We've been getting this question in our DMs every single day: "How did you decide to build a barndominium?" And honestly, the answer starts with a Pinterest rabbit hole at 11pm, a lot of spreadsheets, and one very adventurous "let's just do it" moment. This is everything we know now that we wish we'd known before breaking ground outside Austin, Texas.
What Is a Barndominium (and Why Did We Choose One)?
A barndominium — or "barndo" — is a steel-frame structure that combines living space with an open, flexible floor plan typically associated with barn-style construction. They're huge in Texas for a reason: lower cost per square foot than traditional builds, faster construction timelines, and an aesthetic that's modern, rustic, and uniquely Texas all at once.
For us, the appeal was threefold. We wanted land, we wanted a home that felt like us, and we wanted something we could build as our brand grew alongside it. Documenting the process made complete sense — it's exactly the kind of authentic, long-form lifestyle content that our audience and the brands we work with love.
"We didn't just want a house. We wanted a place that reflected who we are — raw, real, and still very much under construction."
Finding Land in Texas: What No One Tells You
Land hunting in Texas sounds romantic. And it is — until you're deep in the weeds of deed restrictions, mineral rights, septic requirements, and deed research. Here's what we learned:
- Mineral rights matter. In Texas, many properties are sold with severed mineral rights. Know what you're buying before you close.
- Well and septic costs add up fast. If the land doesn't have access to city utilities, budget $15,000–$40,000 for well drilling and septic installation depending on soil and depth.
- Not all land is build-ready. Look for land that's been perc tested (for septic), has road access, and ideally has some utility infrastructure nearby.
- HOA vs. no HOA. Rural Texas often means freedom — no HOA telling you what color to paint your shutters. But it also means doing your own research on easements and deed restrictions.
Work with a local Texas land agent — not a residential realtor. Land is a different world, and someone who specializes in rural acreage will save you enormous headaches and potentially thousands of dollars.
Choosing a Builder and the Steel Frame
This was the most stressful part of the entire process. Barndominium builders are not all created equal, and in Texas there's a huge range — from full-service general contractors who manage everything to "kit builders" who deliver a steel shell and leave the rest to you.
We went with a builder who specializes in post-frame and steel-frame construction in Central Texas. A few things we recommend vetting before you sign:
- Ask for three references from recent builds — and actually call them.
- Request a detailed line-item estimate, not a lump sum. Surprises in construction are almost always expensive ones.
- Clarify what "turn-key" means to them. It varies wildly.
- Understand the payment schedule and tie payments to build milestones, not calendar dates.
The Timeline Reality Check
Everyone told us to double whatever timeline our builder quoted. They were right. Steel frame up? Faster than expected. Getting inspections scheduled in a rural county? Slower than you can imagine. Electrical rough-in during a supply chain delay? Welcome to construction reality.
Our honest advice: build a financial cushion of at least 15–20% over your budget, and a time cushion of 3–6 months beyond the projected completion date. Not because something will go wrong necessarily — but because when it does (and something always does), you won't be caught flat-footed.
Documenting Everything for Content (and Your Own Sanity)
One of the best decisions we made was to document every stage of the build — from the bare dirt to the first walls going up. Not just for our audience, but for ourselves. Photos, videos, notes. This content has become some of our most engaged content across every platform, and it's given brands a long-form, ongoing story to be part of.
If you're building and you have any kind of content presence, start filming from day one. The before-and-after arc of a build is one of the most compelling narratives in lifestyle content — and it's entirely authentic because it's your actual life.
What We'd Do Differently
Complete honesty here:
- We'd get a second opinion on our floor plan before breaking ground. Once the slab is poured, changes are expensive.
- We'd hire a construction manager or owner's rep — someone whose job is to advocate for us, catch errors early, and keep the builder accountable.
- We'd be more deliberate about content batch days rather than trying to film everything on the fly.
- We'd start the brand partnership conversations earlier — the build process is a goldmine for home, hardware, and lifestyle brands, and we could have had partners from day one.
Final Thoughts
Building a barndominium in Texas is one of the most rewarding, maddening, beautiful things we've ever done. We're not done yet — not even close — and that's exactly what makes it the best ongoing story we've ever had to tell. If you're considering a build, we hope this helps. And if you want to follow along in real time, you know where to find us.
Got questions about our build? Drop them in the comments or send us a DM — we answer everything.
