The selection of a steel building supplier is important: there are unfortunately some less-than-reputable players in the market who will try aggressive sales techniques, insert deceptive language into contracts, and knowingly quote you a price on a building that doesn't meet the building codes for your area.

Watch for sales tricks
High-pressure sales pitches are a problem for this industry. In the course of talking to brokers and manufacturers, you may hear tired old sales clichés like "This is the last one on the lot" or "Another customer just cancelled an order for a house just like the one you're interested in, I can sell you their components cheap if you sign today", and other pitches designed to get you to ACT NOW!

Most of the time, these "opportunities" are simply untrue -- a major prefab steel building manufacturer recently got into legal trouble for misleading sales practices like these. Do not fall for them: real good deals will be there tomorrow, too.

Building to code
Reputable manufacturers and brokers do not want to sell you substandard buildings, so they often maintain databases of current building codes nationwide. However they won't usually depend on that information.

The best way to proceed is to have the manufacturer or broker list the codes your building has been specified to meet in your contract, then verify those figures with your local officials before you sign the contract. A supplier who wants you to sign a contract before you verify the specs independently isn't someone you should do business with.

How to investigate

Here are some questions to ask of potential suppliers:

• How long have you been in business?
• Do you provide engineer-certified blueprints?
• What kind of guarantees do you offer on your buildings?
• How long will it take you to create and deliver my building? (This one is useful if someone pushes a "closeout special" on you - if it is already on their lot, they should be able to deliver it in a couple of days.)
• How do you ensure that my building meets the building codes in my area?
• Do you have a specialty? (Many companies focus on industrial buildings, so look for someone familiar with residential construction.)

It is worth checking with the Better Business Bureau in the supplier's area to find out if any complaints have been lodged against them. You should also read the contract they provide very carefully - more on that in Steel Building Pricing.

You should also ask the dealer for customer references. Even better, if the dealer can provide local references, you'll be able to see the buildings for yourself. When checking references, you can ask questions like these:

• How long have you been a customer of theirs? How many prefab steel buildings have you purchased?
• Would you buy from this dealer again?
• Are their deliveries complete and on time?
• Are you happy with your building?
• What could the dealer improve about their operation?