by Nikki Alvin-Smith
There are lots of ways to buy a new horse barn. Complex ways that make the project your life’s work for a bit, such as a fancy on site build with land clearing and extensive site prep and noisy construction running all week long to the modular barn purchase option and having a new barn literally just ‘show up’ and be ready to go almost immediately.
Driving home your best new horse barn deal comes down to a few savvy shopping techniques. There are many ways to afford your new horse barn and not pay too much for it. We all feel good when we know we have not overpaid for something, and a barn buy is likely one of the more expensive items you’ll invest your capital in during your lifetime.
Whether the purchase is financed or not (many larger construction companies offer some neat financing options through their linked 3rd parties), at the end of the day, what you pay is what you pay. So, play it smart by utilizing what’s available in the marketplace and leverage your buying power and stretch the spend.
The Exhibition Route
Companies that showcase their ‘wares’, be they saddles, bridles or modular equine barns at a horse event likely have on offer some stellar deals. Show discounts can include free freight/delivery and set up of a center aisle or shed row barn, run-in shed within a certain radius of the show as well as pre-show purchase discounts off the regular price.
Events such as the popular Equine Affaire, held each November in W. Springfield, MA, and the Horse World Expo, held each March in Pennsylvania, all offer spectacular savings. And just because you pre-buy a show model doesn’t mean you can’t pick and choose the colors and individualize the design a bit. As long as you get in early enough. Which brings us to the 2nd resource.
Get On the Right List
There’s little question that everyone gets overwhelmed with spam and inbox litter from companies they’ve advertently or inadvertently signed up for, who constantly tout their special offers, discounts, and deals.
But if you get on the right list, and actually open and click through the messages the company sends out then you will likely become better informed about what products are on offer. Thus, it will enable you to choose the barn that suits you best. Most importantly you’ll also be in the know and the first to know when a special discount is available so you can snap it up.
Children’s author, Angelina Natale, who is developing a farm on a mountainside in New Hampshire with her daughter and her future son-in-law to harbor a bunch of pony stars from her book collection, explained well how she and her family saved money by finding the right deal and jumping on it. She loves having a barn after previously keeping her ponies in her garage!
Cut Costs Not Corners
One of the consummate rules of buying anything, especially any item that requires a significant financial investment, is to ask lots of questions.
A construction company that trains and employs a staff of knowledgeable fellow horse people, with a mix of construction savvy and building design experience, is a fantastic resource to utilize during the barn buying process. Don’t be shy to ask about not just the pricing (a detailed ‘to the penny’ quote is a must i.e., nailed down price) of the barn you desire, but if the expense is out of your comfort range ask about areas where you could save on costs.
Every roofing product, siding product, paint or stain and hardware feature is going to affect the final cost. For example, you might love the idea of a metal roof and Smart Siding but perhaps working with shingle and wood siding products may be a more viable option from a financial standpoint.
A center aisle barn is a popular design choice but remember it doesn’t have to be a high-profile design. A low-profile barn will do the same job at much less expense, especially if you don’t have need of a loft space. Or a doublewide design may suffice for your horse housing needs and is especially fitting for narrow spaces.
It is important to buy what you need and a bit of what you want. Don’t buy big to impress other people. Buy what works for you and your horses. Horses are not impressed by ‘bling’, they are simple critters with simple needs.
Also consider breaking the construction project down into major parts such as the exterior shell of the structure versus the interior build. There may be areas of the construction that you could complete yourself to save money or push the expense to a later date and add when necessary.
For example, a shed row barn with some front sides left open, could be closed in later as funds allow, but could be used for storage purposes for hay and bedding supplies meantime. If you are handy perhaps there’s an option to finish the interior of the barn and add front stall walls, doors, and partitions.
Wherever you compromise, and you should compromise to keep your new barn purchase on budget track, just make certain it is not a false economy. If you decide to go it alone on interior finishing but your local lumber yard pricing or stall gates/grill prices are retail then buying them built in may ultimately save you money.
Also never buy a horse barn that limits your potential use past a comfortable point. You may regret buying a 2 stall-barn when you know full well that later your mare will be bred and foaled out or your next kid in the line-up decides they want to join their sibling and have a pony requiring a 3rd stable.
Buy More Than One
Modular construction companies often build more than one type of structure. Perhaps they offer horse barns and kennels and chicken coops or horse barns and sheds. If you are in the market for more than one product ask about quantity discounts for a multiple purchase.
Larger companies may even agree to ‘hold’ a secondary or even primary structure on a deposit pending your site prep or site acquisition timeline so that you can cash in on a special deal (see Angelina’s article link above for more on that!)
Be Patient
Once you’ve made the decision to buy something as exciting to own as a new horse barn it is very difficult to be patient. But rushing into a purchasing decision can cost you money. Do your due diligence, ask about discount sales, and watch the marketplace to learn when they likely occur. For example, many modular companies like to clear their factory lot before winter to minimize the efforts needed not just snow maintenance and/or buildings sitting through winter, but also to finish out their tax year with a sales boost. After all, where do the staff get their bonuses. It’s a good time to strike a good deal. It always pays to ask.
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Feel free to contact Nikki Alvin-Smith for further information and high-res photos.
About Horizon Structures: One horse or twenty, there’s one thing all horse owners have in common…the need to provide safe and secure shelter for their equine partners. At Horizon Structures, we combine expert craftsmanship, top-of-the-line materials and smart “horse-friendly” design to create a full line of sheds and barns that any horse owner can feel confident is the right choice for their horses’ stabling needs.
All wood. Amish Made. Most of our buildings are shipped 100% pre-built and ready for same-day use. Larger barns are a modular construction and can be ready for your horses in less than a week. All our barn packages include everything you need –
Horizon Structures also sells chicken coops, equine hay feeders, greenhouses, dog kennels, 1 and 2 car garages, storage sheds and outdoor living structures and playsets.
Headquartered in South-Central Pennsylvania, Horizon Structures, LLC is owned by Dave Zook. Dave was raised in the Amish tradition and grew up working in the family-owned shed business. He started Horizon Structures in 2001 in response to an ever-increasing customer demand for high quality, affordable horse barns.
For additional information about the company or their product line, please visit their website at https://www.horizonstructures.com
About Nikki Alvin-Smith:
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Please visit https://nikkialvinsmithstudio.com/ and https://www.horseinakiltmedia.com/ to learn more about her affordable services.
Horizon Structures LLC, Atglen, PA
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Tel: 607 434 4470
https://www.HorizonStructures.com
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