Tips on Choosing a Fence Contractor 

You may not have a great deal of experience hiring contractors, so here are some important considerations when choosing your fence contractor to help you get your money’s worth.

Communication:
Know exactly what you want and be precise so that the contractor can quote for performing the same work with the same specifications and materials, apples to apples.

Competitive Bids:
Try to obtain a minimum of three bids. This will allow you to choose the one with the best value, which is not always the one with the lowest bid. Along with the price you should also consider a company’s reputation, workmanship, warranty and after sales service. Be cautious of significantly lower or higher prices and remember the old adage, you get what you pay for.

Insurance:
All contractors and subcontractors in Florida are required to carry general liability, worker’s compensation and vehicle insurance. Some will try to lower their costs by not carrying some or all of the required insurance. This places you at legal risk.  Have your contractor instruct his insurance agent to furnish you direct a copy of their insurance certificate, before any work begins.

References:
A reputable contractor will be happy to supply references along with addresses of recent work they have completed. Check out the references, and the work, and look closely at the quality of the workmanship and materials.

Contract:
Get your proposal and contract in writing. It should have a full description of the job, including fence specification, removal of old fence, and all costs should be inclusive of taxes and permit fees. Check the payment terms and make sure you are comfortable with them. Most contractors require a deposit of up to 50%, especially where custom fabrications are required. This is because the contractor is liable for the cost of custom materials in the event of the customer canceling the contract.

Changes:
If your project should change in any way, it is important to have it in writing. What may seem like a minor alteration to you could result in the contractor incurring significant unexpected delays and costs. Try to keep any changes to a minimum, and if changes are unavoidable, give your contractor plenty of notice.

We hope these tips make choosing your contractor a little easier. If you have any other points you need answered, please do not hesitate to call Good Neighbor Fence Company.