Tag Archives: Homeowner’s Association

Adding Solar to Your Barndominium

Benefits of Adding Solar To Your Barndominium

Solar energy is taking off in a big way, both here and worldwide. There are around 2.7 million residential solar panels installed in the United States, and solar trends continue to grow as people become more interested in energy alternatives. If you’re considering building a post frame barndominium or shouse (shop/house), you may want to use solar energy as a power source. Whether your plan is for personal use, as a rental, or to sell, outfitting this space with solar panels can be a great option for a variety of reasons.

Affordable and Cost Effective

An exciting thing about barndominiums is they can be less expensive than a traditional home. You may be considering planning a new pole barn as a home. This can be advantageous for a few reasons. In this scenario, you will have more freedom over design and size of your barndominium, and it will require less material overall than a traditional home. In terms of cost, location also matters, and there are some states where it is less expensive to build a barndominium than others. This is because there are some states where buying property and materials are simply less expensive than in others. 

However, a major mistake potential self-builders make is cutting costs too heavily when it comes to construction materials. Though you may be excited about reducing your overall project expenses, it is important to remember this is a major time commitment and financial investment. Cutting corners will only eventually cost you money as you’ll have to repair or replace broken or failed elements over time. Another mistake people make when constructing their barndominium is not choosing the right plans for their residential pole building. Not having a plan in place before starting your project will cost you money and frustration, as it will eventually create unforeseen future expenses. Not to mention, if you plan on adding solar panels or other external elements to your home, you’ll want to make sure your design will accommodate those features. 

When considering energy costs, there is a false preconception solar panels are extremely expensive and cost-ineffective. However, the cost of solar panels has decreased dramatically in recent years. In 2022, average cost per watt for industry standard solar panels is $2.77 per watt, and this is before tax credits and rebates available for installing solar panels. An average home will need a six-kilowatt solar energy system to generate 9-10 kilowatts of power. However, after assessing your post frame home plan, you may find you have less overall energy needs, and could reduce needed solar panel amounts. If you’re interested in solar energy, but worried about costs, it is good to know modern technology has made them more affordable than ever. 

Increases Property Value

For those planning on living in their barndominium, solar panels increase your property value and it’s great to know you are increasing your ROI (return on investment). However, if you’re going to be reselling, pre-installed solar panels can be a very attractive option for potential buyers. Not only will they be purchasing a home able to produce its own energy, they will also be able to reap increased property value benefits provided by solar panels. 

If you live further north, you might be surprised to know many cloudy states have regulations allowing for tax breaks for installing solar panels. This can bring overall cost down and make solar panels a great resource, even in places where there may be limited sun exposure at certain times. Additionally, solar energy systems can operate under cloud cover, though efficiency will be reduced. Solar energy systems use a battery to store energy, so even if there is weather preventing direct sunlight, you won’t immediately lose power. Don’t miss out on opportunities to increase your barndominium’s value just because you live somewhere with less sun.

Enhancing Energy Efficiency & Sustainability

A big concern anyone should have when building a new home is energy efficiency. If you plan on installing solar panels, adding elements to your home to maximize solar energy system efficiency can help to reduce how many panels you need overall. When considering heating and cooling needs, a great thing about barndominiums is it’s much easier to install insulation. This is because their less complicated structures require fewer materials, lowering overall installation costs. Something you might want to consider in addition to insulation is cool metal roofing. Cool metal roofing reflects sunlight off your building, and can allow you to save anywhere from 7-15% in overall energy costs. This is a great feature to combine with solar panels, whether you install them on a rooftop or beside your home. A sun-resistant roof will help you maximize your solar panels and use energy most efficiently. 

Another sustainability aspect to consider is what materials you’re using to construct your barn home. Steel cladding is an incredible choice for green home construction. Not only is steel reflective and sun resistant, it is incredibly durable. Some other things to consider when you want to increase your barndominium’s solar energy system include: 

  • Using energy-star rated appliances 
  • Installing UV-blocking windows and curtains
  • Limiting unnecessary energy and water usage
  • Upgrading to smart thermostats to conserve energy

Adding energy efficient elements to your barn home is a great way to maximize  your solar energy system efficiency. 

One Last Note

If you are interested in post frame home kits, building a barndominium, or installing solar panels, it is essential you avoid common mistakes people make when building a post frame home. A major issue potentially costing you is not checking in with local building codes and regulations. If you build before checking these local codes, you can waste time and money if you’re required to change, update, or remove your building. It is also important to check in with your HOA (Homeowner’s Association) if you live in an HOA-regulated area. HOA’s are unforgiving when it comes to property infractions, so it’s important to be aware if you are not in compliance, you may face fines later on seriously affecting your project cost. 

