Coop appraisal? What do you think this is worth?

Husker Hens

Chirping
5 Years
Sep 24, 2014
122
11
61
Nebraska (Panhandle)
My Coop
My Coop
So, I'm taking care of a house a local bank took back abs they're trying to sell. Anyway, it has a coop and they told me they'd sell it to me (just bought 8 acres and are in the process of building). Anyway, I want chickens so my real question is what price would make this one worth it vs building my own. It's approx 8x10 and 6 ft tall on the short side and 8 ft tall on the tall side. I know it's hard to say and there's many unknown variables, but... ballpark? I looked up those nesting boxes and they are like $200.
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I'm currently building a coop similar, only I'm doing a gabled roof. The actual building size itself is 8x10, so maybe I can help you figure it out. Of course, I'm gonna use what I paid for materials here in NW GA, not sure how that would related to Nebraska pricing but still should be a general rule:

looks like T1-11 siding panels. for that size, 9 sheets. I bought the primed ones so they'll take less paint, paid $22.48 a piece for them.

simple 2x4 stud walls, probably done on 24" centers, without going back through the pics and counting, most likely in the neighborhood of $130 or so for them.

3 sheets of flooring, I used 3/4 OSB board T&G, $12.78 each sheet. I did my floor system on PT 2x6's, but could have "gotten by" with 2x4's. wasn't that much difference in the price when I figured 2x6's on 24" centers or 2x4's on 16" centers. 4x4 for the legs are 7.97 each, looks like you'd need 3.

I'm putting a metal roof on mine........when I went through my planning stages, I did a spread sheet for how many of each piece and a total including tax and my material list came up at $753. Now I did buy some cull 2x4's and saved about $80, and the metal dealer here in town has seconds I'm going to save some money on. I'm going to have right around $700 in the coop.

now the big thing is, if you build, your time. If you buy that one, you have to haul it. I'd lay it over on a trailer if you have access to one and haul it that way.

did they give any indication what they'd take for it? I'd start off offering them a few hundred dollars and let them know you'll be sure to clean up the area. They're probably totally indifferent about selling since it's a foreclosure, but make them an offer and see if they counter it.
 
Thanks for the info! I offered them a couple hundred bucks casually because I thought the same thing (that they wouldn't care one way or another) but I'm actually living there for free so I think that made them raise the price a bit because I'm already getting a great deal. Anyway, they want $500. My other thought is wait till it sells, hope the new owners don't want chickens and then offer them a couple hundred bucks. My biggest reservation is that I think I'm going to have to dismantle it to move it, because I can't back a trailer up to it. Hopefully it'll come apart in big pieces and then go right back together.
 
Just a thought, but if you happen to know anybody that delivers construction supplies or pallets of concrete, you might see if they could use their 'spider', (all terrain fork lift), and just pick it up and load it for you. That is, if you have a trailer to put it on. Maybe they could come by and do it when they're done working.

I would also tell the bank that the price for moving the coop would be approximately 200, so the highest you could buy it for would be 300. That way they could possibly see that you'll have to spend 500 to get it out of there anyway. It wouldn't hurt to try anyway. For even the 500, it looks like a pretty good deal though.
 
Thanks for the info! I offered them a couple hundred bucks casually because I thought the same thing (that they wouldn't care one way or another) but I'm actually living there for free so I think that made them raise the price a bit because I'm already getting a great deal. Anyway, they want $500. My other thought is wait till it sells, hope the new owners don't want chickens and then offer them a couple hundred bucks. My biggest reservation is that I think I'm going to have to dismantle it to move it, because I can't back a trailer up to it. Hopefully it'll come apart in big pieces and then go right back together.

Outdoor building don't really add value, so you should get a good deal on it. I have seen some of the coops they sell at stores up here in sk Canada and that thing would probably have over 2000$ price tag on it. Obviously hustle as much as you can but I'm guessing 700$+ for material plus labour to build, so even at 500 I wouldn't be too concerned paying that. Very nice coop by the way, I'm sure you will enjoy it! As for moving it, a small truck would be able to drag it around easy!
 
I see easily at least a thousand dollars of building materials there when you include the roof and windows, not to mention the paint. That doesn't even include the labor. And it looks very well built too. I'd offer them $500 and I'd go as high as $1500. Why would I pay $1500 for that? Because whoever did it knew what the heck he was doing. It's very well done. Look at the nesting boxes, look at the roosting bars, look at the doors jams and window frames. This is good stuff in my opinion. I spent almost that on my coop and it's not nearly that nice. This is no cheap prefab. Do you think you could get a contractor to come out and build that for $1500? I doubt it.
Of course, this is assuming that this particular coop suits your needs and your budget. Even for $1000, this would be a steal.
 
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Yes it looks nice....but.... the wall with the windows is not built correctly. The header is to small and the wall is not framed properly.
I would not go above 700 for the coop since you will have to fix some of the construction. I would be concerned with moving it due to the window wall's construction.

This link shows well what I am talking about. Cripples, trimmers aka Jack studs and how it is put together will keep the roof from caving in since the rafter needs the support.

http://www.carpentry-pro-framer.com/window-framing.html
 
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I see easily at least a thousand dollars of building materials there when you include the roof and windows, not to mention the paint. That doesn't even include the labor. And it looks very well built too. I'd offer them $500 and I'd go as high as $1500. Why would I pay $1500 for that? Because whoever did it knew what the heck he was doing. It's very well done. Look at the nesting boxes, look at the roosting bars, look at the doors jams and window frames. This is good stuff in my opinion. I spent almost that on my coop and it's not nearly that nice. This is no cheap prefab. Do you think you could get a contractor to come out and build that for $1500? I doubt it.
Of course, this is assuming that this particular coop suits your needs and your budget. Even for $1000, this would be a steal.
I have to agree with you on this... Mine is only 4x8' without windows.. I put clear plastic roofing on it. It has nesting boxes on the back with doors to access the eggs along with a side door to clean it. It cost me over $500 to build and I did it myself... I had about 16 hours in it.. I'd gladly pay $500 for that one and pay someone to haul it for me.. Too much time negotiating and it may get bought up by someone else.
 
You guys all rock! Thanks for all the input and knowledge! Looks like I'm buying a coop :). It becomes an even better deal when you consider the fact that I've been living in a 7,000 sq ft house on 8 acres with 2 streams for free with no utilities for over 7 months :) ... now I just need some chickens...
 

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