Most of us could make good use out of some extra storage at home, and sheds are a great way to stash things out of the way yet still have them readily available when needed. Ranging from lawn mowers to seasonal decorations, a shed can help us clear out our main homes and garages to make room for other things. Building a shed can get tricky, though, especially if you want to have electricity and/or plumbing in your shed, so you’ll want to make sure to take various steps to make sure you hire a great storage shed builder.
Keep reading for some helpful hints when you’re searching for someone to build your shed.
Educate Yourself
Before doing any sort of home project or hiring someone to do one for you, it is important to learn the basics behind it. Hiring somebody without being a little knowledgeable about the task at hand can lead to being ripped off by certain professionals. This will also come in handy when interviewing potential professionals to do the job, as you’ll understand what they are talking about and vice versa. For sheds, you’ll want to understand the options for the foundation, design, finishing, layout, and more to understand what materials might be used and the various options available to you. There are plenty of shed plans available online. Browse these to get ideas for your own shed. You can even give your plans to the shed builder to get a more accurate quote. Throughout your research, you will be able to both confirm what you think you want as well as discover new features and materials that you may want to consider.
Know What Kind of Shed You Want
After educating yourself and before hiring anyone, you should also know what you are wanting to use your shed for. The price of a shed can vary greatly depending on the materials needed and how sophisticated you want your shed to be. Sheds built with basic materials and no amenities can cost around $1,500, and the price will increase from there. As mentioned, if you need electricity in your shed, this will cost extra and you may also need to find an electrician to do that work for you. Being able to articulate what the purpose of your shed will be will help a contractor complete the job right.
Make a Budget and Get Multiple Quotes
Many shed builders will come to your home and assess your property and your needs to give you an estimate on how much they would charge for labor and supply. Homeowners are often surprised at how much different quotes vary, so getting at least three is normally recommended. Doing so is also useful because you get to meet the builders and see if you “click” with any of them and trust that they will do an excellent job when building your shed.
Be sure to ask each builder what projects they have completed in the past, what materials they plan to use, and how long they expect the shed building will take. You’ll need to be extremely transparent about the features you want in your shed, as certain contractors may not have as much experience in all of the specifics you lay out for them. If you need permits and approvals to build your shed, ask them if they can help you with those processes.
If you have a budget in mind, this will be useful for the contractors you interview. They can be honest with you about whether or not they can meet your requirements within your budget. They can also work through the details and specifications with you to show you where you may be able to save money but still get what you’re wanting. Respectable contractors will provide you with different options and ideas, including some that will actually save you money. Keep in mind that reputable contractors have experience and expert knowledge in shed building so they can add valuable input during your discussions.
You can contact several shed contractors to get a shed construction cost quote. Their service is free to use, and you just have to enter your shed details once in order to get quotes from multiple contractors. The contractors are also pre-qualified and screened, so you know you’ll be getting a high quality builder.
Ask Plenty of Questions
You will definitely want to ask if the contractors you interview will be sub-contracting any of the work. If so, you will need to be comfortable with these people, too, so be sure you know exactly who will be building each part of your shed. Inquire about their network of suppliers, which includes other contractors. For example, if you want plumbing or electricity in your shed, your selected contractor may need to get some outside help. These people should be experienced and licensed in the specific field; otherwise, that is a red flag and you may want to reconsider your choice.
As mentioned, the materials used to build sheds vary, so also ask what materials will be utilized and where they are sourced from. When you do your initial research, you’ll learn your options when it comes to parts and materials, so you should have a good idea of whether or not what the contractor is telling you will be a solid choice for your shed. Be sure to recognize if the contractors you interview are trying to upsell you on something you do not need.
A critical step that is often missed when people are hiring professionals to build sheds for them is asking if the contractors offer warranties. If a contractor does not have trust in their own product and work, then you may not want to trust any of it either. Good professional shed builders will offer some sort of warranty in case something goes wrong with your new shed.
If you interviewed other contractors and have been given hugely different quotes, don’t be afraid to ask why. Of course, the cheaper price is not always the best one. Ask each pro to break down all of their costs for you so you can see the differences between them.
Check References, Reviews, and Licensing
Just like with most other products and services these days, you’ll want to check online to see if the contractors you are considering have a lot of positive reviews. Of course, recommendations from close friends or family members who are happy with a contractor’s work can be legitimate choices, but be sure to also look online. Websites like HomeAdvisor allow customers to leave reviews for contractors, and you should definitely take these into consideration.
Look at the contractors’ websites, too, as those can give you a good idea of who you’d be dealing with. Trust your feelings when doing this kind of research, as making a poor decision when choosing a contractor can end up costing you in the long run.
Depending on the state you live in, there is usually a way to easily look up a contractor’s license. Certain states lump all licenses into one portal, whereas other states require you to search through certain boards or agencies. Regardless, you should always find the relevant licensing department in your state and make sure the person you are thinking about hiring is licensed and has no disciplinary actions on their license.
Conclusion
Ultimately, you should definitely be able to find someone who has the proper tools and can build a great shed for you in your yard. If you know what you want and how much you can spend, licensed and insured contractors will be able to give you advice and quotes to help you decide what the final product will look like. Do your research and your due diligence, and you will be rewarded with a sturdy, convenient place to stash your extra stuff.