With this in mind, choosing a barndominium kit, adding sustainable features you can feel good about, and building a brand-new home where there once was none are all incredible rewards of taking on a project like this. If you make a plan, choose materials wisely, and make sure you’re in compliance with local laws, you can have your own dream solar-powered barn home.

Why Not to Mess with HOA’s

Why NOT to Mess With HOAs

Homeowners Associations (HOAs) are normally begun with every good intention in mind, however in my humble opinion they are a restriction upon how one determines their own property should best be used.

An HOA is an incorporated association, usually created by a developer who prepares the Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs). Once they are recorded, then every deed for every piece of property in the area governed by the CC&Rs carries a provision that area is covered by those rules

I’ve previously described the predicament of one Hansen Pole Buildings’ client in his HOA battle: https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2012/11/homeowners-association/

This article, written by Lisa Hammer, appeared in the Moline, IL Dispatch-Argus (www.qconline.com) May 4, 2016 and shows the true power of HOA’s:

“A pole building under construction in the Ponderosa Hills subdivision between Geneseo and Colona must come down, according to a Henry County judge.

Brett Swanson, of Moline, told Judge Jeffrey O’Connor on Wednesday that he chose the pole building “to live in, to put my things in.” But in their original civil suit, 19 owners of nearby properties claimed the construction violated both neighborhood restrictions and Henry County zoning ordinances. The judge on Wednesday eliminated all plaintiffs but the owners of six properties closest to the Swansons.

Mr. Swanson said he planned to use the building to host large gatherings of relatives and store a golf cart, a four-wheeler, a lawnmower, a utility tractor and an RV. He said Henry County Zoning Officer Kyle Stromquist had made him aware of subdivision covenants.

Mr. Stromquist testified he issued a building permit for Mr. Swanson’s project, but said it wasn’t his job to determine how the size of the structure compared to subdivision covenants. He said the next inspection was to be a frame inspection, but the owners’ weren’t ready for “cover-up” of the building yet.

Mr. Stromquist said Mr. Swanson told him the structure was for personal use storage only and not for business. He agreed with plaintiffs’ attorney Nadine Palmgren that Mr. Swanson did not check the box on that portion of his building permit application.

On April 22, Judge O’Connor issued a temporary restraining order to halt construction. This week he granted a mandatory injunction requiring the removal of the building, subject to an appeal by Mr. Swanson with the 3rd District Appellate Court within 30 days.

“I’m sorry the whole thing just went plowing ahead, but here we are,” the judge said. “Some things get out of hand and, unfortunately, there’s a cost involved.”

The judge said the building violated the subdivision’s restrictive covenants. He noted the covenants don’t merely limit residents to a maximum three-car garage, but state “a garage for not more than three cars.”

Judge O’Connor said “no reasonable person” could say the 9,000-square-foot building — with 7,200 square feet other than the residential portion — would be for three cars or less.

The subdivision covenants limiting heights to 2 1/2 stories would not apply, the judge said, because some people have 10-foot ceilings. In that case, the pole building’s 26-foot height might not be an issue.

Judge O’Connor said the restrictive covenants and subdivision plats filed with the recorder of deeds office was done “for the entire public to be put on notice of the existence of covenants and to be well aware of what they say.”

“It’s very high-stakes, risky proposition to plow $300,000 into a building which would give one pause, shall I say, to even think about putting in a subdivision,” the judge said. “It’s like putting it on a crap table to see where it falls with regard to restrictive covenants.”

William Stengel, the attorney for the Swansons, had argued other subdivision residents had been allowed to build similar structures. Judge O’Connor noted the covenants’ wording that, failure to object in other claimed violations doesn’t forfeit the right to enforce future violations.”

Considering purchasing property which is governed by an HOA? Or, you are already a property owner in one, be sure to carefully understand the ramifications. Your HOA could end up prohibiting your being able to construct a new post frame building on your own property, or making economically unfeasible to do so!

If you are unhappy with certain rules or a particular aspect of the CC&Rs, be sure to document your concerns. Meet privately with different board members. In addition, study the CC&Rs carefully so you are aware of and understand your rights. Discuss the situation with an attorney familiar with the law and court rulings regarding the conduct of HOAs. Choose an attorney who is an expert in association law and can guide you to determine if the CC&Rs apply to your situation, and whether applicable state and local laws and regulations are relevant to your case.