Well, what do you want to hear first, the good news or the bad news? The bad news is the home owners association has caught on to my little project and is not too happy. The good news is… oh wait, it’s all bad news. The 30 X 2 days that I thought I would get to move this thing turns out to be 10 days and my tiny house is in no shape to move.
My options as I see it are:
Option #1: Try to move the house to the back yard.
This option sucks because: I have a 10′ gate but the ground is unlevel so I don’t think it will make it through. I would probably have to take down a section of my fence. But if the neighbor who turned me in did so because of the construction noise they may just find a new rule that I am violating and all will be for not. This option would also require releveling the trailer.
Option #2: Move it someplace close by where it might be able to make the trip and I can finish it there.
This option sucks because: No such place exists that I can think of.
Option #3: Try to get the house road ready in 10 days and move it to Florida for completion.
This option sucks because: 10 days (make that 9 now) is not a long time. This will require me to take off yet more time, most likely at no pay (I’m not sure how much my company will let me go into the negative). Also, I won’t get to do the open house that I was looking forward to.
I’m not sure what prompted someone to complain after all this time. I would have thought it was going to happen in the beginning or not at all. I can’t be too mad though I guess.
Happy New Year!!!
(lc:0, sc:0, lt:11, st:148)
Maybe there is a place nearby… what city are you in specifically… maybe we (community of tiny house bloggers) can put the word out and someone nearby might be able to offer their back lot or something.
Feel free to contact me directly too… and no pressure. Just trying to brainstorm a way to help.
Pingback: Tiny House Design , Archive » Are you near John’s Creek or Alpharetta in Georgia?
Leave near Athens; send me an e-mail if you still need space. No homeowner group to deal with on 51 ac.
Hi Dan – I’m putting a notice of your need on the Tiny House Blog, pretty much a copy of what Michael has done on his blog. Good luck!
I’m about 120 miles from Alpharetta and have a spot with power that you could finish it up. I realize it’s not real close but if interested the google map link is http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Alpharetta,+GA&daddr=1602+Cedar+Springs+Rd,+Weaver,+AL+36277&geocode=FfDyBwIdNsb5-ik39cVon3T1iDFOTGUoYdUSwQ%3B&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=34.078541,-84.293976&sspn=0.144741,0.22007&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=9
You can get whatever in as there is a 20+ foot gated opening in the fence for access. Contact info is depatty at gmail dot com.
Good luck!
Dave
HOA’s are a pain in the a@@! I wish you luck in finding a new place!
We lived in an HOA one time. (That will be the only time we EVER do that.) I’m surprised that you got away with the project for more than a week or two at most. They told us every time a weed popped it’s head above the ground … and we couldn’t park a vehicle with an expired registration in our driveway. AND, if the neighbor could see into your backyard (even if your project wasn’t poking it’s head above the fenceline) … they could complain and the HOA would come after you.
Sorry to hear of your HOA problem … hopefully you’ve found a workable solution (thru some kind-hearted soul) …
WOW…I am truly impressed with the outpouring of responses to your plight. Apparently it is true that people with tiny houses have BIG hearts! I am anxiously awaiting the chance to be a tiny house owner.
very interesting, I like it
You could try getting a temporary exception. Perhaps show that it is temporary and that you are building it for a good cause (make the cause sound extra sappy if needed). Other options may be to get around their rules. Carefully research how the CC&Rs define “trailer”, “RV”, etc. You may be able to put the structure up on jacks, remove axles, put up a ‘skirt’ and then file for some sort of temporary architectural approval for the project. Good luck as HOAs are sometimes overly strict.
I feel your pain – HOA’s are evil by nature and insidious in practice. I’m in Virginia (which is decidedly in the wrong direction for you) so all I can offer is moral support.
You have a great looking tiny house – hang in there. Thanks to all who have offered to help here. I wish I were closer so I could show up with my tools!
I just tweeted a link out, good luck.
http://twitter.com/lessallan/status/7417454257
You can park it at my house in jasper if you still need a place for it.
kenny
another Athens offer here- you can park her near our airstream project!
We have a place in coastal NC which, though farther away than you had intended, at least kinda on the way.
My suggestion however is to find a local rv campground or storage place which migh the able to accomodate the construction within reason. Many places store RVs for less than 100 a month and often will allow you to work on them provided you pick up each day. RV camp grounds are also pretty flexible and reasonable and usually have power and water onsite to assist with the build. If you can have it dried in before the move then you should find little obstacles to finishing your project.
I have a real beef with HOA’s but I’ll be kinds and not vent.
Hope you found/find a solution that works good for you.
Mike n Dee
Nice post! I really like your posting.
i will come back to read more of your posts.
Cheers
Pingback: Are you in Georgia?
Almost a full yr after your HOA problem posting, but I just now stumbled on the site. Thought you might like to hear this. I, too have a HOA and it is comprised of folks who want NO deviation from ANYTHING! So, as a 65 yr old grandmother living in this community, and about to build my first, vardo/gypsy wagon/tiny rounded house, I knew I had to do it INSIDE the garage.
If I built in ON the trailer, it wouldn’t fit out through the door… I am building it on 3″ loose and rolling PVC pipes. The slightest push on the vardo and it rolls beautifully–right up to the closed garage door.
Then I had to contend with all the “What are you building?” questions. None of them knew what a vardo was and if I used the word “GYPSY” (horrors!) I knew I would be run out of town. So, at the moment, I tell all the neighbors that I am building a whimsical and mobile playhouse for my granddaughter. It’s now about 1/2 done. They are BARELY able to stand my car parked on the driveway until the project is done.
When it is finished, I plan to roll it out onto the driveway and up onto a trailer bed. I will then proudly park it there until they run me out of town. At that point, I will happily hitch it up to my car and drive off into the sunset!
(Anybody out there want to buy a house in a tightly controlled area of Indiana?!)
Awesome story. I saw someone else build an entire tiny house sans roof in a garage before. They rolled it out and only had to spend a week or two finishing it up. My next tiny house is going to be smaller and I plan on trying to pull off the same thing as you (building it in my garage). You should post some pictures and share!
Dan
Dan, I live in NE GA just outside of Jefferson on 10 acres, if you can get your house here you can park it for as long as you need.
MK,
Thank you so much for the offer but the tiny house has since been moved to Florida. When I start my next one I might send you an email to see if the offer still stands
Thanks again,
Dan
Subscribing – your house looks great! Best of fortunes brother.
hey you havre a great tiny house built. could you build one for me on a piece of property about an hour from atlanta? cedartown to be exact.
Hi Elizabeth,
I will send you an email.
Thanks
Dan