal construction contract. At the end of the build process, we call for a final Code Compliance inspection from the council. Once the building inspector has signed off the Building as complying with the Building Code we will send you a final invoice for payment of the balance of your Tiny Home. This will include any variations you may have made during the build. Payment is due within 7 days of the invoice being issued.