One of the most intriguing aspects of building a barndominium is the fact that it costs so much less than a traditional house. No matter where you are planning to get it built, the barndominium cost is going to be much easier to come by than that of a traditional home. Because of this, barndominiums are becoming more and more popular for people who might not otherwise be able to build a custom home for themselves. The lower barndominium cost is incredibly appealing and something that should definitely be taken into consideration if you are trying to decide whether building a custom home is the right option for you.
How much does a barndominium cost, though?
In this article, we will break down all of the different costs associated with a barndominium build and how they line up with a traditional home build. By fully understanding all the prices that you will be faced with when building a barndominium, you can be prepared for the actual barndominium cost and might even have some money left over for the things you want to include with your custom home. This will help you be as ready as possible when the time comes for you to build your own barndominium.
How Do You Budget for a Home Build?
When you are budgeting for a home build, one of the best ways to do it is to figure out the cost per square foot. This is one of the easiest ways because it will let you know exactly how much house you can afford and what you might have to sacrifice if you don’t have the money for everything you want.
By figuring out a barndominium cost per square foot, you can be ready for whatever expenses might come along during the entire process. This is a great way to be prepared financially and emotionally for your home build and ensure that you won’t be blindsided by any surprises along the way.
It should be noted that the cost per square foot for your barndominium build will only include the initial construction. We will break down some of the things that the barndominium cost will and will not include further down in this article, but it is worth knowing that generally, this price will include things like the concrete slab foundation and the metal building. It will be everything that your home needs to get up off the ground and will not include much else. By knowing this, you can be ready to add a little bit extra to your budget to make sure you can afford all the things you want in your actual barndominium and anything else that you might want to add.
How Much Does a Traditional House Cost?
The cost of building a house will vary depending on a lot of different factors.
For example, the state you decide to build your house in will have a lot to do with how much it costs to build. It will also change depending on who you decide to hire to do some of the more heavy-duty work. Some contractors are going to be more expensive than others and this will have a big effect on the overall cost of your home build.
A traditional home, however, will require less specialization from a builder, so you may end up saving a little bit of money on that particular aspect of the build. For the most part, though, a traditional home will take longer to build and this will be reflected in the final cost of the labor for the entire project.
Generally, you should expect to spend somewhere in the range of $150 and $200 per square foot for a traditional home build. This will be the initial construction of the actual structure and will not include many of the things that make a house actually livable.
By understanding this, you can see why a traditional home may cost quite a bit more than a barndominium. Traditional houses usually do not have the option of coming in kits and they will require a lot more work to actually get up off the ground.
Check out our barndominium kits under 100k to learn how easy it is to start your barndominium build with a kit.
How Much Does a Barndominium Cost?
Conversely, a barndominium will cost somewhere between $90 and $140 per square foot, depending on the state. This is because a barndominium is a lot easier to get up off the ground than a traditional home.
Due to the prefabricated nature of most metal buildings, a barndominium can be built in about half the time it takes to build a traditional house. Everything is put up in large pieces instead of being put together piecemeal like a wood-framed home. This makes it a lot easier to build and will save you money on labor and tool rental when the time comes to actually start building.
It should be noted, however, that these costs do not include the piece of land that you choose to build your barndominium on. This will be an added cost and should be factored into your own specific barndominium cost.
This price will also not include things like custom cabinetry, appliances and electronics. If you want to include these things in your barndominium cost, you will have to move some things around in your budget. It should also be noted that these examples of barndominium cost only include livable space. If you want to add things like garages, attics, or outbuildings, they will have to be included separately in your barndominium budget.
What is Included in the Barndominium Cost?
The specific things that are included in the barndominium cost will vary depending on the builder that you use and the place that you build in.
Generally, these figures will include your concrete slab foundation, the metal building, and the general utility things you need in order to get your home actually livable.
This barndominium cost will get you a home that is ready to be made into a livable space, but it will not include the things that make a house a home. If you want to include these things, you will have to include them in your complete budget as well.
This barndominium cost will usually include the labor that it takes to build your home, though. This is an important distinction because labor is an integral part of the cost of building a home. Finding high-quality labor is one of the most important things that you will have to do when building a barndominium. It will more or less make or break your entire barndominium build and will be a major contributor to how your build goes.
