Building a Barndominium on a Budget: 8 Unique Tips to Consider (2024)

Building your own home is exciting and should be something joyous and rewarding. However, if you are worried about spending too much money and going over budget, the whole process will become a chore and can sour you on the experience. That’s why building a barndominium on a budget can be such a great experience. Not only are barndominiums less expensive overall, but there are also things you can do to keep your costs down and stick to a set amount of money.

In this guide, we have put together some unique tips for building a barndominium on a budget. These tips are pulled from experienced home builders who have been through the process and made budget mistakes that they have been able to learn from. By following these suggestions, you can be sure to keep your barndominium on a budget.

Tips for Building a Barndominiumon a Budget

Choose an Inexpensive State

One of the best things you can do to keep your barndominium on a budget is to build in a less expensive state. Some states, like California and Massachusetts, have much higher building costs than some other states like Ohio. Because of this, you can end up saving yourself a lot of money by choosing to build in a place that is less expensive overall and will give you the freedom and flexibility you need for your project.

Some of the reasons that certain states are less expensive than others are the cost of land and materials. Certain states will have much lower prices for large plots of land, especially if they are more rural and further away from urban centers. Plus, once you move in, these states will have a lower cost of living, which can save you even more money in the long run.

Use a Kit

One of the great things about building a barndominium on a budget is that it allows you to also find ways that you can make the whole process easier for yourself. This includes building a barndominium kit instead of starting completely from scratch. Barndominium kits can allow you to build a barndominium on a budget and offer you a simpler, more straightforward building experience.

Barndominium kits come completely prefabricated with everything you need to get your structure up off the ground. This makes them a great choice for people who want to get started right away once their kit comes to their build site. They can save you money by eliminating the need for purchasing and sourcing your materials, which can result in a lot of waste.

Simplify Your Design

If you want to build a barndominium on a budget, the best thing you can do is simplify your design. Many people want to build a complex, unique home right out of the gate and this can cause budgetary concerns. Everything that you add to your design will have a dollar amount attached to it and eliminating some of those extras can save you a lot of money in the long run during your build.

If you originally planned to build a five-bedroom barndominium, it could be a good idea to simplify this design and bring it down as much as you can. Things like lofts, extra buildings, and designer features can inflate the cost of your barndo quickly. It is a good idea to figure out which features you can’t live without and eliminate the other ones from there.

Do Work Yourself

If you want to save money and build your barndominium on a budget, one of the best ways to do it is to do some of the work yourself. While there are certainly some jobs that are going to be better left to professionals, such as any structural work or skilled carpentry, there are others that are relatively simple and can be done with just a little bit of research and patience. Taking on some of the tasks can help you save thousands of dollars in the long run.

Some of the things you could do yourself include painting and landscaping. These jobs could be done easily by a professional but can also cost a lot of money. If you want to save that cash and aren’t a perfectionist, doing them yourself is a great option. Plus, you get the sense of satisfaction that comes from a job done on your own.

Use Energy-Efficient Appliances

While building a home is one thing, it is quite another to live in it. There are costs associated with doing your daily tasks and if you can save on those, you can save money and build your barndominium on a budget. One of the best ways to do this is to purchase and use energy-efficient appliances.

Energy-efficient appliances can not only save you money on your bills, they often come with incentives. Many government programs will give you rebates on your energy-efficient appliances, which can be cashed in on as soon as you purchase them. By using enough of these appliances, you can save quite a bit of money on your barndo.

Hire an Experienced Builder

Throughout the course of a home building project, one of the biggest holes you can fall into financially is redoing work. If possible, doing things right the first time is the best way to save money and can end up going a long way in helping you to build your barndominium on a budget. If you aren’t having to get any work done over, you aren’t wasting money on your construction costs.

The best way to ensure that things get done right the first time is to hire an experienced builder. While there are a lot of home builders in the industry, not all of them will have experience building barndominiums. If you can, find a builder who has worked on this kind of project before. It is even better if you find a builder who specializes in barndominiums as they will have the insight you need to get your project done right the first time.

Use a Detailed Plan

Much in the same way that it is best to do things right the first time, it is also essential that you make a plan and stick to it. By ensuring that you create a timeline and budget that works for you and see it through, you can have some control over the build and your barndominium on a budget. This is a great way to manage your expectations and your costs.

Create a complete portfolio of all the information you need for your barndominium on a budget and make sure you include quotes, contact information, and best lines of communication for everyone involved in the project. If you can have all of this information at arm’s length, it makes organizing the project much easier as you move through it. It will also help you make sure that everything is under your control and nothing is happening that you are not aware of.

Track Spending

The absolute best way to build your barndominium on a budget is to track all of your spendings. Keep a spreadsheet with everything you spend and make sure that it is kept updated with every little bit of money that is used. Staying on top of this will help you stay aware of what is happening with your barndominium and keep it within your budget.

You should also make sure to keep the receipts for everything that you buy or any services that are rendered for your barndominium on a budget. Some of the things you purchase, such as energy-efficient appliances, will be eligible for rebates or tax credits. Having the documentation you need will help you take advantage of these incentives.

Conclusion

By understanding some of the best ways to build a barndominium on a budget, you can build your home easily without breaking the bank. While many people dream of building their own home, the costs associated with it keep most folks from being able to make that dream come true. Building a barndominium is much more accessible to people who might not otherwise be able to get this kind of project done.

If you would like more guides like this one, be sure to check out the rest of BarndominiumLife.com. There, you will find guides to building a barndominium in different states as well as helpful tips and tricks from the pros. You will also find featured barndominiums to help you get inspired for your own dream home.