Second Hand Metal Building Buying Guide (6 Things You Must Know)

6 Things You Must Know About Used Steel Buildings

When a deal seems too good to be true. It almost always is. Buying a steel building second hand may seem like a tremendous deal at the time, remember you get what you pay for. Be wary of making a deal hastily as it may seem great at the time, but it might end up costing you much more in the long run, especially if you don’t have all the information. Always make sure you have all the additional parts and that no parts of the kit are faulty.

Its extremely important to verify every part of the second hand building before making a final decision, to ensure that everything is included, as it does not come straight from the factory and it is not inspected prior to sale, like all of our new buildings offered. Here are some of the most important questions you should ask yourself before purchasing a second hand building:

1. Where was the second hand building stored? Indoors or outdoors?

When buying a building second hand, its extremely important to know where the kit was stored. The Metal Pro™ Buildings manual outlines the exact procedures and precautions that should be taken when storing your building. These include storing your buildings’ components inside a well ventilated, dry, moisture-free area and allowing air to circulate the pallets by cutting the banding. Storing your steel building kit indoors prior to construction is strongly recommended. Improper storage of a building kit can make it much more difficult to construct your building safely. Always find out the means by which the second hand building was stored prior to purchasing.

2. Are you able to obtain the original blueprints?

It’s extremely important to obtain the blueprints and any documents pertaining to the building on sale. The blueprints will show the manufacturer, building model information, order dates, and other important information that is essential.

Having the original blueprints will give you all the information that you’ll need to make an educated decision, this will also give you the ability to call the manufacturer to make sure the building meets all your local area codes and ask other important questions.

Without the original blueprints, we strongly recommend that you do not purchase the second-hand building. This documentation ensures your building is structurally sound and without it, you are “going in blind.”

3. Why is this second hand building being sold?

Always ask yourself, why the seller is trying to get rid of the building in the first place? Are they trying to “flip” the building for some extra cash? Did they quit halfway through? The sellers reasoning for selling is the most important thing to consider when buying a building second-hand. You don’t want to get stuck with someone’s unfinished project and find out you’re missing pieces halfway through and you definitely don’t want to be throwing unnecessary amounts of money away on a substandard building. Always consider the seller’s reasoning before purchasing.

4. What do you know about the original manufacturer of the second-hand Building?

In addition to asking for the buildings’ blueprints, it’s very important to get all the information about the buildings’ manufacturer before making a final decision. Knowledge is power, and having all the order information about a building will paint a vivid picture of where that particular model has been over the course of its lifetime. Making sure you know exactly what came with the original building and knowing exactly what was ordered and when, will give you all the information you need to make an educated decision. Asking for a bill of lading is always recommended. Our building specialists are always available to help with a project. Make sure the manufacturer you are buying from offers service to prior customers.

 5. Are all the parts and accessories included?

Having all the information regarding which parts and accessories came with the metal building is important because not having crucial elements of the kit may drastically change the design of the building. Always consult a professional engineer prior to pouring and setting your foundation or installing your building kit. This will ensure that you are using the correct foundation for your building.

6. Are you able to obtain the original blueprints?

Make note of the original owners contact information in order to help the manufacturer identify the order and bring up relevant information such as the date of purchase, thickness, and gauge of steel, original intended purpose, and location to help you identify load requirements and other pertinent order details. Finding out all the information about the owner(s) of the building is crucial when buying a second hand building. Contact Metal Pro™ if you have any further questions or concerns about buying a second hand building.

Start Building with Metal Pro™

Buying and constructing a steel building is always a huge decision, so you need to make sure you’re doing it right! That’s why you deserve to work with a company you can trust, and no one offers you the same benefits as Metal Pro™ Buildings. We make construction easy with our available kits, but that’s just the beginning, our highly-dedicated team of building specialists will work with you every step of the way to get you the building of your dreams!