I often do my best thinking when I'm writing. The following may bore some of you to tears, but it helps me and so ... what the hell! Here's what's going on in my head right now.
I'm gradually coming to grips with the fact that, unless something changes, my barn is going to be a MUCH more expensive project than I had hoped.
For starters, the companies I've contacted that had the best prices don't do the installation. The one that will do the installation is charging too much for both their building AND for its setup - $32,500 for the barn installation and possibly another $9,750 for the lean-to. (They charge $6.50 per square foot. Is the lean-to's footage being included in that? I bet it is.)
Then there's the excavation work. Since the barn is being built on a hillside, flattening an area that's large enough will be a big job. Dirt can be dug up elsewhere on my property and used as fill, but I bet the task still approaches 10,000.
I'm guessing another $10,000 to form and pour the foundation. Another $10,000 to put in a septic system. Another $5,000 for a well. Another $20,000 for interior walls, stairs, insulation, toilet, sinks and faucets. Another $10,000 for electrical and lights.
If I did my math right, I'm up to $170,000 - though the exterior electrical work, the well, and maybe the septic system can be considered a joint expense of both the house and the barn. The barn can be viewed that way too since I won't need a garage if I have a barn.
Still, I'm way over budget. So I'm doing a re-think.
If I put up a smaller barn... 60x50x20, with no lean-to but an option to add one later... then I think I'll save 30% or so on the excavation, foundation, building and setup costs. It will still be big enough to store my belongings when I move, and it might bring me down to $130,000.
Next, I'm going to find another barn company - one that sells both the building and does the installation. I already know that the company that offered to install was going to charge me around $15,000 more than the company that would only sell me a building. So that could bring me down the $115,000. Still a lot, but something I can live with given that putting in a transformer, putting in a well, installing a septic tank and building a garage are things I'd have had to do even if I didn't have a barn.
I have one reason for optimism. I found some General Contractors in New Hampshire that specialize in metal buildings. They say they're authorized builders for certain brands of buildings - but if they'll erect ANY metal building, then maybe I can still buy from the first company I contacted. They had a great price on an 80x60. Maybe they'll also have a great price on a 50x60.
First, though, I'll see what these contractors have to say. Maybe I'll like one of the manufacturers they're partnered with.
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