Five Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Steel Buildings

Garages, barns, storage buildings, home offices and workshops – they all have one thing in common. Steel buildings are among the best choices when you need one. Buying steel buildings looks easy, but you should put at least as much effort into choosing the right metal building and metal building supplier as you do when buying a new car. Here are five mistakes to avoid when you’re evaluating, sourcing and buying steel buildings.

Failing to Do the Necessary Research

Before you go out shopping for a steel building, it’s important to understand the typical process for ordering and buying steel buildings. It’s not as easy as heading out to the nearest home improvement store and picking out a storage building on the lot. It’s important that you understand exactly what you’re buying and what you’ll need to supply in order to complete erecting your new metal building when it arrives. If you’re not familiar with the ordering and purchase process, you could find yourself with a steel building you can’t put up or with a truck sitting on the street outside your house waiting for you to unload your building – and no one to help you do it.

Buying a “Once-In-A-Lifetime Bargain”

When you start shopping around for steel buildings through various suppliers, you’ll notice that there’s a wide variation in prices. It may be tempting to go after that low-priced, good-looking building – but be careful of what you buy. Very low-priced steel buildings are often made of substandard materials or won’t include some of the necessary components. Remember, you get what you pay for. If someone is selling steel buildings for a lot cheaper than others suppliers, you’re probably best off avoiding them.

Letting Yourself Be Pressured Into Buying On the Spot

Unfortunately, when a product is as popular as steel buildings are, bad actors come out of the woodwork. Some suppliers of steel buildings apply high-pressure sales tactics to try to get you to buy without doing the necessary research to make sure you’re getting the building you want and need. If a salesman tells you that he can give you a special price, but only if you buy today or that he just happens to have a metal building on the lot that’s perfect for your needs, hang up the phone and find a broker or steel buildings supplier that will deal with you honestly and fairly.

Not Checking the Local Building Codes Before You Sign a Contract

Every region in the U.S. has building codes and standards to which your new steel building will need to adhere. A reputable supplier of steel buildings understands this and will ensure that you supply the necessary paperwork and building codes from your city or county so that the manufacturer can engineer your building to meet your local codes.

Buying Without Checking References

Before you make a final decision, make sure you check references on the steel building supplier you’re choosing to work with. Ask for references and ask the suppliers if they’ve sold other buildings in the area that you can visit to check the quality of the construction. While you’re at it, check the Better Business Bureau for any records of complaints on the suppliers you’re considering.

One of the best ways to avoid running into major problems when you buy steel buildings is to place your order with a supplier of steel buildings that is used to working with non-industry customers. A knowledgeable, helpful steel building broker can lead you through the process and make sure you that your purchase goes smoothly.