Tips for Choosing a Fence Company
Your home is a significant investment, and it is natural that you want to safeguard and enhance it. Installing a fence is an important step in security and a significant expenditure for a property owner. Choosing the appropriate fence contractor for the job is critical to avoiding issues at any stage during or after the installation.
There are seven fundamental techniques to protecting yourself, your property, and your investment.
Research
Before interviewing any fence contractor, you can learn a lot about the person or organization you’re working with from your first meeting. Here are some things to be aware about:
When you phone the office, you should never get a generic response. Any professional company will have a professional phone answer that includes the company’s name.
Any advertisement must have a genuine address. Many fly-by-night services do not have a legitimate address to which they can be traced.
Never be afraid to check Better Business Bureau listings. This is a free service designed to help consumers.
While it is natural for people who are looking at listings to choose the first company they come across. Keep in mind that being at the top of a search or phone list is not an indication of a company’s ability.
Interview Red Flags
Some other considerations to bear in mind when you search for a contractor are as follows:
You should be wary of a contractor that requires you to make an immediate choice.
It is never a good indicator when a professional presses you to pay in cash. There are some respectable firms that will provide their consumers a cash discount, which should not be confused with the contractor who only accepts cash.
Any reputable contractor will provide you with a written estimate for the services you are requesting; if they do not, you should not do business with them.
Questions to Consider
Other items to discuss with your fence contractor or potential contractor include:
What materials do they suggest, and why?
Inquire about their methods if you are replacing or repairing your fencing.
What is the contractor’s track record for staying inside the estimate amount?
How often do they complete their tasks on time?
Have they installed similar projects to yours?
Will any of the current materials be able to be utilized or recycled in the installation/repair?
Always consult with family members and obtain documented quotations.
Planning is as simple as 1-2-3.
1. When planning your fence, consider how much money you are willing to spend on materials and labor. Once you’ve made these decisions, you’ll need to communicate them with the fence contractor and check that they’ll be able to work within these parameters.
2. Determine the length of your fence. Will it include the entire property or only a piece of it? Do you want to incorporate different types of fencing, such as one near the house and another further away?
3. Look through magazines and other properties to get a sense of what you want, then show the photographs to the fence contractor to obtain a clear vision of what you want. Never be afraid to ask for design ideas or assistance.
Determine a Timeline and a Contact Person
As you go, you will require a firm timeframe for when the job is projected to be completed. Determine whether there will be any reductions for lateness or failure to meet the set goals.
Find out who the direct responsibility is in the event of any problems or queries on major jobs where numerous employees will be doing the work.
Guarantees
Some contractors will provide you a warranty on your job or materials. Inquire about any job-related warranties provided by the organization.
Depending on the materials you choose for your fencing, it may also come with a warranty. Many automatic gate manufacturers provide extended warranties of up to 7 years.
Payment
You’ll need to find out what the company’s policy is on work. Some businesses want full payment up front, while others require partial payment or payment at the conclusion of the job.
Will they provide funding? Do they take credit cards, and if so, which ones?
If you are interested in obtaining pricing information, please use our free online price estimator available here.
If you require financing, click here.
If you’re ready to make a fence purchase, schedule an onsite visit with one of our sales representatives here.
