Before you fall in love with the floor plan, make sure the land underneath your Missouri barndominium is ready for the home you want to build.
There is something undeniably appealing about building a barndominium on a piece of rural Missouri land.
No crowded subdivision.
No neighbor ten feet from your kitchen window.
Just open space, a home designed your way and enough room for the garage, workshop, equipment and lifestyle you have always wanted.
But there is an important truth every prospective barndominium owner should understand:
Buying the land is the easy part.
Making sure it is suitable for your new home requires a little more thought.
Here are some of the big things to consider before construction begins.
Start With the Building Site
A beautiful 20-acre property does not automatically mean there is a beautiful place to build a house.
Walk the property with your builder before deciding exactly where your barndominium should sit.
Consider the slope of the land, drainage, soil conditions, trees and accessibility.
A location with a wonderful view may look perfect today but become considerably less attractive when you discover it requires extensive grading, a very long driveway or expensive site preparation.
The cheapest building site on your property may not be the best.
But the prettiest one may not be either.
Think About Water
If your rural property is not connected to municipal water, you may need a private well or another approved water source.
That needs to be considered early.
Where will the well go?
How far is it from the house?
What will drilling and installation involve?
Water is one of those things homeowners take for granted until they are building somewhere that does not already have it.
Find out what is required before finalizing your construction budget.
Don’t Forget the Septic System
Rural living often means installing an onsite wastewater system.
And this is an area where the land itself matters.
Soil conditions, available space and the layout of the property can affect which type of system is appropriate. Missouri has state standards for onsite wastewater systems, while counties and cities may adopt additional or stricter requirements.
In other words, don’t simply assume you can put the house anywhere and worry about the septic system later.
Investigate it early.
How Will Electricity Reach the Home?
Look at the nearest available electrical service.
If your barndominium is several hundred feet from the road, getting electricity to the building could involve additional work and expense.
The same thinking applies to internet service.
A peaceful rural property is wonderful.
A peaceful rural property where nobody can stream a movie, run their business or join a video call might be slightly less wonderful.
Check your options before you build.
Consider Your Driveway and Access
Your driveway is more important than you might think.
During construction, large trucks need to deliver concrete, steel, lumber, equipment and other materials.
After construction, you need reliable year-round access to the home.
Think about the driveway’s length, slope, drainage and surface.
Missouri rain can quickly expose weaknesses in poorly planned access roads.
Check Local Building Requirements
Rural does not necessarily mean “no rules.”
Requirements can vary depending on the Missouri county, municipality and specific location of the property.
Before beginning construction, determine which permits, inspections, setbacks or other requirements apply to your project.
Do this early.
Discovering a problem after plans are finished is considerably more expensive than discovering it before design begins.
Plan for the Life You Actually Want
One of the greatest reasons to build on rural Missouri land is freedom.
So use it.
Don’t simply think about the house.
Think about the entire property.
Where will you park trailers?
Will you eventually want another building?
An RV pad?
A garden?
A pond?
Animals?
An outdoor entertaining area?
Positioning the barndominium intelligently today can give you far more options tomorrow.
Good Land Makes a Good Barndominium Even Better
The right rural property can give you something a traditional neighborhood rarely can:
Space to build your life around you.
But don’t rush the decision.
Understand the land.
Investigate utilities.
Think about drainage and access.
Check local requirements.
And involve experienced professionals before construction starts.
Because when you combine the right piece of Missouri land with a carefully planned barndominium, you are not simply building another house.
You are creating a property that can serve you and your family for decades.
