⚠️ The Hidden Cost of “Too-Good-to-Be-True” Building Deals
What Every Property Owner Should Know Before Clicking ‘Buy Now’
If you’ve been browsing online for a metal building, barndominium, or custom barn, you’ve probably seen bold ads promising ultra-low pricing for a “complete building installed”.
🚨 Here’s the truth: those prices are rarely real—and often lead to unfinished or unpermitted builds.
At Valor Development Solutions, we’ve seen firsthand the mess left behind by these online advertisers. Below, we break down what to watch out for—and how to protect your investment.
💸 1. Unrealistic Prices = Unrealized Projects
Most online listings only cover the bare minimum: framing materials and a generic drawing. They don’t include:
Site preparation, septic system (required for a building permit), foundation work, nor utilities
Price your building per the actual engineering required for your property
Use known, experienced “contractors” for labor, & equipment.
Permits, inspections, or code compliance (that’s right, you will have to do that work).
In short: that amazing building price of “$28,000 installed” often turns into far, far more—if it gets built at all.
🧱 2. Cookie-Cutter Kits Don’t Fit Every Colorado Site
Every site is different. What works on flat Texas land may be impossible in the Rocky Mountains.
Online sellers don’t:
Visit your property or walk the land with you to understand the goals and use case for your build
Account for slope, snow loads, wind shear, or wildfire risk (not till after you have signed the deal, then the price goes up)
Share the name of the installer doing the work. Are they familiar with building in Colorado, are they members of any metal building associations so they are up to date on the latest trainings, and do you get a guarantee they will actually show up?
Result? You get a structure that may or may not be done right, and might not pass inspection.
🚫 3. No Accountability, No Completion
Many online companies are brokers, not builders. They:
Drop off a kit and disappear
Hire unvetted subcontractors—or none at all
Don’t offer support if anything goes wrong
We’ve helped more than one client rescue an abandoned project. Don’t let it be you.
🏔 4. Why Local Matters in Colorado Construction
As a Colorado-based company, Valor Development Solutions brings unmatched local expertise:
We’re familiar with Colorado permitting requirements and rural infrastructure challenges
We offer full-service builds—from site-prep, septic, and utilities, to certificate of occupancy
We show up, stand behind our work, and answer the phone when you call
✅ 5. How to Protect Yourself from the online “Bait & Switch”
Before you sign anything:
✔️ Verify the manufacturer, do they actually build the structure, or do they source it as a broker.
✔️ Ask for local references and project photos reflecting a similar building
✔️ Get the installers information and do research on them
✔️ Require a pre-build site walk and engineering based on your address
✔️ Read reviews across multiple platforms (not just their website)
And remember: If it sounds too good to be true—it is.
🔨 Build it Smart. Build it Local. Build it with Valor.
We specialize in:
Custom Homes
Steel buildings & barndominiums
Custom barns, stables, and ag buildings
Rural development & off-grid infrastructure
Site prep, utilities, and turnkey delivery
📞 Contact us today for a no-pressure consultation.
We’ll walk your site, assess the real scope, and help you avoid the online pitfalls that derail so many dreams.
👉 Request your site visit now »