living over your barn?

hoofinitnorth · #1 01/14/07, 04:29 PM

We've been thinking for a LONG time about building a barn with living quarters on top (as small as an apartment or as big as a small cabin/house with loft, which would give us just a SPECTACULAR view from the essentially 3rd-story loft). While talking to locals we keep hearing that insurance would never let us do it yet I've seen a few places that have done it and my insurance agent doesn't know why it wouldn't be allowed or that it would even cost more to insure, even if hay were stored inside or in an adjacetn or attached building or storage container.

Ideas? Pitfalls? Experiences? Suggestions?

Beeman · #2 01/14/07, 04:40 PM

I've seen some do it, was just having this discussion the other day with a friend. We were both in agreement that we don't want to live in or attached to a barn. I would say a big drawback is it's yours until you find the other person that would buy it from you.

cindyc · #3 01/14/07, 04:45 PM

Have a friend who lives over the barn with his wife and 4 kids. It is tight, but homey. They all seem to love it.

Cindyc.

michelleIL · #4 01/14/07, 04:55 PM

Sounds like a pretty cool idea to me. I don't think I'd have a problem ding that. I know of a lady that lives in what's essentially a pole barn, and they have everything they need. They are plant nuts so there is an indoor pond and plants everywhere. Looks good from the pics I've seen!
Michelle

fantasymaker · #5 01/14/07, 04:57 PM

LOL I dont let animals in the house I bet they never worried about me moving into their barn!

uncle Will in In. · #6 01/14/07, 05:05 PM

Just hope no one flushes the stool while you are sitting down there milking old Tulip!

Spinner · #7 01/14/07, 05:10 PM

I think it's a great idea! I've seen a lot of newer house plans that have the barn attached to the house all at ground level. I wish mine was. I'd love to be able to walk to the barn without having to go out in the rain and the cold.

I would love to be able to bring the outdoors in with a pond and plants. I'm just not satisfied with a "normal" house. LOL

Junkmanme · #8 01/14/07, 05:11 PM

Unless you have "unlimited funds", it is advisable to build something that has a "broad market" (is appealing to many other people). Times and situations change and you may decide for some unforeseeable reason to sell your property. It is best at that time to have property that appeals to a great many people. The loft over the barn may not fulfill that prerequisite.

just my 2 pesos worth,
Bruce

sidepasser · #9 01/14/07, 05:50 PM

My house and barn are one big unit - no problem with insurance at all. The agent came out and inspected and gave me a very good rate that included massive liablity for personal injury, etc., and included things like my hay shed and the amount of hay that is kept inside it, tractor, trailers, etc.

You shouldn't have any problem, you will need to get several quotes, but almost all equine insurers will insure equine properties as well as horses. Here's a few: Jarvis Equine Insurance and Markel. Both good solid companies. There are many, just google "equine insurance" and you will get a potload and then ask for quotes. Also contact the local Farm Bureau type insurances. Just look for farm related insurerers and make sure you have both fire extinguishers and smoke detectors installed and store all flammables (gas, oils, etc.) in a separate building away from the main structure.

Take care - I love just opening the door and there are my girls looking over their windowsills at me nickering, never have to get wet or freeze my tail off in the sleet..just feed/water/hay inside. I can keep a minimal amount of hay in the barn without worry of losing my insured status, the insurer will get nervous though if he came in and saw 50 or 100 bales - lol, I usually keep only two days worth at a time (about 3 bales).

I have a feed room, tackroom and two stalls and a third stall that is empty at the moment and being used for storage. House side is 2500 sq. feet and horse side is about 1500 sq. feet.

Works for me - I pay about 215. per month for farm insurance that covers all of the above except the vehicles, mine is replacement cost insurance.

mdharris68 · #10 01/14/07, 05:52 PM

We considered this also and always thought that it would be an interesting way to build but always thought if we ever went through with it, we would have to get accustomed to living in a barn with some of the neccesities of life. We even went as far as pricing metal buildings large enough to accomadate both in one structure. The resale issue was our top concern, so not overbuilding the living quarters would be top priority. If I was closer to retirement age it wouldn't matter as much to us. Alot of people in this area are building metal barn like structures and finishing them inside to make very nice living quarters. Not sure if any use the extra room for animals though. Mostly extra shop space.

