At first glance, it can seem simple for a customer to buy a carport from a builder or dealer who offers the structures. But looks can be deceiving. From permits to location, usage to color, there are key questions that must be asked before selling a carport.
To get the best outcome, it can be helpful to guide those looking to buy carports so people get what they came for and nothing is left to chance.
For starters, Chad Uselton, sales manager for American Steel Structures in Beasley, Texas, says their customers pull their own carport permits, but he will still ask them if they intend to get one just to be sure.
“For a 12 by 20 building, they generally do not need a permit unless they live in the city with neighbors,” he says.
Out in the country, that becomes less common.
Metal carport materials are pretty consistent, but location and usage are among the top questions that must be addressed beforehand.
For instance, not all customers intend to store vehicles in these structures. Some plan to use them as animal shelters for cows, goats, donkeys, or sheep to get protection from the sun and inclement weather.
People also build out these loafing sheds for dog kennels. “We don’t do interior buildouts, but we know people who do,” says Uselton. Outdoor structures like these can also become barndominiums or check-in areas for boat marinas. “They are all metal, so they are less expensive and a little easier to clean up,” he adds. How soon a customer needs a carport presents another essential detail.
“Plenty of people tend to come in with a time period almost as an afterthought,” says Uselton. “It takes two to four weeks for these structures built to order. Our buildings are very customizable.”
Installation takes time, too.
“We generally do all installs plus erections within about a 150-to-170-mile radius from the local factory,” he says. “We also do a great deal of networking nationally, so if someone calls from Michigan, we have a manufacturer in Dearborn.
“We’re not going to drive there, but we can draft it out and design it and they would build it out and deliver.” Exceptions include Alaska, Hawaii, the Dakotas, and some other locations.
Color should be another consideration.
“I tend to lead off with questions like color because the first impulse for many customers is to put a white roof on a carport for a light color that reflects the heat,” says Uselton.
“I ask how many trees are around it. If there are lots of trees with a solid white roof, we have a lot of pollen here and it becomes slime green and you have to pressure wash it.”
In that case, he often suggests a tan color that will not show that type of stain. For others, an HOA may dictate a specific shade.
Customers should also understand the color orientation and that standard colors will change and fade over time.
It can also be challenging to match a home or a barn on the same property with a premade shade.
Other important questions include how strong the carport needs to be.
“Customers should know the snow load for the top and side wall,” says Uselton who adds they can do a Google search for this information or contact their local permit office.
Many carports can also sustain high-speed winds, which is another point to discuss in advance.
With carport customers, taking time before the sale to ask the right questions can make for a smoother transaction.
“It’s about tapering people’s expectations,” Uselton says. “We can do a lot of cool things and be creative as can be, but we don’t overpromise what we can’t deliver.
“There are definitely limitations to it, so initially we want to make sure everyone is on the same page.”
