Buyer's guide
How to compare pole barn quotes without getting burned
Twelve things to check on every quote you receive — including ours. Most of the difference between two numbers hides in about seven of them.
To compare post-frame quotes fairly, put them on the same spec and compare seven things: truss engineering and who stamps it, post embedment depth, footing size, purlin and girt spacing, steel gauge and paint warranty, whether permit drawings are included, and who backs the warranty. A cheaper quote is usually less building rather than a better deal. Concrete and site work are the two line items most often quietly excluded.
Mich Barn Inc. is an authorized Lester Building Systems dealer and builder — not a neutral comparison shopper. We build with Lester engineered components and we benefit when you choose us. We are telling you that up front because a buyer's guide written by a seller is worth exactly as much as its disclosure. Everything below is what we would tell a friend comparing quotes, and it applies to our quote as much as anyone else's.
The 12-point quote checklist
Truss engineering
Are the trusses engineered and stamped for your county's snow and wind load, or generically rated? Ask to see the rating.
Post embedment & footings
How deep do the columns go, and what size is the footing? Michigan code requires below the 42-inch frost line. Get the number in writing.
Purlin & girt spacing
Wider spacing means fewer boards and a cheaper quote. It also means a different building. Compare the spacing, not just the price.
Steel gauge & paint warranty
Panel gauge and the length and terms of the paint warranty vary widely and are rarely volunteered.
Who backs the warranty
The builder's own labor warranty, or a manufacturer's? A warranty is only as good as the entity standing behind it.
Permit drawings
Are engineered drawings and load documentation for your township included, or billed separately, or your problem entirely?
Concrete
In or out of the number? At $7–$15 per square foot this single line can account for most of the gap between two quotes.
Site work
Grading, driveway access, tree clearing, truck staging. Acreage sites need this planned up front, not discovered on delivery day.
Change-order policy
How are changes priced, and who has to approve them in writing before work proceeds?
Payment schedule
The full schedule, in writing, with a delivery milestone attached to each payment.
Insurance & licensing
Ask for a current certificate of insurance and the license number. Verify it — it takes two minutes.
Local references
Recent projects in your area, of your building type. Drive by one.
The three ways to buy a post-frame building
Most Michigan buyers end up choosing between three paths. None is automatically right — they suit different situations, budgets, and appetites for managing a project.
| Brand-component builder | Independent local crew | Big-box or online kit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you get | Engineered package plus installation | Materials and labor, specced by the builder | Materials only |
| Who builds it | The company or its dealer | The crew you hired | You, or a crew you hire |
| Engineering | Factory-engineered, typically stamped | Varies widely — ask | Generic; site-specific drawings usually your responsibility |
| Warranty | Manufacturer-backed on components, builder on labor | Builder's labor warranty | Product warranty only, no workmanship |
| Permit documentation | Usually included | Varies | Your responsibility |
| Typical cost | Higher | Middle, wide range | Lowest sticker, before your labor |
| Best when | You want documentation and a warranty that outlives the crew | You have a builder you trust and can verify the spec | You genuinely have the crew, equipment, time, and liability cover |
Mich Barn is in the first column, as a Lester Building Systems dealer. That is a real advantage on engineering and warranty coverage, and it is not free — we will not be the cheapest quote in your pile. If your project is better served by one of the other two paths, we would rather say so at the consultation than sell you something that doesn't fit.
The one question that sorts most of it out
“Can you show me the truss engineering for my county's snow load, and tell me how deep the posts go?”
Every builder worth hiring can answer that in under a minute. The answers you get will separate the quotes faster than the prices will.
Already have quotes in hand?
Bring them. We will walk them line by line with you and tell you honestly where ours is more building and where it is simply more money.
Book a free site visitor call (734) 333-2760
See our published prices
We put our ranges on the website by size. Most post-frame companies don't publish any.
Pole barn prices →Straight answers
Comparing builders — common questions
How do I compare two pole barn quotes fairly?
Get both on the same spec, then compare line by line: truss engineering and who stamps it, post embedment depth, footing size, purlin and girt spacing, steel gauge and paint warranty, whether permit drawings are included, and who backs the warranty. A lower number usually means less building, not a better deal — the differences are almost always in those seven items.
What questions should I ask a pole barn builder?
Ask who engineers the trusses and whether the rating is specific to your county's snow load; how deep the posts go and whether footings are below 42 inches; what gauge the steel is and how long the paint is warranted; whether engineered drawings for the permit are included; who backs the warranty — the builder or a manufacturer; what the change-order policy is; and for a certificate of insurance and recent local references.
Is a national brand builder better than a local crew?
Neither is automatically better. National brands generally bring engineered components, factory warranties, and documentation, and cost more. Good local crews can be excellent value and are often more flexible, but the warranty is only as durable as the business. What matters is the spec on paper, not the size of the company.
Should I buy a pole barn kit from a big-box store instead?
A kit is materials only — you supply the crew, the equipment, the permit drawings, and the liability. If you genuinely have all four, a kit can save real money. If you don't, the savings evaporate quickly. Kits also typically carry product warranties only, with no workmanship coverage.
What is a fair deposit for a pole barn?
Deposit structures vary, but you should always know the full payment schedule in writing before signing, along with what triggers each payment. Be cautious about large deposits with no delivery milestone attached. Ask for lien waivers as subcontractors and suppliers are paid.
Does the cheapest quote usually cost more in the end?
Often, because the gap is rarely labor — it is spec. Shallower posts, smaller footings, wider purlin spacing, thinner steel, generic truss ratings, and permit drawings excluded are the usual places a number gets smaller. Put both quotes on the same spec and the difference frequently disappears.
Hold our quote to the same standard.
Free on-site consultation, a line-itemed quote, and straight answers on truss engineering, embedment depth, and what is and isn't included.