2 more cents worth.

MDH

Beeman · #11 01/14/07, 06:01 PM

I had a house with a drive in basement and I didn't even like it. If you brought most anything into the basement you could smell it upstairs. If i sprayed or used any chemical it would permeate the house and you didn't even think of bringing anything with an engine that was still warm as you could smell it.

Beltane · #12 01/14/07, 06:17 PM

We have a barn with two apartments in it that we rent out. We have a commercial insurance policy, so that's not a problem. I think the best views are from the second floor apartment here as well.

Shygal · #13 01/14/07, 07:17 PM

Id be worried of the hay combusting, not only do you lose your barn but your house too.

e.alleg · #14 01/14/07, 09:59 PM

the animals below will provide free heat for you on the 2nd floor.

DenverGirlie · #15 01/15/07, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Junkmanme

Unless you have "unlimited funds", it is advisable to build something that has a "broad market" (is appealing to many other people). Times and situations change and you may decide for some unforeseeable reason to sell your property. It is best at that time to have property that appeals to a great many people. The loft over the barn may not fulfill that prerequisite.

just my 2 pesos worth,
Bruce

Personally from what I've seen, the ability to advertise a property with a main house and a mother-in-law/ guest apartment on site is always a huge plus in selling a property.

Unless the barn/ apartment is the only housing sturcture you would build, but if it's temporary and will be building another house, I certainly would go for it.

Just watch out for the size of your spectic, make it large enough now that there won't be issues later, or have two and plan for that.

michelleIL · #16 01/15/07, 06:52 AM

I'd like to get a home that's big enough that my parents or relatives could live with me should hard times come. That would be nice. I don't really wantto see my parents in a home for the elderly, unless of course they'd rather have it that way!
I also like the previous poster's idea of a mil home!
Michelle

**Cabin Fever** · #17 01/15/07, 08:06 AM

I would just make sure that neither of you have significant allergies to hay, straw, ammonia fumes, manure or animal dander. If you don't, go for it!

minnikin1 · #18 01/15/07, 08:17 AM

We lived in a barn loft apartment when we were first married, over race horses. We liked it so much that 20 yrs later we bought a big gambrel dairy barn to live in and share with our critter family. It's a huge undertaking but we enjoy creating and this barn is a magnificent palette that will keep us busy for a long, long time.

We worked as house flippers for many years, and learned that "statistically sellable" doesn't necessarily mean "comfortable" or "good fit".

Whether to give first priority to the financial considerations is a very personal choice. But remember it IS a choice - that's easy to forget when everyone is reciting the rule of thumb mantra about the 3 br 2 bath cookie cutter.

We're odd ducks and we accept that. We hate chain stores because they're all the same and boring. We can't see ourselves snuggling into a place that is the residential equivalent.

If you're suited to living in an unconventional house, you'll know it. Nonconformist personalities do things people consider weird all the time and are used to "the looks".
Trust your gut feeling.

oz in SC · #19 01/15/07, 08:28 AM

We are in the final stages of finishing our barn/apartment/guesthouse...

It doesn't have any stalls however BUT it has the space to have three along one side IF we ever wanted to.

As to insurance,financing,etc, we are building without financing and will simply insure it as a 'garage with guesthouse'...

Total heated living space will be 1440 square feet with an additional 720 square feet of storage.There are also two 12x36 open sheds off each side.

We also have a VERY good view from the upstairs deck of the mountains in the distance.

Good luck and I hope it works out fo ryou.

susieM · #20 01/15/07, 08:31 AM

They do that here. Animals on the bottom, people in the middle, and hay on top. The back of the house has a tractor ramp up to the haybarn. You don't even need to hook up the sink to the drain, or put in a garbage disposal...it goes right out into the barn, with the plate scrapings, for the pigs.