Hello Laxdad,

I saw this post a few years ago, and forwarded it to several I work with that sell and broker barns. I apologize that this post slipped past me all this time and I didn't forward the below post draft I had written to you. Of those that responded to me or I discussed this barn with directly the best quoted information was as follows:



Please not, this was their words, and no offense meant at all from me since I don't know if you have experience in this area of the historic restoration, though I do understand and agree with the perspective. If you have followed such international protocols for documenting vintage architecture then providing all documentation and provence here would be helpful to those of us that work routinely in the field of historic architecture conservation, restoration and/or replication.  

Without such documentation, provence and related management standards applied to this frame, I typically see such novice dismantled and stored timber frames valued as a standard basic "new frame" of comparable size if the frame is in excellent condition ready for raising as a barn or repurposed timber frame structure. This carries a mean average (coast to coast) in North America of between $25/ft² to $35/ft² for a frame package ready for shipping and assembly. This is dependant on region with a margin factor of about $15/ft² (plus/minus) on average to this valuation accordingly.

Since this frame is...not complete...and does require proper restoration, I would suppose it also was not fully documented? As much documentation as you can secure will be helpful, and a full proper restoration required before even coming close to even the bottom average value for a new frame. With out such work, the frame is only going to be valued for "parts" by an established barn broker or for resaw/parts value within the timbers themselves for the restoration of other older frames of the same species and circa date from that region or surrounding area.

Even with regard to such forms as Cantilever Barns, or Dutch Barns which are feasibly two of the most valuable types on the current market, if not handled properly they rapidly lose their resale value, as well as, losing most of their historic value as well they should have maintained if properly documented, managed and deconstructed. All to often Timberwrights, General Contractors and/or Barn Owners themselves..."think"...a barn is worth a great deal more than what it actually is.

Unlike Europe, Japan, and other regions of the world, we here in North America do not have (nor follow) any regulated protection standards for such vintage architecture.  Thus our vintage building needing restoration and/or relocation/repurposing, have no standardized regulation for removal and restoration.  There is unregulated international standards to follow and some of us do follow them. Those vintage timber frame not subject to such standards are left vulnerable to poor management and final valuation is grossly eroded.

When I (et al) are contacted with such questions of value by those with old barns and other vintage architecture, there is often misconception about them. Most often owners do not understand that a vintage frame may well be worth upwards of quarter to half a million dollars wholesale. This full value for vintage architecture comes with proper deconstruction, documentation and restoration/replication when marketed in those purchasing circles that seek vintage frames that have been properly managed. Otherwise, they simply are an "old barn," which for a property owner, is more liability than valued asset without those properly applied skill sets given to the frame during its repurposing, or preferably in situ conservation/restoration.

Feel free to ask more questions or email me directly if you wish to ask more detailed questions.

Regards,

j