Well we are just about through the first month of 2019, and I still have yet to confirm if I will be getting a new barn this spring. I have been trying to get some quotes, and determining what will be the best and most cost effective way for me to get the barn of my dreams. This has not been an easy process.
I mean I knew this wasn’t going to be easy. But I didn’t foresee the difficulty in even getting quotes from professional barn builders. And if it is this difficult to get a quote on a building, how hard is the process of building it going to be?
Morton Buildings
I have heard from one of the people I outreached to begin the barn building process. And I got a rough estimate (sort of) of what my dream barn would cost. Any guesses? The first guesstimate I received was from Morton Buildings, remember, the guy with the great customer service? When he asked what my budget was, I knew he would come in highest for the estimate, because from what I have heard Morton Buildings are the most expensive. And I should have known when he said “remember, Morton won’t be the most affordable, but it will be the best quality.”
And when he sent me an email back with his projected cost my stomach dropped. His rough quote was $100,000.00. I think my eyes bulged out of their sockets. $100,000.00 for a barn? Really? What???!?!? Why so much? I get it that the quality of the barn will be top notch, but $100,000.00? Seriously? Well at that price point, that barn is not even close to being in my budget. So Morton Buildings, I’m sorry, but no thanks.
Oh, and the plan that the rep sent me was for a barn larger than I had asked for a price on. So does that mean he knows what I need and/or want better than I do? And do I want to work with a company like that? I don’t think so.
Cleary Buildings
I did receive a voicemail from a Cleary Building sales person. And the message went something like this…
“Hi Lisa, I guess you are finally serious about moving forward with your building (soft chuckle). Give me a call so we can talk.”
Um yeah, no. If you are going to call me and be condescending in a voicemail before we even talk, how are you going to be on the job when I am giving you a lot of money? Apparently the companies tag line of “Serving clients since 1978” doesn’t apply in Colorado.
I’m not one to really give a crap about personalities, but I do have a problem with someone having a preconceived notion of my character. And this man knows nothing of me, how I do things, or why I would decide to build a barn. Honestly, that isn’t any of his business. What is his business is helping me come to the conclusion that Cleary Buildings would be the best option for me to build my barn.
So no estimate from Cleary Buildings.
MD Barns
I was contacted by MD Barns, but it was a brief email letting me know how busy they are with the Stock Show, and that was about it. The rep did let me know that they would be at the stock show, and I should go check them out. I had emailed the sales rep back and said I wasn’t in a huge hurry, so she could get back to me after she had the time. But I still haven’t heard back from them. Not even a note to say “hey, sorry, it’s been real busy, look at some of this stuff first, and let me know what you think.” Or a time frame of when they will get back to me. I got nothing.
Where Has Professionalism Gone?
Now I don’t think I am being unreasonable in my pursuit of finding what I want. Especially when I am going to be giving the company around $40,000 for a product. I don’t think that asking for customer service is a bad thing. But if you can’t even give me an estimate, how is it going to be when I sign on the dotted line? After you get a good chunk of money, how hard are you going to be to get a hold of?]
I guess they figure that they are so busy with horse people like me that want a barn so badly they will stand for subpar service. And I guess they also assume that I don’t have a lot of options. And they probably have a lot of people lining up to get a new barn, so they don’t really have to worry about the customer service they provide. But as a customer, I expect that service. And I don’t think that is asking too much.
I guess if you want to get great service, you are going to pay for it. I just didn’t think it would be so difficult to get a freaking quote for a barn.
Alternatives To Getting A New Barn
I haven’t completely resigned the idea of having a real barn, but I am getting close. Since I haven’t had the best of luck with any of the big name barn builders, I am looking at all of my options.
Right now MD Barns has a great deal. A 24 x 24 barn with 2 stalls, an open area for feed and a tack room for $28,600.00 an that includes a solar powered light kit. Then factoring in the concrete work, and cost to erect the barn, I think I will be in the $45,000 range. And this includes building paddocks, mats for the stalls, and fence work that would need to be redone.
But again, then I am on their time frame, and communication schedule. I’m not sure I feel all warm and fuzzy about that. So I decided to see what it would cost for me to make the most out of the barn I do have, add floor mats, an overhang to the roof line, and put fronts on the stalls so my horses don’t end up with snow drifts in their stalls. And this is what I have come up with:
- New paddocks: $700.00
- New gates for the paddocks: $160.00
- Overhang extension and side walls: $1800.00
- Dirt work and mats for the stalls: $450.00
- Fronts for stalls: $600.00
- Mats for grooming area: $90.00
- Build a wall for ‘real’ tack room: $150.00
- Lighting for tack room: $100.00
- Total for DIY barn improvements: $4050.00
Time frame to get this done: 2 weeks
While not exactly what I wanted, it is something my husband and I can do ourselves. And the best part about this project is I am beholden to no one other than myself to getting it done.
And another good thing of doing it myself is I can piece out the projects, and buy a little bit at a time. For example, I can save a little bit of money and go buy the stall mats, or the wood I will need for the new paddocks. And then once I have the material I can do that project, and then move on to the next one. I mean, we have already done some projects on our own. I am fairly confident we can make the current barn more of what I want it to be, short of having an alleyway.
