Many barns, especially large facilities, feature apartments that are either above the barn or located on the property. When planning your barn building project, whether or not to include an apartment is a choice that you will face. You will want to consider the following points when deciding whether to build an apartment with your barn.

Peace of Mind

One of the major reasons that an apartment can be useful is that it lends horse owners and the property owner peace of mind. When used to house a horseperson who works on the property, a barn apartment will mean additional security for the property and another knowledgeable person on hand who can monitor the horses’ safety and health. This can be particularly helpful during the nighttime when medical emergencies might not otherwise be discovered until the morning.

Convenience

A barn apartment also means convenience. Whether you have a large barn and multiple apartments, or a smaller barn with a single apartment, having an apartment on the property can make finding quality, full-time help easier. An apartment can allow workers to reside on the property, which is a major advantage considering the long work days that horse care can require.

Shared Property

When you add a barn apartment to your property, remember that you will then be sharing your property with a tenant. A barn apartment can be great (and often necessary) when you travel for work or run a major boarding or training operation. However, if you’re considering building a barn apartment for a small backyard barn, then remember that you will also sacrifice some of the privacy and quiet that comes with building a barn of your own.

Attractive Feature for Boarders

A barn apartment can be an attraction for potential boarders, since it ensures that there will be someone on the property throughout the night. Apartments built into barns offer an additional advantage in that the tenant is close enough to the horses to hear if something goes wrong during the night, potentially keeping medical emergencies from progressing too far before being discovered.

Increased Property Value and Income

Adding an apartment to your barn can increase your property value. It also offers you another source of income if you decide to rent it out to the public. Alternatively, you can offer the apartment in a full or partial exchange for barn work, rather than issuing paychecks.

There are definite pros and cons to including an apartment in your barn building project. Just what your decision is will depend on your situation and plans for your property.

Photo source: http://www.classic-equine.com/posts/custom-barns/

Original source: Should You Build a Barn Apartment?

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