When I first moved to the Gloucester region full time, I had no idea how important the shed would be in our lives. Our sheds are a source of great pride as well as being practical. Every farm and lifestyle property I sell has a shed so it’s pretty important to be able to talk to your buyers about sheds too.
For anyone considering buying a shed, the big question should be whether or not you can erect it yourself. In this article, I run through the pros and cons.
What type of shed do you need?
Do you need tractor storage, with wide bays for machinery, is it a hay shed you need to cover that all-important feed for the cattle or is it simply a place to store your gardening and other tools?
Do you need a concrete floor? Does the land need to be levelled?
What type of doors do you need on your shed ‒ if you need doors at all? Standard doors, double doors, roller shutter, open bays?
What about Council approval?
The local Mid Coast Council has some rules and guidelines about sheds. If you’re in town there will be guidelines about the size of a shed you can erect before you need to apply for a DA. On farms there are guidelines about how far from boundaries your shed must be located.
How big is your shed going to be?
For smaller backyard sheds with a simple door, you could buy a flatpack shed kit and assemble it yourself as long as you level the ground and you follow the instructions.
For larger sheds, unless you have some experience in building larger structures, you might find it easier to call in a shed specialist. They will help you design your shed and put you in touch with a builder to erect it for you.
Will you need power and water to your shed?
If you’re planning on using power tools in your shed, you’ll need electricity to avoid using unsafe extension leads. And if you want to have somewhere to clean up before you head back into the house, you’ll need water. Remember you need licensed tradies to install either or both of these.
What about safety and insurance?
You’ll need to check your farm insurance or home insurance to make sure your new shed is covered for damages. You might also need public liability insurance if you intend on allowing people not in your household to visit your shed. Naturally, you will need to ensure if you are building the shed yourself, you follow strict safety procedures.
The case for getting in the shed providers
While it can be immensely satisfying to design your own shed, when it comes to larger structures, I believe we’re better off leaving it to the team who do this every day.
You’ll get clear advice on what size shed will suit your needs, the quality of shed that is best for the local climate, steel profile and more. The team at Wide Span Sheds can help you with all the technical specifications and help with site works, concreting and shed build.
Need advice on selling your Gloucester region property?
As a proud local, I’m here to guide you through the process of selling your property. I specialise in lifestyle, rural and residential properties. I’ve done it myself and helped many families over my career. So give me a call; I’m here to help.