Finding good labor and being able to pay for it will make all the difference when the time comes to get your barndominium up off the ground and ready for move-in day.
What is Not Included in the Barndominium Cost?
Knowing what is not included in the barndominium cost is just as important as knowing what is included.
By understanding the full scale of everything you will need to pay for, you can get a good idea of how much money you should be set aside after you have put together your plans.
Generally, the barndominium cost will not include things like shops, utility rooms, and closets. These things will need to be included separately within your entire budget.
The cost per square foot will also not include any non-livable space like basements or attics, so if you are going to furnish these types of spaces, you will need to be prepared to pay extra for them.
Your barndominium cost per square foot will also not include any extra things like furniture, cabinetry or electronics.
While these are things that make a home livable, they will not be included in the initial construction costs. You will have to set aside money to pay for these things outside of your construction budget. However, because a barndominium is going to be so much cheaper than a traditional house, you should be able to afford these things much more easily than you would otherwise be able to with a traditional home.
What Size is a Barndominium?
One of the nice things about a barndominium is that you can make it practically any size you could possibly want. There is almost no limit to the square footage that you could have for your barndominium home compared to a traditional home. Many barndominium floor plans and kits come in a 30×40 size. This is 1,200 square feet, which has an average cost of around $138,000. For a custom dream home, this is a relatively low price that almost anyone can get funding for from a bank through a construction loan. Depending on the housing market where you are planning to build, this could end up being much cheaper than even buying an already built home.
Before you decide to build a larger barndominium, though, you should check with your local municipality and make sure that larger homes are allowed within their zoning codes. Zoning is the regulation of what is allowed to be built in a particular place and you should always try to be in compliance with these codes. A building inspector will come and look at your barndominium build throughout almost every step of the process, so you will know relatively quickly whether or not you are in compliance with the local zoning. Knowing these codes ahead of time can save you a lot when it comes to your barndominium cost.
Hiring a Builder vs. Being Your Own Contractor
One of the ways you can save money on your barndominium cost is to do a lot of your own work. While you may still need a professional to help you with some of the more complicated jobs, there are quite a few things that you can do on your own that can save you a lot of money in the long run. If you have the skills to do it, you could end up offsetting some of the costs for your initial construction. For example, putting up your own metal siding is a job that most people can do even if they don’t have a lot of experience. This is especially true if you have purchased a barndominium kit. Your kit will come with instructions on how to put everything together and from that, you can decide the jobs that you will be fit to do on your own.
That being said, There are a lot of jobs that are necessary when building a house that an individual probably shouldn’t take on themselves. Electricity, structural building, and other, more skilled jobs are going to be best left to a professional or a specialist. Not only will this keep you safe while you are going through your barndominium build, but it will also save you money on having to redo jobs that aren’t up to the standards of the building code inspector.
Cheapest States to Build a Barndominium
As we mentioned above, your barndominium cost will depend heavily on the state you are building in. Just like with any home market, some states will be more expensive than others. This will be dependent on things like population, proximity to large urban areas and the economics of the area itself. However, that does not mean that the cheaper areas are any less desirable. If you are a person who enjoys rural living, building a barndominium in one of the less expensive states could be the very thing you are looking for in a place to settle down with yourself or your family.
Some of the cheapest states to build a barndominium are Ohio, West Virginia, North Dakota, and Nebraska. All of these states have an average per square foot barndominium cost of under $100. Because of this, you could build your barndominium for very little and end up saving yourself quite a bit of money. All of these states have their own desirable qualities and there is no reason you wouldn’t be as happy in one of these places as you might be somewhere else more expensive.
Conclusion
Building a barndominium can be incredibly rewarding and gratifying for the right person. As it turns out, it can also be quite a bit cheaper than building a traditional home. Because of this, barndominiums could be a good option for all kinds of people who might not otherwise be able to build their own home that is designed to their exact specifications. While financing your barndominium may be a little bit more difficult we give you some really great ideas when it comes to financing your barndominium as well as who offers barndominium insurance. Putting your own barndominium floor plan can also be made easier with barndominium design software available.
Hopefully, by reading this guide about what the barndominium cost might be, you have a greater understanding of why these unique homes are such a great option for so many different people. Check out the rest of Barndominiums.co for even more information on these homes and how you might benefit from building your very own home from a metal post frame building.
