Anyone with experience with Old Hickory Sheds?

We're looking at putting something up quickly as a temporary residence while we self finance a more permanent build, then using it as a guest house for WOOFers or similar afterward. I've seen a few of these https://oldhickorybuildings.com/Old Hickory Sheds  around and am intrigued. I got the brochure and price list and have looked a bit into permitting it, and I'm still intrigued. I'm aware it's just a shell, which isn't a huge concern as we have the skills and creativity to finish it out inexpensively.  Anyone have any experience with these? Anything we should know?

no experience with them. but in comparison. I put up a 16x24 shed, built just like a house with real floor joists, 2x4 studs. real 5/8 plywood walls and roof and a real 36'metal house door and frame and 50 yr corrugated metal roofing over real 5/8 plywood, 3/4" plywood floor,  and real rafters built and delivered from roof rater company--cost was 1/3 of what Home Depot quoted. total cost was $7500, that includes 2 carpenters for about 10 days work.
so that company old hickory actually has an outlet and sheds available about 20 miles from me. price of lumber sure has changed, but for same sq footage the quote is $11,115 plus tax here is 10%

are was studs 1x2, 2x3 for real 2x4's? is there wood roof under the corrugated metal roof? is there delivery and setup cost?

A few years ago my wife was bugging me for a garden shed when I had more money than time. I almost bought an 8 x16.   Then I ran into an Amish gentleman who built me one at 1/2 the price.

bruce Fine wrote:

are was studs 1x2, 2x3 for real 2x4's? is there wood roof under the corrugated metal roof? is there delivery and setup cost?

I'll have to look into the studs, good call! Delivery and set up on a pre-installed foundation are included for the size we are looking at (may be a small fee if you are way off the beaten path, though, according to the gentleman I spoke with). Roof sheathing, engineer stamped plans, floorboards, etc are included, and there are options for a vapor barrier and wind/snow packages to meet local codes. I was clued into them when I called the permit office with some questions in one of the counties on our short list for a land purchase, and he mentioned these as an example of something that they will permit and give a CO on as long as foundation etc meets code and passes inspection.

Our issue with doing a complete scratch build on a temp home is our plan is to do this mortgage/debt free, so speed of getting out on the property is needed so we don't keep paying ridiculously high rent in town somewhere. I also don't want to get stuck in a moldy RV for 5 years if things take a bit longer than expected (and a used RV in my neck of the woods will cost us the same as the kit and will likely be moldy).

Is the Certificate of Occupancy (CO) important to you? If so, then the building codes and processes do apply, however they are done in your county; watch out for minimum building occupancy size ... could be 600 sq ft or more, which might be 20' x 30' (or some derivation of 600).

What size of structure is important to you? If you have a minimum sq ft that can only be met by a shed of certain size, then it's either buy that shed (with all their resulting cost choices), or custom-build your own (or have it done for you). Let's say you'll spend $10k on a shed; if bought from someone who makes such sheds, you'll:
 - accept their cost & design choices, such as using 2x2's or 2x3's, instead of more common framing materials; perhaps 7' wall heights; etc.
 - pay a chunk for their "profit" (their name on the building) ... this could be several $1000's of dollars, with the result that you are paying $10k, but only getting $8k or so of actual building.
As the others have suggested, building it yourself or having it built for you, to your specifications, could result in more value and better choices.

Constraints & trade-offs are always deciding factors, if no flexibility. Consider all this when purchasing the land as well; the area you choose, the size of acreage, neighbors, codes, HOA's, etc. all comes into play.

If the CO is not all that important to you, or codes & such are not as important in the area you choose, then you have these options:
 - put the shed on "skids"
 - build a tiny-home on wheels (trailer)
both of these would bypass code requirements altogether, and might save you $1000's; both can be built yourself, or by someone for you. Both can be moved around as needed. You might end up with more value in the structure ...

Hope this helps ...

My wife's 'coffee house' is an Old Hickory shed that we've worked to make homey. We've had it for almost exactly one year and it's been in daily use for about 10.5 months. We're satisfied with it, and were juggling too many projects at the time to build our own, but I wouldn't doubt you could do better and cheaper that way. What questions would you like answered?