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/

The Tiny House Conference found that the average cost of building a tiny house, by yourself, was $23,000 so £16,658.21. Assuming you wouldn't be having certain features, given that they're not homes as such, you could probably take this down to about £14,500. With each tiny home accommodating 2 people, you're talking 81 booked nights at £80pp or 162 booked nights charging £80 per house before you start to make a return on your investment. Also consider the time and money investment of cleaning and laundry.

I think it's fantastic that you have the land and that your DH is experienced from the building point of view. I would caution, however, that I think it will be absolutely vital for you to adequately promote yourselves through the correct channels. I don't just mean the odd Instagram post but a really targeted marketing plan with a heavy focus on SEO.

Check if there's any issues with planning permission before committing. I don't know how little houses are viewed by planning authorities.

Is this different from chalets?

This in Wales is £90 a night, but has a hot tub and a wood burning stove.

www.siabodhuts.co.uk/shepherds-huts.php

Wood burning stoves seem to be common, which must mean they are in demand.

thanks for the opinions so far guys

I think you’re both nuts, running something like that is relentless & life as you know it stops. Completely. Forever. ...but that’s not what you’re asking 🤣

I love staying in ‘different’ places, like old steam train carriages repurposed, boats, tree huts etc so if they were different and cute I’d stay. If he built 10 boring brown Tiny Houses in a row I wouldn’t.

I’d also only book it if I could choose which one I was staying in

I’d want a reasonably private space. When I used to camp I’d take the 4x4 well off the beaten track by choice. Dig own loo, solar shower etc.

Not interested in a spa. People will shag in them and I’d be concerned how well they’d be able to be cleaned. .

Walking distance to a pub & bakery...definitely ticking boxes.

Personally, I think it will be hard to get the pricing where you’d need it to be to cover the cost of building Tiny Houses. But good luck if you decide to do it. An update when you’ve decided would be great!

Ah i only checked one local to us crunchymint so will need to cast the net out a bit

Yes I am not sure this will pay enough either. Agree that a quirky place I would be more likely to stay in like a railway carriage.
OP look at the price of all types of accommodation round about you. Some parts of Wales are relatively cheap to stay in, some are not. No one is going to pay over the going local rate.

AnnieAnoniMouse We are a bit mad haha. The tiny houses won't be boring the hubby is creative to say the least. He even had the idea of buying narrowboats and using them on land. Definite choice would be given and with 35 acres we think a reasonable amount of privacy cab be given.

Crunchymint Thank you so much, we do think we are perfectly set though, with picture perfect village, then a town and amazing walks so close by.

With 35 acres you could provide a space for off-lead dog exercise, which would really sell it to that market.

ScreamingValenta What a good idea

thanks again for the help guys

I’ve seen lost of posters mention that you need someone to let you in. If it’s like a mini holiday rental you won’t need that. I’ve been to several holidays homes in the UK where we’ve let ourselves in using a key safe box. The people who do the cleaning reset the code on change over day,

I really love camping, but as I get older I want a bit more comfort, so your idea would really appeal to me.

ohyesiam You're definitley part of our target audience

My partner is obsessed with shepherds huts and has done loads of research.

People love them, especially with a woodburner. They are sold as romantic hideaways.

I probably would go for an actual house myself. But from our research they do sell really well, and £90 a night is common.

I would consider it - it is the nearest we would get to camping, as I would be put off by the thought of having to go wandering in the night for toilets.

I was looking at self catering in North Wales last week. We would need a family version as it would be two adults and a child. Since our daughter has been in school we have been going in August and have paid around £600-£700 per week for properties varying in size and facilities. Around £80 -£100 per night for the property would be within that range. I would consider paying more if it was something a bit different to the norm, or the location or facilities attracted me.

Most places we have stayed in have been bigger, but it would encourage us not to over pack

I agree with having a space, outside if needed to store wet clothes/boots. Would help keep the property clean inside too.

A hot tub wouldn't really make much difference to us. Our daughter may like it, but I wouldn't pay extra. Having one or two onsite that could be booked ( even for a small charge) sounds like a middle road - less expense, less cleaning, but still an extra facility.

Having a number of businesses, pubs etc nearby sounds ideal as people may not be able to cook depending on what was in the little house, and others may not want too,
I possibly would pay extra if there was something such as a communal area, especially if family sized little houses were available. Not thinking club house, but maybe a room with a selection of family games etc, that there may not be space for in the little house but could give an escape if the weather was not good enough to be doing outdoor activities.

We have stayed in a number of places where the key was in a coded box outside. The last place we stayed in the owner was there to meet us but she only had to walk about 5 metres from the house next door.

If it helps. I usually start searching for holiday accommodation on the tourist board websites. I feel that way at least I know the website is a genuine provider. Searching might also give you an idea as to what else is out there and the prices being charged etc.

Depending on what else is nearby, if going to a specific attraction, I have also looked on their websites at properties nearby.

I really love this company wee house.
www.facebook.com/theweehousecompany/

I also love these pallet houses a concept first designed for refugees. Just a thought occasional workshops to learn to build these or sheds or something? www.viralforest.com/pallet-house/

butterfly990 Thanks for the links, we ove the wee houses too. Would people stay in them?

Talkingfrog Thanks for all the help / opinions. Especially the communal area idea, love it!

would just like to say thank you so far, for all the amazing advice and opinions. Please keep them coming

I agree about the 'family room' - these seem surprisingly well-used in the digital age! You can also have a bit of a library - start it off with a few charity shop books and then people will add to it with holiday books that they don't want to keep.

ScreamingValenta I agree about the family room it does sound good.

Just to add a family room will require more cleaning and you may have to deal with complaints about rowdy families using it.
I agree it is a great thing to have for people staying, but it will take time to manage.

crunchymint Good point