Most shed sales go smoothly until the delivery, and that is where the process usually breaks. Buyers spend weeks choosing the right size, the right siding, and the right price, then forget to ask how the building will actually reach the pad. The questions that should have been asked at the sales desk surface at the end of the driveway, with a truck and trailer already blocking traffic. A building is only as good as what sits under it; the shed floor framing basics that determine how a floor carries weight apply just as clearly to the pad the building will rest on, so the site has to be checked before the unit is loaded.
Build a Delivery Checklist Before the Sale Closes
Salespeople promise delivery without asking the questions that make it possible. Do you have fences or gates? Is there clear access for a truck and trailer? Is the yard level? These sound too simple to matter, but they decide whether the shed can fit when the crew shows up. Skipping them produces an angry customer, a wasted trip, and a bad review, all of which cost more than the delivery was worth. A checklist may feel old-fashioned, but the old ways have been tried and they still work. A one-page form keeps the questions consistent between salespeople and prevents the gaps that come from memory.
Asking questions prevents costly construction mistakes on the build site, and the same logic applies to the delivery side of the sale: every question asked up front removes a failure mode later.
The Questions That Matter Most
- Fences and gates, including the width of the opening and which way the gate swings.
- Overhead wires, tree limbs, and roof edges along the approach.
- Access width for a truck and trailer, not just for a car.
- Ground condition: level, firm, and dry where the building will sit.
- Turnaround space at the end of the driveway.
- Distance from the street and any slope on the approach.
- Locked gates, dogs, and who will be home on delivery day.
A Five-Minute Review Before the Truck Leaves
Make the checklist part of the contract conversation. Walk each item with the customer, write the answers on the order, and confirm them when the build is scheduled. The five minutes cost less than one failed delivery, and they give the customer a clear picture of what is expected on their side of the driveway.
Verify Access Width and Turning Space
The most common access mistake is assuming the driveway works because a car fits. A standard travel trailer is 8 feet 6 inches wide, and most sheds are wider than that. A 12-foot shed needs clearance on both sides, and a customer who says the trailer goes in and out all the time is usually thinking of a vehicle, not a building on a trailer.
Contractors think about handoffs the same way, comparing integrated labor delivery versus integrated project delivery to decide who owns each step of a project; a shed sale needs that same clarity about who owns access, ground prep, and the final set.
Why an Inch Each Side Is Not Enough
Trailers need room to correct their path, mirrors add width, and soft shoulders swallow tires. Gate posts, fence corners, and mailbox posts sit exactly where a driver does not want them. Plan for several inches of clearance on each side of the building, and remember that the widest point is often the door trim, not the wall.
Measuring the Gate Opening
Measure between the gate posts, not between the hinges. A gate that opens inward can block the approach entirely, and a double gate usually needs both leaves opened to its full width. Write the measurement down, because the number will not change when the crew arrives.
| Question | What it reveals | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Do you have a fence or gate? | Opening width and swing direction | A 9-foot opening cannot pass a 12-foot building |
| Are there overhead wires or limbs? | Vertical clearance | A building rides 12 feet or higher on a trailer |
| Is the ground level at the pad? | Slope and drainage | A sloped pad leaves skids unevenly loaded |
| Is the ground firm? | Soft spots and mud | A loaded truck sinks in wet grass |
| Is there room to turn around? | Maneuvering space | Backing a long trailer down a narrow drive is high risk |
Measure the Site Before You Promise Anything
A site visit removes the guesswork and impresses the customer. Take two tape measures so you can show the actual width and length of the building on the ground. Most people overestimate what fits, and watching the numbers laid out on the lawn changes the conversation. Bring a notebook, a camera, and the order sheet so the measurements go straight onto the paperwork.
The habit of asking tool manufacturers direct questions about limits and ratings works in reverse here: the dealer asks the customer direct questions about the property and treats every answer as a spec to verify, not a promise to trust.
How to Run a Ten-Minute Site Check
- Walk the approach and find the narrowest point.
- Measure every gate opening post to post.
- Look up for wires, limbs, and roof edges.
- Check the pad area for slope, soft ground, and drainage.
- Confirm turnaround space with the trailer length in mind.
- Photograph the site with a tape measure in the frame.
Show the Customer the Numbers
Lay out the building footprint with the tape measures and stakes. When the customer sees that a 12 by 24 building covers most of the space between the house and the fence, the questions answer themselves. The visit also confirms that the customer understands the delivery process, which reduces surprises on delivery day.
Plan for Ground Conditions and the Pad
The building settles into whatever the site provides, so the pad deserves the same planning as the structure. Level ground, good drainage, and a compacted base keep the building square and the doors working for years. On soft ground, a gravel pad of 4 to 6 inches spread wider than the footprint carries the load and keeps the skids out of standing water.
If the building will sit on a concrete slab, the basics on concrete anchors, from functions and installation to anchor types, determine whether the structure stays put in high winds; a slab without anchors moves with the weather.
Skids, Gravel, and Drainage
Pressure-treated skids handle ground contact, but they still need air and dry ground. Slope the pad away from the building, keep the finished grade above the surrounding soil, and never let downspouts or sprinklers run under the structure.
Anchoring Options by Foundation Type
- Auger anchors for skids on gravel or soil.
- Concrete anchors for slab installations.
- Strap and bracket kits for high-wind zones.
Communicate With the Customer and the Delivery Team
The delivery team shows up with the customer’s answers or without them. Pass the site notes to the hauler with the order, confirm the delivery window in writing, and give the customer a contact number for delivery day. The handoff between sales and delivery is where promises become plans. A short email to the customer and a one-page site summary to the hauler close the loop.
The same civil engineering interview questions used to test whether a candidate understands site conditions can be turned around on the customer: ask the questions, listen to the answers, and you learn quickly whether the site was actually checked or just assumed.
One Conversation, Two Audiences
The customer needs to know what happens on delivery day, what they need to prepare, and what the weather policy is. The crew needs the facts: gate widths, slopes, obstacles, and access limits. One conversation that serves both audiences prevents the classic failure of a crew that arrives with a building and no plan.
Make Delivery Part of the Sale From the Start
Delivery is not an afterthought to the sale; it is part of the product. The price, the lead time, and the reputation of the company all depend on whether the building arrives whole and on schedule. Reserve the crew and the truck when the contract is signed, and put the delivery window in the same document as the price.
The construction project scheduling methods, tools, and best practices for on-time project delivery apply to the delivery window too: sequence the site work, the build, and the haul, and build slack into the plan for weather.
What to Put in Writing
- Access agreement, including who clears the path and unlocks gates.
- Customer responsibilities: clear the pad, mark obstacles, be present.
- Lead time and the delivery window.
- Weather policy and rescheduling terms.
- Re-delivery fee if the site is not ready.