5 Tips for Choosing a Local Fencing Contractor for Your Fence Project

A well-built fence is a significant investment in many respects. Besides traditionally marking one’s property lines, it ensures privacy, security, and aesthetic appeal. It even increases a property’s overall value.

However, achieving all of these and possibly more is especially dependent on getting one decision right. One’s choice of a fencing contractor is the single most important factor that will determine the success of the project. 

In this article, we shall look at how to make this choice. We shall especially focus on the benefits of making this choice from the local providers. The benefits of this are immense and include:

• Accountability – As local service providers are more answerable to their local authorities and customers
• Personalized Services – Every location has its peculiarities, and local service providers are more likely to offer services that address these peculiarities
• Community Engagement – Local service providers are more likely to give back to their community in some way. This could be through job creation, sponsoring of local community initiatives, and more

Bearing these in mind, let’s now discuss how to choose the right local fencing contractor for your fence project. So, keep reading to stay informed.

Choosing a Reliable Local Fencing Company for Your Fence Installation

Choosing the wrong fence contractor can come with lots of problems. Unexpected costs, untold stress for clients, and poor project outcomes are some of the sad possibilities. To avoid these and more adverse consequences, some important factors must be considered while making this choice. Some of these factors include the following:

1. Experience and Local Reputation

You stand a better chance of having a well-built fence when you hire a seasoned contractor for this task. The reason is that experience makes these professionals better at their jobs.

For example, experienced contractors are more likely to possess better installation techniques as a result of their years of experience on the job. The point is that there are things that only experience and time teach, which is why they should play a huge role in your selection process.

By the way, clients need to distinguish between general and local experience. While general experience is important, local experience matters a great deal as well. In essence, a contractor may tick the right boxes when it comes to general experience, and yet be highly questionable in the area of local experience.

Local experience suggests that the contractor has experience offering services to your community and understands the demands of doing so. For instance, the soil type of certain locations is unique, and proper fence installation in such locations has to factor this in.

You should consult both word-of-mouth reviews from people in the community and online reviews from trusted sources to assess a local contractor's experience and reputation. Google, Angi, and Yelp are notable online sources that can be consulted.

2. Licensing and Insurance

Ensure that you consider only duly licensed contractors. Besides asking prospective contractors for proof, confirm with the pertinent authority.

This could be the consumer protection agency or municipal licensing board, depending on your location and how this operates there. For Charlotte, North Carolina, for instance, it is the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors. You can click here for more information. License verification is in your best interest as it ensures that the considered options are legitimate and highly accountable.

Insurance is the next thing to verify. Although having some form of insurance is usually a licensing requirement, do not take chances. You have to be sure that adequate insurance is provided, and there are two kinds of insurance you should ensure are available - General Liability and Workers' Compensation Insurance.

3. Estimated Cost

Sometimes, you cannot truly tell what is good or bad until there is a basis for comparison. For this reason, it is a bad idea to accept the first estimate received without comparing it with any other estimate. Speaking of comparison, some things to be compared include:

• Pricing
• Project’s Scope
• Materials Used
• Payment Schedule
• Project Timeline
• Guarantees and Warranties

Do not let ridiculously low bids blindly sway you. This is because it usually is an indication of many things that are not in your best interest. Rushed labor, plans to use inferior materials, hidden costs, and lack of due licensing and adequate insurance are just a few.

This is not to say that these projects should burn a hole in a client’s pocket, but value is what matters. Thoroughly examining and comparing written estimates will allow you to determine the offered value.

4. Overall Professionalism

You most definitely do not want a contractor who lacks the required technical skills for the task. However, you should assess the overall professionalism of the right contractor, as they must possess more than just technical skills. Communication is one of the major areas to pay attention to, as it is important for the following reasons:

• Preventing or at least reducing misunderstanding
• Setting clear expectations
• Problem-solving
• Increased trust
• Successful project outcome

By the way, other aspects of overall professionalism to focus on include:

• Punctuality
• Attentiveness
• Risk Management
• Client Education
• Respect and Courtesy

These are equally important. So, they should also inform your choice.

5. Installation Process and Project Timeline

Once you finalize the contract details, seek clarity on the installation process and the project timeline. This is especially because it is one of the leading causes of client-contractor disputes. As a result, paying attention to it is about ensuring a smooth experience as a client.

This should also be taken very seriously because lapses during fence installation can cause accidents, and costly ones at that. For instance, workers can destroy underground electric, gas, and even communication lines, leading to costly damages and even posing serious safety hazards.

Conclusion

The decision to have a fence installed on your property is a great one for several reasons. For various conversations on the benefits of having this project executed, you can see: https://www.quora.com/.

However, you should make it count by entrusting this project to a reliable fence contractor. Taking the 5 tips discussed in this article seriously ensures this. So, make an informed choice by taking note of them.