Rover Tiny Home FAQs
So many questions! If you don’t see it answered here, please give us a call, or send us an email.
We’re happy to help.
Yes. Our cottages can be financed because they are A277 Certified. And the best part is that they can be moved to bare land and financed as a house on land. Many people are unaware that bare land requires a 50% down payment. However, if a Rover cottage is placed onto bare land, the bank views it as financing a house on land, which then only requires a 5% down payment! So, before you decide whether to by an R.V. for your bare land or a Rover cottage, keep in mind that your financing could be much easier with a cottage. Another advantage is that a cottage will increase in value as time moves on rather than depreciate as an R.V. will.
It costs us about $1,200 – $3,500 to move the units here within the Fraser Valley and we can give you a fairly accurate estimate for moving a unit to your location. Rover includes moving in the listed price up to three hours away from Chilliwack. If you need a crane, that will be an additional charge, but let’s get you a quote so that you can decide.
This question is not possible to answer as each location and the services available vary widely. For delivery, it would be safe to budget about $1,000 for each hour from our shop, (i.e. if you live 4 hrs away, the cost will be about $4,000 for delivery), and possibly allow $2-3,000 if you need a crane. A large crane with a very far reach able to lift a tiny home over a house and into your back yard can be up to $10,000.
As far as services, the least expensive scenario is when there is power, water and sewage at the lot line. If you need a septic field installed and a well drilled, it will add significant cost.
In order to produce Tiny Homes that are built better than the competition, and yet offer them at a lower price, Rover takes a slightly different approach in its sales strategy. We do not offer full customization during the construction process – though we can modify our plans to a certain extent. The completed units are posted on our website with details and a price. While this may deter some buyers, it makes for a superior yet more affordable alternative for others.
If you require services to be installed, a well can cost anywhere from $6,000 – $20,000 depending on depth. Septic usually costs about $8,000-$16,000 and connection costs will depend on how much work needs to be done and whether the unit is being placed on a pad or a foundation. A professional should have a look at your site and provide a quote for the scope of work.
Rover will customize our current plans to fit your needs! If you’d like it longer, shorter, a different kitchen layout, a smaller bathroom, larger bedroom… just let us know and we will do our best to make it work for you!
Your district or city building department can help answer those questions. The best way to start is to email your local planning department. Also, we can often investigate that for you.
Rover currently does not have an off-grid model. If you are interested in an off-grid cottage, please let us know. We would love to build some if there is demand.
Yes, they are. Each model includes apartment size appliances. Fridge, stove, dishwasher, and washer/dryer.
We work with a company that can give you a quote for adding solar. There are some great options available nowadays.
We heat our units using various methods. Most of them use a “Ductless mini-split” system, which is essentially an electric heating and air conditioning unit. This provides you with great heat for that ski Chalet, or cool evenings after a hot summer day. Many of our cottages also have propane fireplaces. A wood stove could be added to a finished cottage after delivery, but would require a separate permit in many regions.
They can be placed on a basement, crawlspace, gravel pad, concrete pad, or concrete piers and more recently there are companies that install screw piles, which are large steel screws that are drilled into the ground and then they have saddles welded to them for the beams that support the home.
This will vary depending on the unit, but usually 100 – 125 Amps. See the corresponding spec. sheet for information.
At this point, all our cottages require full hookups, either to city water, a well, or other water source such as a creek or lake. Also there are no holding tanks, so you’ll need a septic field or city sewer. Please let us know if you like the idea of a self-contained cottage as we would love to build some if there is demand.
Yes. If your cottage is attached to a foundation, piers, or screw piles, it can be insured in the same manner as a house. If it is sitting on blocks, it can be insured in the same manner as a mobile home.
If your home is affixed to land, it can be financed using a conventional mortgage. If you are looking to purchase an RV model home, we have several partners we can reccommend.
You never know until you ask! They can be shipped all over B.C. by truck or even ferry or barge. We find that the biggest hurdles are in close proximity to the final destination. Such as steep slopes, driveway access, room for the truck and crane, power lines etc. So let us know and we’d happy to look into that for you.
We have homes for sale on properties throughout B.C. That will be the quickest and most simple option, but Rover Tiny Home’s sales manager is also a licensed real estate agent and specializes in finding recreational properties. Give Andrea a call if you would like help finding a recreational property for one of our cottages.
Our new Cypress model can easily sleep 6, maybe even 8. So, if you have a large family or would like to maximize your Air BNB revenue, check out the Cypress. It has a very efficient layout and so while it may not be for everyone, it’s perfect for most.
We do not offer in house financing but we work closely with several lenders who have made it possible for many clients to purchase one of our homes. Give us a call and we can send their information your way!
Put simply, a tiny home is an R.V. using many conventional residential building materials and methods. Given that there is no set definition for a tiny home, most people would consider any easily transportable cottage a tiny home. At Rover, our focus has been mainly on portable cottages, but we are also just releasing a line of true towable “Tiny homes.” Some of them are quite large and require a larger pickup truck , but once on site, will live very well.
A certified Tiny Home can be financed. Tiny Homes fall under the R.V category and can be financed as such. We have a great relationship with Haley RV in Gibsons. They can easily help you get set up with financing. Just let us know and we’ll introduce you.
In order to produce Tiny Homes that are built better than the competition, and yet offer them at a lower price, Rover takes a slightly different approach in its sales strategy. We do not offer customization or client input during the construction process. The completed units are posted on our website with details and a price. While this may deter some buyers, it makes for a superior yet more affordable alternative for others.
We do not offer customization or client input during the construction process. However, we can customize such things as an exterior colour scheme, interior paint, and other aesthetics.
From start to finish, the construction process takes about 6 weeks. However, the overall timeline will depend on how many orders need to be completed before yours begins. We should be able to give you a fairly accurate estimate at the time that the order is placed.
Yes, for serious inquiries, an appointment can be booked with our sales manager at our shop when there is a unit available for purchase. This will tend to be in the winter months as Rover also manufactures portable cottages which is our focus in spring and summer.
If the unit is going to be moved frequently and you would like the freedom to move it yourself, a tiny home could be the answer. Our line of portable cottages require special equipment, knowledge and permits in order to be moved. Many of the towable tiny homes also come self-contained with water, septic, batteries, and propane. Currently, our cottages require service connections.
Almost all tiny home manufacturers build to a max width of 8’ plus roof overhangs. Anything over 8.5’ requires a permit and possibly a pilot car.
Much like an R.V., most municipalities have bylaws against full time R.V. rentals. These bylaws tend to be enforced based on complaints. Should a person choose to use a Tiny Home as a rental unit, they do so at their own risk, however many are successfully rented as Air BNB’s.
