Would you stay here?

[janetlane]

Not AIBU, but need high traffic so here goes...

Husband has been unsatisfied in his job for a while now and looking for a career change and he wants to set up his own business.
He has always wanted to run a campsite kind of thing and has recently got into the tiny house craze.

So i was wondering would people like to stay in tiny houses? An alternative to camping pods, so you get a bit of home comforts while still kind of camping haha/

Have you seen these ?
Tiny A frame, wooden pods that unfold in 6 hours!!

Can I book us in for 2020?

Yes to checking planning. If they're on wheels (so you can move them around) they might be considered temporary dwellings. It might also help if you did need to move them for any reason.

Yes to outside storage for wellies and coats etc esp if boots can hang upside down to drain/be protected in rain. Not much room in a tiny house for a parka and boots x 2.

Yes to checking effluent/water courses/insurance. And what your obligations are re providing onsite attendance at all times/fire regs etc.

Yes to checking for local staff availability. As PPs have said, someone needs to run the website/take bookings/check guests in or show them round and someone needs to clean/change sheets, preferably a number of people so there's a roster and back up. Also people who can sort electrics/plumbing/blocked loos.

And what would you have done in weather like this or torrential rain? You might need to have a huge 4WD to drag cars out/take people to train stations.

You'd also need to have storage/welcome unit on site for people to check in and for storing loo rolls/towels/bedding/cleaning stuff. And possibly a communal area for the really wet days .... or make sure people know there isn't one.

You say you have a full time job - will you need to maintain it? is it far away? are you prepared to work the extra hours to get this going?

I admire you both for what could be a joyous venture albeit enormous hardwork. Just don't let your hearts rule your heads.

acrossthePond55 Just had a look and they're lovely! To die for even!

He does understand the work involved

milliemolliemou lovely advice thanks so much. I admire him for persuading me haha. It is a remote working job, flexible hours for good pay. Good idea on storage space.

DanglyEarOrnaments Of course!

janetlane - I don't know you or your partner but unless he has run this sort of business before then he doesn't know how much work is involved. are you happy never being able to go away in school holidays because that will be the peak time for your business?

cleaning, maintenance, putting the rubbish out, sorting out the problems, showing people in all of that is going to be down to just him. you wont be able to afford to hire trades people in on a daily basis, not even at mates rates.

business rates will be horrendous. and what is the planning situation going to be like? if its a field what about running water, power to heat it, site lighting, site roads for when the weather is horrific. has he made a start on his business plan? if not then there might be some grants available to help with this if you are in Wales. have a look at your local LEP or business forum to see what business support he can get.

we run a business where we work the most in school holidays with a bit in term time - a very niche business and great fun. but not being able to go away together on holiday is horrible especially now with the term time rules. its my biggest regret.

mummymeister Possibly all year, defintley summer and half terms

camping pods/tourism accommodation like this is going to be seasonal not all year round. not sure what your comment is in answer to sorry!!

The tiny house site near us is open all year round.

It’s more popular in the summer obviously, but it’s definately a go-er in the winter

muumymeister We are aware of the implications and he has a tad experience being a camp warden for a year, but not really the same,

But yes we have looked into all the stuff you mentioned. We are mainly looking at do people like the idea of a tiny house

Ellybellyboo that is good to hear.

mummymeister my response was to you asking whether it is a year round venture.

Anyone else have n opinion on whether you would stay in a tiny house>

Absolutely!

We would (I'd hate it but DH and kids would love it) and we're only down the road from you, throw in as hottub or something as pp said and I imagine alot of people I know would love it!

Ahardmanisgoottofind Ooh why hello there haha.

Could i ask do people expect or would really like a hottub>

He how about hot tubs?

Also perhaps a sauna block and possibly a pool perhaps indoor but with opening doors for the summer months? You've got loads of room but guess it would depend on the price

Don't forget a drying room for wet kit

Doh just seen above - hot tub
Would increas the price so perhaps some availability but not for all?! Or increase price a little for hot tub use?

I'd personally live that if my husband wanted to Go for hiking and biking etc

flumpybear That sounds very luxurious hahaha.

flumpybear You have got our aim.

We want to provide people with a cosy but nice base to then explore but someone can still stay on site and relax in comfort if they don't want to do exploring

the health and safety, coshh assessment side of stuff would put me off running a business with hot tubs. the more things like this you put in the more you have to charge and you have to work out really if they are worth. that's what a business plan is for - scenario generation with prices etc.

don't forget fire risk assessments and the need to put in hard wired smoke alarms and kit which needs looking at every year.

I give business advice informally through various organisations to start ups. most fail unfortunately and its due to over exaggeration of income and under exaggeration of fixed and variable costs. the best ones the ones that go on and make it, always have the most comprehensive and well thought through business plans.

Another who would consider it but only if dog friendly. We normally camp with a tent or book a static.

mummymeinster we are working on the plan over the next few weeks.

But yes i did think hot tubs were a bit OTT for a tiny house, but if people really wanted them we could put them in.

... a hot tub might make me choose accommodation over an alternative for the same price, but I wouldn't pay extra for one.

ScreamingValenta Yes dog friendly, would you mind paying more? Or having a limit on number of dogs?

DH is an Architect and has had clients who commissioned him to bring to fruition a project very similar to this. It was fraught with unseen complications due to planning and other legal regulations. It took over 2 years to finally get to the building stage and was very costly.

A lovely idea, but please do a thorough plan of all aspects. If money or site problems stop the project it can be soul destroying.