Are Log Buildings a Good Investment?
In recent years, demand for log cabins is increasing quickly, with 2021 seeing the largest surge in interest in fifteen years. As this interest pushes forward into 2022, many are curious about whether this is a viable option for themselves.
Not only are log cabins and other log buildings incredibly rustic and attractive, but they offer something unique to everyone who visits or lives in them. So if you invest in a log cabin, whether it’s as a full-time living space or as an income property, this is an awesome way to spend your money while being sure you’ll make it back and then some.
Consider What Utility Buildings You Need
Utility buildings are generally spaces like storage, water storage, electrical storage, and dozens of buildings that allow for the property to work properly. Depending on your needs, these can also be buildings like spas and additional sleeping space.
What does your property need? Do you do the landscaping yourself and need space so that you can store your machinery? Do you want to rent out extra cabin space so that you can make this an income property? Are you considering large shed kits because you want small hobby spaces but don’t need them to have all of the insulation and work of your main cabin?
Most modern cabins have bathrooms built into them, but if yours is older or out of date, you can make a utility building that covers this need, although it may be a better option to build this directly onto the main cabin itself.
This Honest Abe customer built a garage and gardening building to match the house and other outbuildings.
These are the most important things to know about coordinating utility buildings with them and how to ensure that this property is safe and warm through any season.
What Are Your Aesthetic Needs?
Most want their utility buildings to match the looks of their main cabins. Unfortunately, this means that they’ll have to be similar wood colors, similar roofing materials, and dozens of other things that you’ll have to think about to ensure that you have a good match.
Because of this, it’s a good idea to try and complete as many of these at once, or at least by the same company. This will ensure that your barndominiums have the same roofing material, siding, and style, and you don’t have to worry about style discrepancies.Is Your Budget Too Tight to Do it All At Once?
Unfortunately, many can’t afford to get all of these buildings built simultaneously and will have to space them out over multiple years. This can make sense, especially if you’re not just building a small barndominium instead of creating a full lot of them.
In this case, it’s a good idea to talk to a company and make it clear that you want to do this project over multiple years. This will allow them to steer you towards products they know they’re going to be carrying for years to come, and they may even help you figure out if it really is more affordable to take your time with it or if you could make your payments back within a couple of summers of renting multiple spaces out.
How Much Land Should Be Between Buildings
If you’re planning on using permeable pavers to guide the different sections of your cabins, it’s a good idea to think about how far apart you want these buildings to be. In general, if you’re building a camping site, keeping them at least a couple of hundred feet apart is a great way to ensure they don’t feel like they’re on top of each other. Otherwise, you can build them in tight rows, but it might ruin the feeling for visitors who want to feel like they’re having a quiet and solo experience out in the woods.
A outside structure to use for wedding receptions, parties and events can be created to match the main building.
Is This an Income Property?
If your property is made specifically for income, you must consider the codes needed for that. Every state has different laws on what can be viewed as a bedroom, how large space can be rented out and zoning laws about where income properties can sit. Therefore, it’s vital that before you even buy your property, if you’re considering ever making it an income property, you research the zoning and business laws in your area. Otherwise, it could be a huge waste to find out that your budding business isn’t allowed on this land.
You Can Create the Lot of Your Dreams
Whether you’re spreading out your log home so that it feels more like an income property, or you’re just trying to build onto it so that you personally have more space, there are a lot of options available to you. Consider your choices, and figure out the best plan to make your dream property come true.
Natalie Akins is an editor for the Innovative Building Materials blog and a content writer for the building materials industry. She is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that save money, improve energy efficiency, and increase property value.
