Building a Barndominium in Virginia – The Complete Guide

Building your own home is one of the most rewarding projects you can take on. Being able to design and build a house completely from scratch allows you to give yourself everything you could want in a home and make it perfect for you and your family. It is a challenging process but if you are able to do it, you can be certain that the home you design will be suitable for many years to come.

However, if you have ever looked into building your own house, you have probably been put off by how expensive it can be and how complicated the build process is. It isn’t as accessible as you might like and this has probably prompted you to look elsewhere. 

That’s why building a barndominium in Virginia is such a great option. With the popularity of alternative housing like container homes and tiny houses, bankers and builders are expanding their vocabulary when it comes to the types of homes they will work on. A barndominium is a great way to break into the new home construction world without having to spend a fortune and can be much more accessible to people who might not otherwise be able to build their own custom home. 

In this article, we have put together everything you will need to know to build a barndominium in Virginia. By having this kind of in-depth information at hand, you can be sure that your project will be getting off on the right foot. 

barndominium in virginia exterior

What Is a Barndominium and What Are Some of the Advantages?

A barndominium is a custom home that is built with the structure of a metal post frame building or pole barn. These types of buildings are usually reserved for things like warehouses or stables but they are also perfect for building residential projects. They use metal post frames that are driven into the ground and secured with cement on top of a concrete slab foundation. There are all kinds of benefits to building a barndominium in Virginia over a traditionally constructed home. 

One of the main benefits of building a barndominium in Virginia is the price. Barndominiums can be built in about half the time it takes to build a traditional home. Because of this shortened timeline, you can save quite a bit of money on labor and materials. This makes a barndominium in Virginia much more attainable for people who might not otherwise be able to build their own home.

One of the other major advantages of a barndominium in Virginia is their durability. Because of their all-steel construction, barndominiums are incredibly durable and built for longevity. They are not nearly as susceptible to things like rot, mold, and mildew. This can save you a lot of money down the line on things like structural repairs. 

Cost of Building a Barndominium in Virginia 

One of the first things you will probably want to do when thinking about building a barndominium in Virginia is come up with your budget. With a large project like a home, this is usually done by finding out the cost per square foot. By knowing this figure, you can decide exactly how much house you can afford. This will allow you to pick a size for your concrete slab foundation as well as how many bedrooms and bathrooms you will want in your barndominium. 

The cost of building a traditional home in Virginia is about $240 per square foot. It is important to know that this price does not include things like furnishings, countertops, or any of the extras that you might want on a custom home. If you want to add those things, you will need to add more money to your final budget, which could be problematic for some people. 

The cost of building a barndominium in Virginia, though, is quite a bit less. For just $220 per square foot, you can get the initial construction of your home done. While this may not seem like a very big difference, when it is spread out over the area of the entire home, you can end up saving quite a bit of money. With this, you could potentially add all the things that you would want when going through the trouble of designing and building your own custom home. 

Barndominium Builders in Virginia

barndominium in virginia exterior

After you have decided on a budget, you will then have to figure out who you are going to hire to do the actual building. This can be difficult since not every construction company will have experience building metal post frame building. The construction business is incredibly varied and it can be hard to find someone who will work well with your specific project in mind. Luckily, there are a few things you can look for that will help you decide. 

One of the most important things to look for in a builder for your barndominium in Virginia is experience. Many home builders will only have experience building timber stick frame homes, so it’s important that you look for someone who has done this kind of specific work before. There are a number of companies that specialize in building pole barns, so it would be best to start with one of them. 

The other thing you should look for in a builder for your barndominium in Virginia is good customer service. Building a home is incredibly personal and it is important that you find someone who you can get along with and has your best interest at heart. Look for online reviews where previous clients have given opinions of a builder’s customer service. Make sure you narrow down your search to companies that have provided a solid final product as well as a good experience. To help you get started, we have put together a short list of some of the best builders for your barndominium in Virginia.

Superior Buildings

Superior Buildings works on all kinds of metal post frame projects and they could be a great option for your barndominium in Virginia. Their experience with different iterations of this type of structure gives them the kind of experience you have been looking for. 

