BUYER'S GUIDE
CHOOSING A FENCING COMPANY
Don’t get locked into the wrong fence company. Once you’ve made the decision to install a fence, it’s important that you do a bit of research before choosing the contractor for the project. Ask the following questions before making a decision.
2. Does your company carry liability insurance? (Ask to see a copy).
3. Does your company carry workman’s compensation insurance? (Ask to see a copy).
4. Do you guarantee your work?
5. Do you provide any warranties?
6. Will you obtain any necessary permits?
7. Do you belong to any national or local trade organizations?
8. Can you show me pictures of your work?
9. How long will it take to complete the job?
Contact the local Better Business Bureau to see if there are any records of complaints. The contractor should be able to give you a list of references that you can contact and discuss their experiences with this company.
It’s also a good idea to hire a company that uses in-house staff rather than sub-contracting out the work. Often this results in higher loyalty, better communication, and stronger reliability than using sub-contractors, who often work on more than one job at a time.
You will want to meet the fence contractor in person for the first meeting. The contractor you choose should ask to come to the location not only to see the project space but talk to you about what your needs are. They will take measurements and give you different options. The contractor and you should sign a contract describing the work that will be done, the start and estimated completion dates, the cost, and the payment schedule.
Finally, do not hire a contractor that needs full payment in advance. It is standard practice to ask for a portion at the beginning of the project, but not the full contract amount.
Buying a Fence in Tallahassee, Florida
What to Expect
Our goal at B&T Fencing is to enhance your property and provide a sense of security for your family, pets, and/or property. From the selection and purchase of your new fence, up to the installation process, we want you to feel informed and involved the whole way through. Basically, it goes like this:
MEETING
Call or email our fence experts and we’ll provide general guidance and answer any questions you may have. Next, we’ll set up an appointment to come out to your home. While we are there, we will walk and measure the property and discuss design and layout. This includes details such as the type of fence, height, material, and any type of restrictions. We’ll also talk about budget.
CONTRACT
We’ll meet with you again, either in person or by telephone, and review the proposal which contains everything we discussed at our prior meeting. If everything is to your satisfaction, you sign the contract and return it to us with the appropriate deposit. Deposits can be made by telephone or by U.S. mail; whichever is most convenient for you.
MATERIALS
Materials will be ordered once we receive a signed contract and deposit. Please note, some materials may take longer than others to arrive from the manufacturer, but almost all materials can be available in a reasonably short amount of time.
PERMITS
Let B&T Fencing help you with the permitting and any other authorizations that may be necessary. If required, you will need to contact your homeowner’s association and find out if there are any specific restrictions that need to be considered.
PREPARE SITE
Using the 811 Locate Program, we will mark the location of any public utilities. Private utilities will need to be marked by the customer or a locating company. B&T Fencing is not responsible for, but not limited to, unmarked irrigation lines, unmarked underground utilities, unmarked drainage systems, etc
INSTALLATION
We will schedule a date for installation that is convenient for you. Typically, fencing installation takes from 1 to 3 days, weather permitting.
COMPLETION
When we have completed the installation, we will review the work and answer any questions you may have. A final invoice will be created and payment will be due per your agreement.
WARRANTY
At B&T Fencing, we take pride in providing the highest quality service available. Your new fence comes with a warranty. We’re sure your expectations will be exceeded, but, should you have any problem, we WILL resolve it.