FAQ

General Questions

These are the general questions we get asked most frequently about the portable buildings we sell. For questions specific to Horse Run-Ins (HRIs) we invite you to view those questions at the end of this page.

Do you accept credit/debit cards?

We accept major credit and debit cards for purchases, but add a 4% convenience fee. To avoid having to pay this convenience fee, we encourage you to pay with cash, a personal check, or a cashier’s check.
back to top

Do you offer financing?


We do not offer traditional financing (loans), but we offer rent to own through a third party company. Rent to own is similar to a traditional loan in some ways, but differs in others. (Please see below for more information about rent to own.) You are also welcome to visit your bank or credit union to obtain your own financing.
back to top

Do you offer a discount for customers who pay in cash/veterans/military personnel/firefighters and first responders/etc.?


We prefer to offer the same great pricing to everyone, so we do not offer additional discounts for certain customers or for certain payment methods.
back to top

How does rent to own (RTO) work?


We offer rent to own through a third party company. You have the option of selecting one of four different terms for your rental contract: 24 months, 36 months, 48 months or 60 months. When you place your order, you will be required to make an initial payment, which covers the first month’s rent and the security deposit. The first monthly payment will be due a month after delivery. (Please note that if a delivery fee is due, this must be paid separately at the time of delivery. We cannot include any delivery amount in a rental contract because it is not part of the building itself, but is the service of getting the building to you.) A portion of every payment you make will go toward the building itself and the rent to own company keeps a portion as a rental fee. At any time, you have the option to pay off the rental contract with no penalty. The rent to own company also offers 90 days same as cash.

When is RTO a good option?

  • RTO requires no credit check, which means that you can qualify even if you have a low credit score. Also, a “hard inquiry” (when a financial institution checks to see if you are a good candidate for a loan) can lower your creditscore; “no inquiry,” obviously, will not affect your credit score in any way.
  • It is a good option if you need extra storage space for a limited amount of time. For example, if you are in the process of moving and need extra storage for a few months, RTO may be a good option for you. You have no obligation to buy, and can have the shed picked up after a few months use at no penalty.
  • RTO is a good alternative to renting a storage unit. Get the same amount of space for the same money, but park it in your own back yard! And after the rental contract is up (or you pay it off early), the shed becomes your own.
  • You are under no obligation to buy with RTO. Sadly, financial uncertainty is a part of life, and sometimes even the most well-meaning person can fall on hard times. With a loan, if you quit paying, your credit score will be negatively affected and you will know that you didn’t fulfill an obligation. With RTO, you can quit paying the monthly rental at any time – no obligation, and no hard feelings – and the building will be picked up for you. You are never obligated to make that next payment.

When is RTO a poor option?

  • If you know you want to keep the building, and have the cash, pay it off! You’ll get your shed for less.
  • If you plan to keep your shed, and are able to get financing at a good rate, that will be abetter option. Check the interest rate, but financing is almost always more cost-effective.

back to top

How does 90 days same as cash work?


If you are purchasing through rent to own and would like to take advantage of the rental company’s 90 days same as cash program, please let us know. You will still need to make the required initial payment and any monthly payments that are due during the 90 days, just like with a standard rent to own contract. However, as long as you pay off your rental contract within those 90 days, all the payments you have made to the rental company will go towards the building itself and nothing will be kept by the rental company as rental payments. If you cannot pay the entire amount of the purchase and sales tax within the 90 days, your contract will revert to a standard rental contract.

As an example, let’s say the building you are purchasing via rent to own has an initial payment of $1,000 and a monthly payment of $500, and you are also doing 90 days same as cash. At some point, after you’ve made the initial payment and one monthly payment, you are ready to pay off the entire purchase. The rental company will put the $1,500 you’ve already paid toward the cost of the building and sales tax and you will only owe the remaining balance on the price of the building plus sales tax.
back to top

What is your warranty?


All new buildings carry a five-year structural warranty from Avery Building & Barns. The steel we use for exteriors carries its own 40-year warranty against rust and fading, the corrugated polycarbonate used in some styles (like the Horse Run In) carries a 10-year warranty against cracks and opacity, and the PerformMAX flooring carries a 25-year warranty.
back to top

The style I want includes an option I don’t want/need. Do I have to have it included, anyway?


As long as the option is not integral to the structure itself, you do not have to pay for any option you don’t want or need. For example, if you are purchasing a Standard Garage but do not want the window that is normally included as a standard option, let us know and we will remove the window and deduct the cost from the purchase price.
back to top

Are your buildings pre-built or do you build on-site?


