What’s Actually Included in Your Barn Quote? Questions to Ask Before You Sign

Julian Garber
Oct 16
2 min read

If you’ve ever requested a quote for a pole barn, garage, or livestock shelter, you’ve probably noticed something:

Some quotes seem too good to be true—and that’s because they are.

At VWC Construction, we believe in clear, complete pricing with no surprises. That means we’ll never lowball you just to win the job, only to hit you with change orders later. But we’ve seen it happen time and again when homeowners compare our bids to national builders or out-of-town contractors.

Here’s what you need to know before you sign a barn quote—and how to make sure you’re truly comparing apples to apples.

12'x48' Livestock Shelter built in Penrose, CO

What Most Builders Don’t Include in Their Quote

Here’s what we often see left out of competitor quotes (especially kit companies or fast-talking sales teams):

Site prep and grading
Engineered trusses (required by most counties)
Delivery fees or fuel surcharges
Concrete slab
Permits and inspections
Vapor barriers and insulation
Framing for interior use
Clean-up or haul-off after construction

At VWC Construction, we quote based on what you actually need to finish your project properly—not just the base shell.

What We Do Include

We build structures that are ready to use, and our standard quotes typically include:

Fully engineered trusses
Post frame construction with quality materials
Delivery and setup by our local crew
Local permit support and submission
Custom size, layout, and door/window openings
Moisture barrier and optional insulation
Clean-up after the job

We also coordinate directly with our sister company, Excavate Colorado, to include site prep and grading in your quote when needed.

Excavate Colorado putting the finishing touches on a build in Rockvale, CO

What About Plumbing or Electrical?

We do not provide in-house plumbing or electrical services—but we’re more than happy to coordinate with your licensed contractors during the build.

We’ll:

Work with your electrician to frame for outlets, panel boxes, lighting, etc.
Coordinate slab cuts or stub-outs with your plumber
Make sure utility access is planned into your build layout
Add conduit paths, framed walls, or blocking as needed

Many of our customers bring in their own local trades—and we’re flexible to make it work smoothly.

Questions You Should Always Ask Before Signing a Barn Quote

Before you say yes to a “cheap” barn price, ask:

Does this include site prep and grading?
Are engineered trusses included (and required)?
Will I need permits—and who pulls them?
Are concrete and insulation included or separate?
Is there a cleanup fee or hidden delivery cost?
What’s the timeline—and who’s doing the work?

If you’re getting vague answers or pushback, that’s a red flag.

Honest Quotes, From Real People

At VWC Construction, we’re not here to upsell you—we’re here to help you build something that lasts. We’ll walk your site, talk through what you want to use the building for, and give you a clear, transparent quote you can actually trust.