resources

resources

Amazing houses would never become real without amazing clients. Our homes are a collaborative endeavor of design, construction, and client input, all with a single focus: making your house feel like home.

financing

Financing Resources- WRTH
Financing a tiny home is different from financing a foundation home, since tiny homes on wheels (THOW) don’t qualify for traditional residential mortgages. However, tiny home loans are similar to RV loans—and all of our homes are RV certified. We work with various lending partners that recognize the growth of the industry and the need for better financing options. The list of lending partners is always growing and we’re working hard with tiny home industry partners to provide funding solutions. Most of our customers piece together their financing with a combination of personal savings and loans. We’re happy to steer you in the right direction, depending on your needs.
get in touch
Previous
Next

faq

A: We are proud to be located in Chattanooga, TN, but because our tiny houses are built on wheels, we are happy to deliver your new home to you anywhere in the continental U.S. (If you live in a country touching the U.S., we can deliver your tiny house to the nearest border for your freight forwarder.)

A: We have various lending partners available to help fund your tiny home project. Get in touch with us to start the process and we’ll send you additional information about financing options. Everyone’s circumstances are different and we work with various funding scenarios. If you are seeking funding on your own, we’re happy to provide any additional information about our products you need to secure your own funding. If you need tips on self-funding, we can share our experiences with you.

A: We’re glad you asked. First, check out our Get Ready to Go Tiny tips for planning and financing. Then pick a Wind River model that best suits you and get in touch with us to see how we can custom-configure and design your home to be a perfect fit. We’re always happy to discuss any questions or concerns you have along the way. After a contract is signed and your spot in our build timeline is secured, we’ll dig into the design details. Everything will be finalized with your approval before construction on your home even begins. From there, you can sit back and relax as we build your home—we’ll send you weekly photo updates so you can see it all come together. The final step is arranging delivery, which we’ll walk you through. From there, it’s up to you to move in, make it yours, and start enjoying the freedom of tiny living.

A: Through our past experience collaborating with customers, we have learned a tremendous amount about tiny spaces and systems. The tiny homes in our portfolio show our workmanship. The models we now offer are the evolution of our accumulated knowledge, refined for what works best. We are not currently offering replicas of the homes in our portfolio, but we can still capture the look-and-feel of our signature designs with our new models. We would love the opportunity to build your Wind River tiny home.

A: On average, there is a 6-week lead time to receive your tiny house trailer and windows. Once we receive your trailer, we can start building right away. Construction can last 8 to 12 weeks, possibly more, depending on the size of the house and number of upgrades. Get in touch with us about when we can start your project.

A: Yes we can. We’ve shipped homes as far north as Maine, Washington, and Minnesota, as well as the mountains of Colorado. We use closed cell spray foam insulation, which is the highest R-value for our application. We also use extra reinforcements in our framing to handle snow loads. Ask us about the different seasonal energy efficiency ratios (SEER) of our air conditioning systems.

A: Great question. ELECTRICITY: There is a 50 amp exterior plug that powers the whole house. This is an RV style plug and can connect to 50 amp service or power poles that you see at campgrounds and RV resorts. WATER IN: A pressurized water source, whether from a utility provider, well, or cistern, can provide water for the entire tiny house. The connection is standard for a potable water hose. A pressure regulator is already built into the house. WATER OUT: Our models do not come with onboard water storage tanks. Most of our clients are preparing for a more permanent setup and are plumbing into an existing septic or waste water system. We provide a PVC stub out that can be adapted to various connections. PROPANE: Propane is ideal for tiny homes, especially for powering an on-demand hot water supply. It is standard for us not to mount the propane tanks to the home. We mount a console for the regulator so that you can create a more permanent connection with larger ground-mounted tanks.

A: We use ZIP System sheathing on all our homes. This water-resistant and continuous air barrier eliminates the need for a house wrap and pairs well with our spray foam-insulated walls to weatherize our tiny homes and maximize their energy efficiency. For natural wood accents, we use a rainscreen application, so that moisture does not get trapped behind the materials and passes freely away from the tiny home.

A: We typically recommend using a 3rd-party professional mover when moving your tiny home, especially if it’s only moved on rare occasions. The tiny homes weigh between 11,000 and 21,000 lbs and can be towed by a ¾ ton or 1 ton pickup truck.

A: We want to help ensure your success when situating your home, so we help you think through
your overall site plan. Like your tiny home, the wheels are engineered to last a lifetime; they can be removed but they can also be left on and covered with wheel covers. In short: you don’t need to pour a slab for your tiny home to park on, it will perform well on a level gravel area. However, it does need to be leveled and supported. We recommend concrete block piers for stabilizing and leveling the home.

A: Your home is a reflection of what matters to you. Whatever your style, we have many creative ways to help your home stand out. From overall aesthetic and layout, to creating a color palette, to picking fixtures and finishes that bring it all together, we help guide your inspirations to a cohesive design that fits your vision. The exterior renderings on our website are just a few examples of how our homes can look. Rooflines, exterior siding and accents, and window plans shape the look of your tiny home in so many different ways. The interior aesthetic is also customized, from farmhouse to modern and everywhere in-between. Get in touch with us to learn more.

A: Our homes can be equipped with different kinds of toilets depending on your site plan. Our standard is the Nature’s Head composting toilet or a standard gravity-flush toilet. We also have options for a Separett urine diverting toilet and incinerating toilets. So whether you’re hooking up to septic or going off-grid, we can use systems that suit your needs and comfort level. It is our standard practice to provide water, an outlet, and vent in all toilet areas so you can swap out for a different type of toilet if you choose to do so in the future.
A: Without getting overly technical, we know that some people have to dive deep in order to get answers about tiny home legality and quality standards. Wind River’s tiny homes are certified as Recreational Vehicles (RV’s) by Pacific West Associates, an accredited RV engineering firm. Our tiny homes are required to be built to codes and standards set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). These codes deal with structural integrity, fire safety, and various other precautions and quality standards. These are the same standards that the RV Industry Association (RVIA) uses (RVIA is not a separate certification, only a different certifying agent).

A: Within the previously mentioned RV building codes, Park Model RV’s are distinguished from normal RV’s in that they are oversized for traveling on public roads and/or they are meant to be hardwired into an electric grid rather than with an RV plug. Park Model RV’s are meant for long-term stays and are less likely to be moved. Some local jurisdictions only allow tiny homes with Park Model RV certifications, so it’s important to know your local ordinances.

A: The need for better financing options is an industry-wide issue. The list of lending partners continues to grow as more and more states pass tiny home friendly ordinances. We are proud to partner with banks that offer RV loans suited for tiny homes, with favorable terms and rates. We hope to offer in-house financing in the future, but for now we are happy to point our customers in the right direction for the current available options. Most of our clients piece together their financing with a mix of personal savings and loans. Ask us how we can help guide you through the process.

A: Yes! Our design and engineering team is always working on new concepts. We are a team of creatives and innovators, adapting to the needs and wants of our customers. Throughout 2021, we will release more designs for both ends of the tiny home spectrum — from the ultra-minimalist, to the family of four or more. If you’re looking for something specific, feel free to get in touch.

A: Our production facility and design center are our showroom! Our homes are built-to-order at our 9,000 sq ft production facility in Chattanooga, TN. Tours can be scheduled by appointment for our current and potential clients. We showcase our portfolio of past builds on our website, and will continue to add photos as we build our new designs. You can also see more of our beautiful homes on our social media accounts. We hope to open another location out West in the future, so keep an eye out for us!

For additional information about tiny home maintenance, see our blog post here.

read more