What is involved in buying a shed? There are several factors. It involves defining what the needs are, determining how much space is needed, determining available space, determining the best materials for the building, deciding on proper placement, and the actual process of buying a building with one of the many possible methods available.
Defining needs
Ask yourself: What do I need? Do you need a little extra space to store a few gardening hand tools, or do you need a building large enough to empty your garage into? Do you plan to work inside, or just reach inside for a rake or shovel?
Determining needed space
If you need space for basic yard tools, an 8′x8′ structure may give you ample space and more. If you are planning to store the overflow from your garage, you may need to pick a larger structure, and add a loft. If you know exactly what you want to store in the building, you can measure the items to get the number of square feet, or even cubic feet if they need to be stacked, and determine your need for space in that way. You could even set the items out the way you plan to store them, and then make your measurements. You should attempt to leave enough empty space to provide a path from the front to the back. The same is true for your lawn and garden tools. You will need ample space to store them and to access them without frustration.
Determining available space
Do you have space available for the building? You might want to get a measuring tape and some stakes to be sure. Buying a building that will not fit in your yard could be a problem. One other spatial consideration is height. Some Home Owners Associations require that buildings do not rise above the height of privacy fences.
Determining accessibility
If you plan to buy a pre-constructed portable building, you will have to get it into your yard. Fences, and other structures can present barriers. There is no better way to check this than by using a tape measure to be certain. Finding out that it won’t fit when the delivery crew shows up is a little late.
Deciding on shed placement
If you place the building too close to another structure, it might make mowing difficult or impossible. If the structure blocks sunlight to sun loving plants, they will suffer. If the shed sits atop an irrigation head, your irrigation will not function properly, and if it sits between your irrigation head and a part of your lawn or landscape, some adjustments may need to be made. This could effect your choice of building sizes.
Deciding on the best shed materials
In most cases, the most durable material is the most desirable material, but in some situations this may not be the case. On case in point is communities with Home Owner Associations. HOA’s may require wood sided buildings, though those with painted steel are more durable and will last longer with less maintenance. There may be other cases, such as design considerations like blending the building in with the landscape.
The actual shed buying process
You can buy a small shed in a number of ways.
- You can purchase a kit online, at a hardware store
- You can have a building built at your home
- You can have a building built for you and moved to your home
- You can buy direct from a builder off a lot
Buying a kit online, or at a hardware outlet will require payment up front, the prices may be somewhat less than buying a completed building. Having a building built at your home will probably cost about the same as having one delivered. If you plan to buy on a “lease purchase” agreement, this is probably out, since most suppliers will not lease a building that is built on site. If you buy from a small shed supplier, whether from a lot, or have one built to suit your needs, rent to own, or lease purchase may be a reasonable option. Beware that in most such programs you will pay almost double for the building. The dealers are not trying to trick you, they are just covering all the bases. Most will tell you this up front. Even with this, rent to own can be a good option for a small building, and early payoff will save you money.
Some suppliers offer other buying programs, such as local bank financing, 90 days same as cash, secured credit card payment, and, of course, they will always accept cash!