There Are Always Options
I have had feedback from others that yes, to build a barn is a very big project, but it is so worth it when it’s done. And I get that. I really do. But not having control over the process, and not having communication, or a definite time frame for the project to be completed bothers me, a lot. I guess I am a bit of a control freak. But if I am the one paying for it, shouldn’t it be ok to expect good service? I don’t think that is asking too much.
Well, I haven’t committed to anything yet. But I am leaning closer to doing it on my own, just because of the lack of service I have seen. I know it isn’t exactly what I want, but it is definitely more affordable, and I don’t have to figure out how to come up with $45,000.00! And my horses will still have (mostly) enclosed stalls that will keep them dry in the winter. Which is my most important consideration for even wanting to build a barn in the first place.
Over the next month I hope to have a plan in place, and might even have some photos to share with you as to what is going to transpire over the next few months. So be sure to sign up with your email and then you will get notified in your e-mail when I have something new to share with you. And you can follow along with the process of either building a new barn, or making the most of the barn you currently have.
15 replies to "The Barn Building Saga"
I hear you on the customer service deal! And I agree that when you plan on paying a huge amount to a company, the least they can do is try to make you feel valued. That is why I didn’t get a barn before we moved to our house that has a barn. I love this idea that you are planning! What you have now is nice, nicer than most and will be even nicer when you complete what you want. Whatever you decide, your horses will still adore you! 🙂
You are toooooooo kind! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Most companies or contractors that are really good are really busy… Be patient and find someone local…
Thank you Theresa. I must admit, I am not the most patient person when it comes to projects. I do like your suggestion to find someone local. 🙂
~Lisa
Have you considered finding a used barn that needs to be disassembled and moved? You can usually get those for a much better price if you’re willing to do the labor and can haul yourself. I recently facilitated the sale of an 18 stall barn for a friend and she got it for five thousand dollars!
Wow Summer T. Do you have any websites where you can find used barns like that?
Thank you
I’ve done this. While definitely a way to save money.. it is a huge amount of work and skill. You need to be high on the improvise skills as you will NOT be able to just take down—-put up!
Moved a 65’x130 indoor and a 14 stall aisle , and a 28×65 high hay tie tayand added a48’x 14’ lean to an existing hay barn. 7 months.
You are so right. Here in the U.K its just the same. We are the ones paying and they treat us like they are doing us s favour. What ever we want, too.
LOYALTY too as well, means nothing any more or indeed paying by CASH.
I quite agree with you.
Look fwd to the next installments on the barn building
LOVE YOUR VIDEOS
Hi Lisa,
Just found your blog about building your barn. I would love to be of service to you if you are still in the market.. I work for FCP Barns & Buildings. We have been building modular barns and buildings since 1982 and pride ourselves on our customer service and exceptional product. You can check us out on our website http://www.fcpbuildings.com, Facebook, Yelp, etc.
Please feel free to reach out to me at any time.
Cheryl Spangler
FCP, Inc.
951-471-6631
cspangler@fcpbuildings.com
Hello Lisa! Big fan of your youtube channel! I’m in the same boat of wanting to upgrade barns. I currently just have a home made shedrow. and small tack room. I really dream of a simple 10 by 30 shedrow. but the average prefab shedrow that size is around 10 grand. I happen to have come across Keystone buildings. Right now they’re having horse barn sales. And a 10 by 30 is only $6,690! What a steal! Check it out!
Sincerely,
Emily
Hi Emily!
Thank you for watching my videos 🙂 That is so cool what you found! I wish I lived in their delivery area!!!!! I hope you are able to get your dream barn 🙂
I have a 7 stall barn with a tack room, feed room, and wash rack. I had a metal building put up(took about 2 says) and my husband and I did the interior work. I think we ended up spending around 50,000 because I insisted on Dutch doors at the back of my stalls with attached paddocks. The builder was great, showed up on time, got the building up(since we’re in hurricane country, it was rated at 130 mph winds), after that, we put in the stall floors and mats, and stall fronts, etc. Altogether, it took just about 2 months for the barn to be finished
I am dealing right now with a very good builder who is responsive and works for MY wants and we are just in talks right now for a place and he knows that but he has put a quote together and made several changes along the way, But he is in Texas, the Houston area. He has built alot of barns and metal buildings. I first had talked with a young man with a contractor for MD Barnmaster and all the young man told me was what they could do and never addressed what I told him I wanted. Too bad I am having built a 4 12×12 stalls 1 12×16 stall 12×16 office, tack room, Hay Feed room, Dutch doors, and much more. This is going to be my dream barn but I have waited years for this so its kind of my bucket list deal. MD priced and talked them self right out of the deal and I am getting more quaility and personal wants.
Hope your barn becomes your dream.
Be happy you did not go with MD! I did, spent a lot of money and my RCA barn leaks all along my RCA connection right into the beautiful tack room/office that my home builder finished out for me. Not having luck solving this leak issue so I have hired a lawyer. My dream Barn has turned into a nightmare!!!
Thank you thank you thank you! I am sorry for all the troubles and mostly for making me feel I’m not crazy for spending weeks and weeks and I still haven’t found a barn builder yet!! You are all so right about the lack of service and to think about all those leaks and hiring an attorney, if I knew how I would start a go fund me page for you. Anyway, I am thinking of the metal building thing, myself, although I do love a wood barn. And, since 3H’s barn and home, office, rehab center just burned to the ground, maybe metal isn’t all bad… But, I appreciate any wisdom/experience I can get so please keep sharing!!