How to Buy a Metal Building

Metal buildings are a very complex purchase and require a lot of due diligence prior to signing that agreement to purchase your metal building. Additionally, due to the explosive growth within the metal buildings industry, it has attracted many reputable companies as well as less-than-reputable companies who engage in fraudulent practices and take advantage of customers for financial gain. Therefore, it is very important to understand how to evaluate potential metal buildings suppliers and specific misleading practices to look out for before you buy your metal building..

Ignoring the old adage: “what appears too good to be true probably is”. When comparing prices for different metal buildings, make sure you’re comparing buildings that include the same specifications. There are some suppliers out there who will intentionally leave things out or use cheaper components to trick unsuspecting buyers.
Failing to verify local building codes prior to signing contract. Prior to signing an agreement to buy a metal building, verify that the specifications meet local building codes with local officials. There are many areas in the United States that have special restrictions (such as specific snow and wind load restrictions) due to weather conditions. The best way to verify is to ask your metal buildings supplier to provide certified, stamped engineered blueprints.
Failing to obtain references from potential suppliers. Due to the large number of suppliers in the industry, we strongly suggest that you ask a lot of questions up front and check the references of the companies you’re evaluating before you buy a metal building. We also suggest that you check the Better Business Bureau records and ask your potential suppliers for examples of their buildings in your local area so you can check them out.

In order to understand what to look for in a quality metal buildings supplier, it’s important to understand the different types of metal building suppliers. There are three types of metal building suppliers:

Metal building manufacturers provide the engineering capabilities, metal framing systems, metal roofing and wall systems for your building. For the most part, the leading manufacturers sell through a distribution channel and will not sell direct to end-users.
Metal building brokers are distributors of metal buildings who generally work with multiple manufacturers. Most of the metal building companies you see on the Internet are metal building brokers. While brokers can generally offer you a better price on your metal building due to their scale, you’ll need to erect the building yourself or hire a general contractor who can do it for you. Most metal building brokers will be able to set you up with a general contractor who will be able to erect your building for you.
General contractors will sell and erect your metal building for you. They will gather your specifications, work closely with the manufacturer to secure your building, and then erect your building for you. In many cases, a general contractor will have a preferred manufacturer that they work with.

Determining which type of supplier to buy from depends on your individual situation. For instance, if you want to go through one company for everything including erecting the building, then a general contractor is whom you want to purchase a metal building from. On the other hand, if you plan on erecting the building yourself and are very knowledgeable about the process, then brokers or even manufacturers are a better fit for you. Once you determine what type of supplier you want to buy your metal building from, you’ll need to evaluate potential suppliers. For your reference, we’ve listed a few of the most common mistakes that people make when buying a metal building:

Falling for aggressive sales tactics. The metal buildings industry has less-than-reputable companies that rely on aggressive and misleading sales tactics to win your business. Many salespeople, particularly telephone-based salespeople, in the industry have been trained to use techniques to force you to buy a metal building immediately. These techniques include statements such as “there’s only one building left on the lot” or “someone just cancelled an order and you can have it at a huge discount but only if you buy right now”. Be careful and don’t fall for these techniques – wait to make a decision until you’re ready and have exactly the building that you want.

Now that you’re ready to discuss your options with metal building suppliers in your area, let us help you in that process. We can match you to multiple metal building suppliers in your area who can provide you with metal building pricing estimates. Start your simple, free request for metal building quotes by clicking the button below.