Why this list exists
Every year, thousands of property owners sign contracts with builders who aren't qualified for the project they took on. The quote is the easy part. These 15 questions surface the things that actually matter before the first post goes in the ground.
Experience questions
- How many post-frame projects have you completed in the last 12 months?
- Can you show me three projects of similar size to mine?
- Who will be on the crew — your employees or subs?
- Are you licensed and insured in my state?
Quote and contract questions
- Is the quote fixed-price or time-and-materials?
- What's the deposit, and what triggers each payment milestone?
- What happens if material prices rise during the build?
- What's explicitly excluded from the quote?
Permits and engineering
- Who pulls the permits — you or me?
- Is an engineered plan included, and who signs it?
- What wind and snow loads is the build rated for?
Warranty and timelines
- What's your workmanship warranty and how long is it?
- What's your timeline from deposit to final walkthrough?
- What happens if you miss the completion date?
- How do you handle punch-list items at the end?
Red flags in answers
- Deposits over 30%
- "We don't do written contracts"
- No references from the past year
- Vague answers about insurance
- Pressure to sign today
Next steps
Browse verified post-frame builders near you and ask these 15 questions on your first call. Any pro will have answers ready.