How much is that horse barn in the social media window? The one with the beautiful stalls? Price is probably the first question that springs to the mind of the horse aficionado, especially those dreaming of one day setting up their own horse haven.
It’s true that a picture is worth a 1000 words. The only trouble is when it comes to costs no matter how many photos there are to view, a group of pictures cannot tell the whole story. There are simply so many variables that go into construction. This is why barn building companies are reluctant to quote a ballpark price based on a social media request. But if they do, what does it mean? Here’s why you should pick up the phone.
What You Can and Can’t See in A Photo
One of the fabulous things about modular factory-built barns is that any specific customization or upgrade request can be included at a known cost. While any and all requests can be quoted (and will be quoted on a ‘to the penny’ basis by the leading modular horse barn company Horizon Structures in advance of purchase), the variances in what people want and what barn the company can construct is extensive. When you see a barn picture published on social media as a build that has been accomplished, the company may be reticent about posting the price for several reasons. And here are the key reasons why:
- Special requests from the client may have been included in the construction or design aspect that you can’t see on the photos such as special site preparations; structural extras such as ground to rafter kickboarded walls; sizes vary enormously across all dimensions of a structure; roof profile and construction may be different based on altitude, climate and regional influences and/or building code requirements; finishing features like stall door hardware may have been upgraded. There are many design options and when you ‘spec’ your barn (here are the top 5 horse barn features not to miss) this huge variety of options available will also give you the opportunity to manage your budget by plus and minus dollar amounts depending on your needs and wants. Some features may ‘up the price’ and some may diminish the price, and these details may not be apparent to the casual onlooker.
- The proud new owner of the structure may not wish to have broadcast to the public at large how much they spent on their barn, regardless of whether it was a lot or a little. Remember some people wish for more privacy than others, and a good company will always respect that.
- Modular barns and prefabricated run-in sheds are transported over the road and set up on site. So, the price should include delivery (freight) and set-up. Social media by its very nature is global. Even when you are viewing a national brand that offers a prefabricated or modular horse barn, the cost will involve freight. And that is obviously based on where you live and exactly where the barn will be constructed. But that’s not all.
- Even if freight costs are mentioned, change the design of the horse barn and that may change specifics on how it is constructed and its ultimate size and weight. This means the freight costs may be quite different depending on the changes made from the barn seen in the photos or video, even if it is headed to the same zip code.
Take The Smart and Best Option for Accurate Pricing
If you seriously want to know the price structure for a barn build, then call and find out. A ballpark figure is just that – a rough statistical estimate based on general criteria. And a figure posted on a specific social media post may not apply to your location or be representative of what you would like to see included in your building.
Sure, we are all busy. Sure, we may be a little nervous to pick up the phone and chat with someone because we don’t want to be bothered with hard sell tactics and salesman push. Perhaps you are just worried you can’t afford the barn and feel embarrassed to ask. But the details do matter to price, and it is prudent to get a solid price foundation so you know what you can or can’t afford to buy.
The nitty-gritty of barn construction details such as the type of siding or roofing used, the structure of the barn such as a mortise and tenon joinery timber frame build versus a low profile modular, make a substantial difference to the price point.
Consider that while a barn could be the exact same footprint size and numbers of stalls and their sizes could be identical to another one, the features both behind the walls and visible to the naked eye may vary. Accurately identifying what you are looking at and how it compares to other modular designs on offer is the best way to have clarity about where you can save money, what comes standard feature wise, and where you can add features, you prefer.
The sensible option to accomplish the goal of knowing what’s what and what’s not, is to call the company (or at least shoot an email to them) and ask specific questions and engage in conversation where you can ask the questions that matter most to you. Because who knows, maybe you can afford a barn similar to the one you see in the photos with just a few tweaks such as different siding materials or lower profile roof.
You simply won’t know unless you ask.
A good company does not use these contact opportunities to push hard sell tactics and pressure you, it offers the wealth of knowledge and the time of their experienced professional staff to educate you about your options. They know that this will result in you making the best decision for you, and that translates ultimately into customer satisfaction and happiness, with a known price and an expected result.
For many of us past negative experiences dealing with customer service means dealing with a call center and sometimes having difficulty understanding the person assigned to help us or finding out the detailed information we need because their level of competence or training brief only runs to following a flow chart. A very frustrating experience altogether.
The great thing about dealing with a reputable and caring company is that you don’t need to worry that you won’t understand the salesperson’s accent because English isn’t their first language; be placed on errant mailing lists or be nagged by texts and calls; or if your first language is Spanish not English that you won’t be able to chat.
Well – at least if you call Horizon Structures, (888-447-4337), those are factors you won’t have to worry about because their dedicated team are right here in the U.S.A, and both English and Spanish-speaking staff are on hand to help you and also importantly, everyone is well-versed in the details of the product line offered and experienced with horse care needs.
Saddle Up and Get That Famous “To the Penny” Quote
The ‘’to the penny” quote is not to be snorted at – frankly, why would you invest in a horse barn without one? No-one likes surprises. Exact knowledge of the craftsmanship quality; the materials to be used; the features and barn design; and a clear-cut total price that will complete your final horse housing buy are essential components for a stress-free purchasing experience and peace of mind reasons.
Even if you are not ready to buy now and put together a new barn buy option and enjoy the famous ‘to the penny’ quote from a reputable company like Horizon Structures, it’s still worth a call to find out what your options are so you can work toward owning your own barn. Yes, costs may change if an extended period of time passes before you drop the hammer on the purchase after you’ve received your quote, but at least you’ll have a clear idea of what is likely involved for your particular barn.
You’ll be surprised at the knowledge a short phone call with a true professional at a barn building company can impart. And you’ll likely find you have a lot more choices and options to control the price point than you ever imagined. Whether you are ready to buy right now or are making plans for future needs, when it’s time to saddle up for the serious purchasing ride, you’ll know exactly the track you are taking.
Trail Map to Success
There are many ways to save money on a modular construction barn. Multiple unit buys can bring down individual pricing; sales lot in-stock options may offer a workable solution especially for immediate delivery needs; company promotions and discounts through buildings showcased at exhibitions may be available; and overstock times of year (such as clearing the sales lot prior to winter snow plowing season) may encourage better options to steal a deal.
Don’t be shy to pick up the phone and put it to use for the purpose of which it was originally intended, talking to someone!
