Frequently Asked Questions

I have never bought a building before. How does this work?

You can buy a building off our lot if you like one we have there.

If you want something different from what we have on the lot, then we can order you a “plant build” … which means our factory will build your ordered building and deliver it straight to your property.

If you don’t have an open area through which a building can be delivered to your property, then we can do a “Build On-Site”. In this case, our builders will show up with a trailer load of raw lumber and will build your building on-site … usually within a single day.

As far as buying a building from us, you can of course buy one outright. Or, you can buy one with one of our Rent To Own options that range from 2 years to 5 years.

For Rent To Own purchases, paying the first month down gets any building that is $15,000 or less delivered to your property. For buildings over $15,000, two payments are required.

For buildings bought off of our lot, delivery is free as long as you are within 50 miles of our lot. Over 50 miles has an over-mileage fee associated with it.

For plant builds, delivery is free as long as you are within 50 miles of any of our dealers across Louisiana, Mississippi, or Alabama.

The only thing you have to provide are the concrete blocks the building will sit on. Other than that, our delivery people will do everything. They will position the blocks, set up your building and level it, and anchor it if you chose to get those.

Do you have a way for people to get a building and make monthly payments on it?

Yes we do. We offer four different “Rent To Own” options. That means there is a monthly payment plan that is sure to work for you.

How much of a down payment is required to get a building from A-Best Buildings?

If you are buying a building outright, then 20% of the after-tax amount is the required downpayment. The remaining balance is due at the time of delivery.

If you prefer to buy with one of our monthly payment (Rent To Own) options, there are two scenarios:

1) For buildings costing less than $15,000, the first month’s payment is the required downpayment. Pay that first month’s payment and your building will be delivered to your property.

2) For buildings costing more than $15,000, then the first two month’s payments are the required downpayment. Make the first two payments and your building will be delivered to your property.

How much does it cost to get a building from A-Best Buildings?

Our 8′ x 12′ extra-economy metal utility shed costs $2,620 plus tax if you buy it outright. If you prefer monthly payments, this 8′ x 12′ extra-economy metal utility shed costs $96.32 plus tax for 60 months. From this starting point, prices go up according to the building style, features, and options you choose.

I don’t want to have to come to Hammond but I want one of your buildings. Can I buy a building from you over the phone?

Yes, everything can be done over the phone and via email. More specifically, as long as you have a smartphone and the ability to get to the internet on that phone then yes, you can buy a building from us remotely without ever coming to our lot in Hammond, LA.

I need a building but there isn’t enough room to get one into my backyard. What can I do?

We offer Build-On-Site. What that means is a crew of carpenters come to your place with a trailer load of lumber and materials. In most cases, they will start in the morning, and by sundown, you will have a completed building…built, painted, and roofed…and ready for you to start using it.

Why should I buy a building from A-Best Buildings instead of another portable building company?

That is a very good and important question. From the road, most of these portable buildings / sheds look more or less the same. This can lead a person to conclude that all these buildings are the same. And therefore, the only thing that matters is finding out who has the cheapest price so you can buy from them. But, this line of thinking can result in you making a huge mistake because all these buildings are most definitely not the same.

First, there are very important differences in the materials that go into these buildings. Second, there are very important differences in how these buildings are constructed. Third, there are very important differences in the functional design of these buildings.

Here is just one example: if a building does not properly wick out humidity, then the things you put inside of that building are going to rust, mildew, mold, and eventually ruin.

Many companies will offer to sell you a cheap building…they will really emphasize their big sale and huge discounts…and it can really sound and feel like you are getting a great deal…until you discover in a few months that YOUR IMPORTANT THINGS are rusting, mildewing, molding, and slowly ruining.

Now, price is obviously an important consideration. But, you better know that other considerations are even more important than the price. Let’s use this analogy: if someone offers to sell you gasoline for 50¢ per gallon, that clearly is an amazing price. But, IF putting that gasoline into your vehicle’s tank results in you having to replace your engine or pay for expensive repairs, then that cheap gas really wasn’t very cheap.

At A-Best Buildings, we have the domain knowledge and the years of experience to know the (often unseen and unknown) differences between a building that will serve you well and stand the test of time for you…and one that won’t. So, the big reason you should buy from A-Best Buildings is so you can get the benefit of our knowledge and experience…and avoid making a building buying mistake. By taking advantage of our knowledge and experience, you can rest assured that you will end up with a building that will serve you well over the long run…instead of one that will cause you problems in the short run.

Now, to get into the specifics, have a look at this picture-tutorial:

Which Portable Building Brand Should I Buy?

Do you sell tiny homes?

Yes we do. Some people buy a standard building from us and they finish out the interior themselves.

Other people have us add interior wall studs, insulation, and an electrical package to a standard building and then they finish out the rest themselves.

And finally, some people order a standard building and have us completely finish it out for them…which means all they have to do is hook up to external electricity, water, and sewer and they are ready to move in.

All of our standard buildings are backed by engineering drawings that are Category II … which means they are human habitable.

What is your mailing address?

A-Best Buildings
1905 West Thomas Street
Suite D PMB 148
Hammond, LA 70401

Do I Need A Permit?

A permit is typically required. It is your responsibility to make sure all required approvals and authorizations are in place before installation. We recommend contacting your local city or parish offices to confirm zoning, permitting, setback, and covenant requirements. If you have a Homeowners Association, be sure to check with them as well to understand any applicable rules or restrictions.

How Does Delivery Work?

If you buy a wood building off our lot or if you have a building built at our factory, it will be loaded on a specialized trailer designed to haul our buildings and transported to your property. At your property, our delivery guys will offload your building from the trailer. Then, they will use a “mule” – a specialized moving machine – to pull, push, and turn your building to its destination on your property. For small buildings, the driver will likely just slide the building across your property to its destination…which can deface grass and leave skid marks. For bigger buildings, the driver will likely put carrier wheels under the building on the end opposite of the mule…which can leave indentions in your yard. Some mules have small tractor tires. Other mules have tracks like a bulldozer has. In both cases, the process of moving your building is likely to tear up grass…particularly when our mules are turning or when they lose traction and spin out.

If you buy a wood building that is built on site or if you buy a metal carport or building, then installers will come to your property with a trailer load of materials and build your structure on site.

What Kind of Foundation Is Required?

what kind of foundation is require? For wooden portable buildings, sheds, cabins, garages, barns, and pavilions, a specified number of concrete blocks (provided by you) is all that is required. Metal carports and buildings can be installed on top of raw ground, gravel, asphalt, or a concrete slab. Just be aware that an enclosed metal building will tend to trap interior moisture when they are installed on anything other than a concrete slab with an underlying moisture barrier.

Do You Offer Financing?

For buildings under $30,000 we offer rent to own monthly payments. Note that rent to own is not true financing. Rather, it is a monthly payment program where part of each month’s payment increases your ownership share of the building. And another part is a rental fee for the use of other people’s money that is tied up in your building while you are buying it out over time. For buildings over $15,000 we have a true financing option. It is an unsecured loan that requires a 660 or higher credit score and a reasonable debt to income ratio. The interest rate depends upon what your credit score is. Having said the preceding, if you have the necessary creditworthiness, then borrowing money from your bank or credit union will likely be a cheaper option for you.

If you would like to have a more personal look at the people behind A-Best Buildings, we invite you to check out our About Us page or our A-Best Buildings Facebook Page where you can see videos of us and other interesting information.

To custom design a building for yourself, one that is configured according to your style, taste, and preferences, go here: Building Designer.

To check out articles we have written, go here: A-Best Buildings Articles.