Warning!!! 9 Costly Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Fence Contractor

Warning!!! 9 costly mistakes you should avoid. We know that you have a choice, and making the right decision is of the utmost importance. Here are 9 things to avoid when choosing a fence contractor.

1. Choosing solely on price… You ultimately get what you pay for—this law of economics has withstood the test of time and continues to live on —“The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the pleasure of low price has been forgotten.” Choose carefully, because once you have the finished product you are STUCK with it, and it can cost you much more to have it changed or repaired in the future, than if you had it done right the first time. A quality product – properly installed – will increase the value of your property.

2. Hiring inexperience or lack-of expertise… Be sure the person(s) installing your product(s) has the experience and expertise to do a job you’ll not only be satisfied with, but be able to live with. Don’t just look at the number of years a company has been in business; find out how much experience they have in their fields. You want the person(s) installing your fence to know what they’re doing. “The little things do matter; it’s all about the details.”

3. Not doing your homework... Avoid buyer’s remorse…do due diligence! Be sure the company and product line is reputable, beware of companies who make name changes, be sure they have happy customers, returns calls, etc. Find out where the company is located? Checkout their office & showroom, get testimonials, references and sites of products and installation. How well your project turns out often is a reflection of how well their company is run. Invest the time now, so it doesn’t cost you both time and money later.

4. Empty Guarantees… What kind of warranties and guarantees are available and what do they really mean? They should be backed by, not only the manufacture, but the company installing it. What actions will be taken if you are dissatisfied with the quality of the install? Is the company willing to give you your money back if poorly installed? Will they even call you back? If a company does quality work and installs quality products, it should be willing to give you a money back guarantee if they don’t deliver. You will generally not have any issues when dealing with integrity & high quality, properly installed products.

5. Negligence… Who’s looking out for you? Will your property remain unharmed and clean throughout the building process? Will your neighbors’ property suffer due to negligence on the behalf of careless installers? Most utility lines and irrigation lines run along your property lines. You want a professional who can handle the many challenges, as well as someone who is looking out for your lawn, flowers, shrubs and trees. Just being insured isn’t enough— you need insurance from the company.

6. Using “Sac-crete- just add water”… Know the importance of 100% ready mix concrete for your fence post footings (from the concrete truck). Neglecting to use ample, quality concrete will compromise the integrity of the fence. Any fixed structure needs a secure foundation. “Bag-crete” will not hold up well and often is used only at the bottom or at the top of the fence post hole. Question: What’s better than getting a straight, strong & aesthetically pleasing fence??? Answer: One that will stay that way!

7. Hiring a half company… Be sure the company does what they say they’re going to do, when they say they’re going to do it? Your project should be completed within a timely manner once it has begun? The average period to complete a project is 2 days. Hire a company with a strong work ethic, not one who drags out projects & needs supervision. Make this an enjoyable experience, not one of stress for you or your neighbors

8. Choosing a product solely from a photo… Consider the importance of seeing and feeling the actual product and how it looks & feels installed. Not all products are equal! Viewing displays & photos, receiving answers to questions about your product & estimate should be made an easy part of your decision process.

9. Ignorance of the 3 R’s… Restrictions, Regulations & Requirements… Knowledge is king—the importance of hiring an expert. Not only do you want a quality product, installed right, but you need to comply along the way. You are responsible for knowing these if the company doesn’t. It can cost you a lot if you incur fines or litigation, let alone the cost of fixing the problem.