Barn Value in New England

[EddieWalker]

Jim,

I can only speak from my experience here in East Texas.

Adding outbuildings, whether they are barns, garages or sheds generally add about half there cost to build to the equity of the property.

If you pay $20,000 for the building, you should be able to add $10,000 to the selling price of your home.

This doesn't apply to a building that is used to generate income, that it totally different and dependent on the revenue of the business, or one that is habitable.

There's always the exception, but not often.

Good luck
Eddie

 

[JimMorrissey]

WOW.... 450K Insane materials/labor costs.

 

[JimMorrissey]

Wow...must be a beauty though. I know the value of frames varies greatly depending on condition and the skill of the dismantler and erector. The beams are likely white oak....??? That is a pretty big structure.

 

[JimMorrissey]

Makes perfect sense here too....people generally aren't willing to pay the full construction costs...they didn't build it, they didn't design it and they didn't have the need for it. They're glad it's there and are willing to pay, but not the full cost, which makes sense.

I guess it also depends a bit on the finish work....is it heated in a cold/wet environment (Vermont), does it have some architectural appeal, how is it layed out, etc, etc, etc.

 

[scott_vt]

Mornin Mike,
Well, I guess I stand to be enlightened /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif To be fair about it your comparing erecting a 36' x 75' barn along with the expense of all the materials. Considerably larger than 42'x42' ! So your basically using all the materials over again, so your $86,000 is mostly labor ? That still sounds like alot to me. I would think that the best way to go would be to have a contractor erect the frame and do the rest yourself.

 

[psuedofarmer]

the frame is white oak - very old. it's post/beam construction (believe it to be circa 1820) made of white oak. the size of the carry beam is HUGE.. definitely don't see trees this size anymore.

sticker shock is par for the course when dealing with antique frames. the difficulty with these old frames is the restoration process; it's expensive (to say the least!) and requires intricate knowledge of p/b construction to pull if off correctly.

i'm a sucker for old barns - have been since i worked my grandparents farm in the midwest.

there is a very reputable guy in NH (in the upper valley area - canaan, NH) by the name of ernie lombombard. he owns great nothern barns (www.greatnorthernbarns.com); he dismantles, repairs, and erects antique frames.

if you're looking for info, i strongly suggest speaking to him.

i have a love affair with these old buildings; in addition to converting an old frame to a house, we also have big plans to build 2 more structures @ the farm in the coming years.

pf

 

[JimMorrissey]

Sounds awesome. Gotta love the white oak.....The early 1800s barns like yours really command a premium. As soon as you get out the 1890s 80s they aren't worth nearly as much (for now anyway).

My frame is just hemlock, but it's still pretty nice /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[psuedofarmer]

now that the farm restoration (read that: never again will i purchase a circa 1740 farm!) is complete, we'll be focusing on building the house from the frame i mentioned. i'll take plenty of pictures, and will post the URL for the website..

once i finish hay season that is!

always like to hear stories of folks saving the old stuff - anyone can build a stick frame barn, but few of us are dumb enough to save the older ones!

cheers.
pf

 

[scott_vt]

PF,
Thanks for the explanation. Well as a woodworker I can at least understand the value of white oak. Im sure it is a massive job to erect a structure like that !!! Unfortunately as much as I admire those old structures and barns I couldnt afford to do anything like that. Im still feeling the effects of financing two college educations /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif and the sad part is that everyone has graduated allready /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Thanks for your explanation again!

 

[riptides]

now that the farm restoration (read that: never again will i purchase a circa 1740 farm!) is complete, we'll be focusing on building the house from the frame i mentioned. i'll take plenty of pictures, and will post the URL for the website..

once i finish hay season that is!

always like to hear stories of folks saving the old stuff - anyone can build a stick frame barn, but few of us are dumb enough to save the older ones!

cheers.
pf

HAH!

I guess we are some of the dumb ones too. Our farm is only circa 1900's. In a few more months the farm house should be done. I hope to get electric to the barn in a week or two. The old dairy barn roof and inards are done, just need paint.

Could have bull-dozed everything, but dumb is us.

-Mike Z.