What to Consider When Choosing a Shed Company
A shed is an investment in your property, so you want to get it right the first time! As with any investment, you want to do your homework and a little research goes a long way. Here are some things to look at when considering which company to go with. shed company
1. Company reputation
Before you purchase, it’s important to make sure you’re working with a reputable company. You’d be amazed at how many people don’t look at a company’s reviews. It’s easy to do – just google the company name and look for reviews on Google and social media. Realistically, people don’t take the time to write a good or a bad review unless it’s true. This will give you an indication of whether the company’s clients have had a good experience. You can also check the company’s website. Is it well- developed, detailed and informative? This is often a good indication that they’ve been around for a while and they are invested in their business.
2. Preliminary interactions
As a start, give the company a call. While you may reach voicemail, leave a message. Do they call you back? If they do, what was your phone interaction like? Was the person helpful, informative and willing to give of their time? Ask some questions that you have about your project to see how helpful they are. The likelihood is that your initial experience is what the rest of your interactions with the company will be like. You want a company that offers exceptional service.
3. Product Warranty
Inquire about the warranty on their sheds – how long is it and what does the warranty cover? Through their reviews, you may be able to find clients who have had a warranty issue that was either well or poorly addressed. Not addressing warranty issues is a sure sign of poor customer service and/or quality issues with the product. You want company who stands behind their product and doesn’t leave you high and dry if there is an issue.
3. Value for money
As with most purchases, the old adage that “you get what you pay for” holds true. Some companies offer cheap sheds that are poorly constructed and improperly installed. This may meet your needs in the short-term, but it won’t hold up in the long-term. This means that you’ll be replacing your shed much sooner than you should have to, which is false economy. You should be aiming to do it right and do it once. A shed constructed by experienced builders and built with quality materials should last decades and should require very little maintenance. shed company
When comparing quotes, make sure that you’re comparing apples and apples. You want to know all of the costs upfront, as well as everything that is included and not included in the price. With an experienced contractor, the price shouldn’t change during the project, unless there are unforeseen aspects to your project and these “unknowns” should be identified up front. There should be no surprises.
4. Built for Ottawa’s Weather
You want a shed that is built for Ottawa’s weather which includes extreme temperatures and, at times, very high winds. The lumber should be stamped and rated for use in Ontario – this is important in construction, as it’s rated for a reason. Not all lumber is of the same quality and this is the bones of your shed, which gives it long-term stability.
5. Knowledge of City Bylaws
Contractors deal with bylaws every day, so if they don’t seem knowledgeable about City bylaws, this is a red flag. You want a company who will build you a shed that is permitted in your yard so that you don’t run into problems with neighbors and the City at a later date.
Armed with the necessary information, you’ll be able to make an informed decision about your shed purchase.
