How to Convert a Stall Barn Into Other Income Property

Determine the type of income property into which you want to convert your old stall barn. Create a house, several studio apartments or an office building, depending on the type of rental you want, or renovate the entire structure into a garage for classic cars. Write down your ideas and keep a record of everything so you can easily assess the materials the barn is made of and decide what type of income property would be best.

Assess the existing wood and other types of material in the stall barn to see if you can use them in the renovations or if they need to be thrown away after removal. Use the wood and other materials from the stalls, such as wood paneling and any runner tracks or metalwork, to decorate the walls of your renovated structure, or use the materials in the construction of the new property. Look for rot, rust or mold on the old material and throw any such pieces away. Keep only the best pieces.

Demolish the stalls and other areas of the barn, such as the hayloft; clean the interior; and remove extra walls and structures until you are down to four walls and a roof. Leave the tack room alone and use it as a small apartment, an office or a bathroom, for example, unless you want to remove it for more floor space. Leave all the support beams in place and remove only the superficial materials, such as wood paneling, tin sheets, stall walls and doors, and any other materials that do not fit into your remodel plan.

Hire a carpenter to build onto the existing structure to create your additional income property. Use the old wood and tin paneling for decorating office space or apartment walls, or to adorn the ceiling. Hire a plumber if you are adding bathrooms to the barn, such as if you're renovating it into a two-story house or two apartments, and use a certified electrician for any wiring.