We Build Barns

We Build Barns has been in business since 1994. In that time, they have honed their experience and gave themselves the best possible education in this kind of building. They can help you design the perfect home for you and your family. 

Virginia Barn Company

Virginia Barn Company is a class A construction company in Virginia that has built all kinds of pole barns over the years. They specialize in this type of structure and can help you build the perfect building for your custom home. 

Barndominium Kit Providers in Virginia

If you’re not interested in building a barndominium in Virginia completely from the ground up, you can also purchase a barndominium kit. Barndominium kits come with everything you need to get your home up off the ground. They come completely prefabricated and can be delivered right to your build site. 

Most barndominium kit providers will give you complete support throughout your whole build process. Many of them will also have suggestions for contractors who can work on your barndominium in Virginia. This gives you a great start on choosing a builder who is already familiar with the kits and can help you walk through the entire process.  Check out these barndominium kits under 50k and barndominium kits under 100k to make building your barndominium even easier.

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Barndominium Financing in Virginia

BarndominiumLoans.com

One of the best resources for getting barndominium financing is by using BarndominiumLoans.com. They are a quote service that takes down your information and works behind-the-scenes with vetted lenders who are best for your location and financial situation.

Whether you have a perfect credit score or a subpar one, and whether you’re located in South Carolina or South Dakota, you can submit your information to get a quote within 24-48 hours.

Barndominium Financing Request

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Farm Credit of the Virginias

Farm Credit of the Virginias is one of the largest agricultural banks in the area. They have the backing of a national corporation that can allow them to have the kind of security you might be looking for in a bank for your barndominium in Virginia. 

First Bank and Trust

First Bank and Trust is dedicated to the success of the people of Virgina. They are connected to the community but are still a member of the FDIC. If you want this kind of mix of small-business mentality and big-name backing, they could be a great option for you. 

Barndominium Taxes in Virginia

You will have to pay your taxes on your barndominium in Virginia just like you would with any other kind of home. However, sometimes barndominiums fall under a classification called “dual use” construction. This means that you will have to pay a different tax rate for the portions of your home that are meant for living and the portions that are meant for storage. Check with a tax assessor to find out what you should be paying for your particular home. 

Where to Find Barndominium Insurance in Virginia

You should be able to find barndominium insurance anywhere you get traditional homeowners’ insurance. However, one of the things that you should always be on the lookout for is the right coverage. Insurance can have different clauses that will cover certain things your home might be more susceptible to. For example, if you live in an area that has a lot of hurricanes, you should make sure that your barndominium in Virginia is covered. 

Barndominium Floor Plans in Virginia

Of all the things you will need to do during the course of building your barndominium in Virginia, one of the most important is putting together your floor plan. The floor plan is the layout of your home and designates where all the bedrooms and bathrooms are going to go as well as the living areas. To put this together, write out everything you and your family are going to need in order to make your barndominium in Virginia comfortable. Then, take that list to a professional draftsman. They will be able to use that list to put together a professional floor plan that you and your builder can use to build the perfect barndominium. You can also use a barndominium design software.

Barndominiums for Sale in Virginia

Don’t want all the hassle of building a barndominium from the ground up? Then you may want to buy an existing barndominium in Virginia! With our Barndominiums for Sale Marketplace, you can browse to your state and find a barndominium for sale near you.

The beauty of buying an existing barndominium is that it can be really easy to customize the floor plan to your liking. The previous owners’ setup is just a starting point! Also, by buying a barndominium in Virginia, you bypass the potential troubles of the building process – delays, dealing with contractors and subcontractors, and city or county bureaucrats trying to make your build process a nightmare.

Don’t delay – find a barndominium for sale in Virginia now!

Conclusion

By reading this guide, you should now have a good idea of what it takes to build a barndominium in Virginia. Taking all of this information into consideration can help you be as prepared as possible when the time comes to do your actual build. 

If you would like even more in-depth information, be sure to check out the rest of Barndominiums.co. There, you will find all kinds of guides like this one as well as tips and tricks from the pros that can help you get your barndominium in Virginia off the ground.