All our styles are built in a large pole barn we call The Factory and then delivered totally ready to use. Centralizing both materials and labor in one place is part of what makes portable buildings so much more affordable than similar buildings constructed on-site. At this time, we do not offer any on-site construction services.
back to top

Do you offer kits?


Currently, we do not offer any of our styles as do-it-yourself kits.
back to top

Am I in the free delivery area?


We offer free delivery for all building sizes within 50 miles of the main location in Colon, MI and within 50 miles of our location in Kalamazoo, MI for 8′, 10′ and 12′ wide buildings. For more information on delivery, please visit our delivery information page.
back to top

What are seasonal weight restrictions (“frost laws”)?


While roads are concrete and asphalt and look indestructible, they can actually be quite fragile as the ground thaws in the spring. The thawing process causes water to be forced toward the surface, exerting pressure on roads and causing them to buckle and become more prone to damage. The heavier the vehicle, the greater possible harm to roads. Seasonal weight restrictions, also known as “frost laws”, limit the weight and speed of vehicles on certain roads during spring. Designed to prevent roadway damage, the restrictions are usually temporary and are lifted once the spring thaw ends. During the seasonal weight restriction period trucks traveling on “posted/restricted” roads must reduce speeds to 35 miles per hour and carry lighter loads. The weight restrictions affect delivery of larger buildings, particularly 16′ wide structures. If you plan to order a 14′ or 16′ wide building and would like to have it delivered in the early spring, please be aware that the delivery time frame may be impacted depending on weather conditions. You can learn more about seasonal weight restrictions from the County Road Association of Michigan in this YouTube video.
back to top

How do you move the building around during delivery?

The building you purchase will be delivered to you on a specialized trailer. In most cases it is not possible to unload from the trailer directly to your intended location, so your building will carefully be unloaded and then a smaller, more maneuverable piece of equipment called a mule will be used with a set of dolly wheels to move the building into just the right spot for you.
back to top

Do I need a permit for a portable building?
While we will never ask to see a copy of your building permit, it’s best for you to contact the city/township/village office where you live and ask the building inspector if you are required to have a building permit. Some municipalities require permits for any portable building, while others require a permit only for structures over a certain square footage. In some areas you may be required to observe additional restrictions, such as limiting the square footage of your portable building.
back to top

I’m filling out my building permit and I need specific measurements (height, width, etc.) for the building I’m ordering. Are you able to provide those?

Most often, customers ask for the following dimensions:

  • Maximum Height – All our portable buildings have a maximum height of 11′.
  • Width or Length – The actual width or length of the building is usually a few inches wider than the dimensions listed on your quote or invoice. For example, if you are purchasing a building that is listed as being 12′ x 24′, the actual dimensions are probably more like 12’4″ x 24’4″. This is because the dimensions listed on a quote or invoice are the dimensions of the footprint of the building, whereas the actual width and length include additional items like trim.
  • Inside Wall Height – The side walls are 7′ tall inside the building, and if you include the header they are about 7’3″ or 7’4″ tall.

back to top

I’m filling out my building permit and the city/township/village is asking me to provide engineering drawings. Do you have those available?

Yes! Please send us an email using the form on our Contact page and we will send you a reply with a PDF document attached. (You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to open the document. If you do not already have this program installed on your computer you can download it here. The Acrobat Reader Mobile App is available for Android and Apple devices here.)
back to top

I can’t find the answer to my question here on your website. How do I contact you?

We welcome your questions! You can find most of our contact information on our Contact page. If you’re on Facebook and would like to send us a message there, please use the link below.

Questions About Horse Run-Ins

These are the questions we are asked most often that specifically relate to Horse Run-Ins (HRIs).

What size is good for the number of horses I have?


A 10×16 Horse Run-In (HRI) with an open front is an excellent size for one or two average size horses, or three if they all get along well.
back to HRI questions
back to top

Do I need to do any special site preparation work?


Aside from ensuring that the intended site is more or less level and free of obstructions such as large weeds, shrubs, or trees, you do not need to do any special site preparation, but you may do so if you wish. However, we ask that you do not use materials such as sand or pea gravel as the mule will get bogged down and stuck.
back to HRI questions
back to top

How is an HRI anchored?


We offer building anchors like the one pictured below. Each one is drilled into the ground and then bolted to the bottom of the HRI. If you purchase anchors as part of an order for an HRI, they will be installed by the delivery company.


back to HRI questions
back to top

Does the large wooden beam in front get removed after delivery?


No. That beam is part of the structure of the HRI and is not removed after delivery and placement. However, if you take the time to lead your horses over it a few times when it is new, they will learn to step over it.
back to HRI questions
back to top