Alternative Living: From ADU Homes To Stationary Travel Trailer

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to shake up your living arrangements from a residential home to a stationery travel trailer, adu homes, tiny homes or on the road living? Living on the open road, and maybe closer to nature? There are various unique new options for homeowners out there, for those who know how to look for them. This piece will go over just a few of them and tips for making them your own.  

A World of Alternative Homes 

What exactly makes a home alternative? What makes ADU homes different from traditional homes? As the saying goes, it’s hard to tell, but you know it when you see it. We all understand what a traditional home looks like – be it a house, an apartment, or a condo. Any home that tries to shake up the nature of space or land could count as an alternative home. Some of the most well-known types of alternative homes include some of the following: 

Manufactured Homes

Before a code change in 1976, these homes were known as “mobile homes.” However, for modern prefabricated homes, the proper term is actually “manufactured homes.” These houses are generally pre-built before being moved to their construction sites. The fact that they are prebuilt means that they can be much more affordable and quickly constructed.

Traditionally mobile homes were considered pretty essential. However, modern manufactured homes come with great options and features and are generally built to a much higher standard than their mobile home predecessors. Modern manufactured homes can look quite luxurious! Despite this, you’ll often need special manufactured home insurance.

Modular Homes 

Modular homes are very similar to manufactured homes – they can probably be considered a variation on the concept. As far as manufactured home insurance goes, they’re often considered the same thing.

The main difference is how they are put together. Generally, a manufactured home has a set floorplan. While you can certainly customize within that floorplan, the general shape of the house is set. Modular homes, on the other hand, are made in a few different pieces. These pieces can be put together in a variety of ways. This means you can get the home floor plan that you like best!

Travel Trailers

For some, travel trailers are a great way to get some of the comforts of home while camping or traveling the roads. For others, their travel trailer becomes so beloved that they use it as a home full time. Plenty of modern travel trailers are spacious and luxurious and can give you all the comforts of home.

However, while travel trailers give you open road freedom, they also give you some legal considerations. If you’re going from campground to campground in your travel trailer, you’ll have no problem. However, if you want to settle down, you might find it a bit more complicated. There aren’t always easily accessible places that allow zoning for travel trailers. If your travel trailer is stationary, you’ll also want to make sure that you have the best travel trailer insurance, just like with any home.

Tiny Homes

Thanks to shows like Tiny House Nation, tiny homes have taken off in the cultural zeitgeist over the past few years. Tiny homes are the natural extension of living in travel trailers. If there are issues with making travel trailers stationary, why not build a tiny house right on your land? 

Tiny homes allow people to cut down on housing expenses and their environmental impact. They’re also great for people looking to cut down on the clutter in their lives. There may also be tiny home communities near you. These places are a recreation of villages of the past, with tight senses of community and shared resources.

The zoning of tiny homes can be tricky in some jurisdictions, which are still figuring them out. Before you join a tiny home community, it pays to research the zoning laws in your area. 

ADU Homes 

ADU stands for Accessory Dwelling Units. Generally, these are small homes that legally “piggyback” onto a larger lot. This could mean a few things – a basement suite, a tiny home in the backyard, or a small living space over a garage. ADU’s can be used to help give friends or family a place to stay, temporarily or permanently on your main land of residency. Many homeowners also charge rent on ADU tenants, using them to make a little bit more money on their property. However, ADU’s may also require their own upkeep payments, and you may need to get extra specialty insurance as well. 

Things to Consider Before Getting an Alternate Home 

As you can see, alternate homes provide a wide range of different living options to what you are used to. They are similar in that they provide alternative options to those who feel like the traditional housing market just doesn’t work for them.

You need to take a moment to consider some things before you jump right into getting an alternative home. Firstly, you have to take a long hard look at yourself and ask if this is the right choice for you and your way of living. Some kinds of alternative homes require severe downsizing. For many people, this is the point. For others, it’s not feasible. 

You also might need to consider the possibility that you’ll need to move cities or even states to be able to enjoy your manufactured home. (Of course, for some people, a change in scenery is the point!) You’ll have to find a location where you can zone your chosen alternative home.

Of course, you’ll also have to consider a new homeowners insurance plan. Getting manufactured home insurance, or other kinds of specialty insurance, isn’t always easy. If you use your alternative home for renting, like ADU homes, things like landlord insurance and renters insurance also come into consideration.

Thankfully, with CoverTree, getting manufactured home insurance or any specialty home insurance is a snap. You can get it all done online and in just three minutes – so get started today!