Winter weather is officially here! You know what that means...it’s time to put the snow shovels and ice scrapers to work.

Midwestern winters can be tricky, to say the least. Some states, Michigan and Wisconsin, see ample amounts of snowfall each year. Their residents can build snowmen or go sledding, skiing, or snowboarding. Meanwhile, other states have milder temperatures, and winter outdoor activities aren’t enjoyed to the fullest. Or worse, it’s too cold to be outside (e.g., Polar Vortex).

You’ve been talking about building a pole barn home for quite some time, and you’re ready to pull the trigger. You’ve spent countless hours reading design magazines, scouring Pinterest for the latest trends, and viewing online galleries of finished building projects. With so many options readily available, how can you possibly narrow them down to fit your style?

When you hear the term “pole barn,” chances are that you envision a farm shop or cold storage building. However, the typical post frame building isn’t so typical in today’s day and age. In fact, some of the more popular styles include pole barn homes, hobby shops, and storage sheds.

Buyer’s remorse – we’ve all been there. We bought something we didn’t need (e.g., a motorcycle that collects dust in the garage). And, we didn’t buy something we should’ve (e.g., a house with plenty of storage room). In the moment of our buying or non-buying decision-making process, it’s hard to predict how our choices will impact our future. We don’t want to purchase something that won’t serve its purpose, but we don’t want to miss out on something useful.

It can be challenging to envision a pole barn in your head and know what building size you need. Sure, it'd be helpful if our minds could calculate the specifications, but that’s one superpower we, unfortunately, weren’t given.