Thinking big by going small: Tiny homes for sale in central Newfoundland
'Hopefully it catches on and we'll see how it goes,' says Sean Mercer of Rollin Cabins
A business in Grand Falls-Windsor is trying to make it big in the real estate industry by thinking — and building — small.
Sean Mercer owns Rollin Cabins, which is building tiny homes — portable homes that are closer in size to camper trailers but resemble traditional full-sized houses.
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Mercer started the business after seeing the popularity of tiny homes grow in other parts of Canada.
"I've been looking at it for the last couple of years online, becoming a big hit across Canada and the [United] States and hopefully it'll catch on in Newfoundland," Mercer told CBC's Central Morning Show.
The first model built by the company has two levels and its dimensions are about 8.5 by 24 feet — about the size of an average rec room, Mercer said.
'Best of both worlds'
It takes about eight weeks to build one of Mercer's tiny homes, and the cost depends on what customizations the customer wants. The base cost is $65,000 and it goes up from there.
"You get the best of both worlds. You could use it as a cabin or an RV unit or a guest home," said Mercer.
The model unit is equipped with a propane heater, a full-sized kitchen and a three-piece bathroom. The tiny home can switch between a 12-volt and 120-volt electrical system, or utilize solar energy.
A telescopic ladder allows access to the upper level of the tiny home, where the bedroom is.
Mercer said he's heard from plenty of people interested in his company's tiny homes, adding he doesn't know of anyone else in the province currently building them.
"There's been a lot of interest in the last few weeks," said Mercer.
"Hopefully it catches on and we'll see how it goes."