Why You Should Be Wary of Cheap Fence Installation Quotes
Sometimes, when you’re looking for quotes for nearly any kind of service for your home or commercial property, you’ll get a quote that is much cheaper than the others.
It’s always tempting to save some money, but in some cases, cheap fence installation quotes could be the beginning of a big headache. Here’s what you need to know and find out before you accept any quote that seems too good to be true.
They Might Not Be Licensed and Insured
The first reason you should be wary of cheap fence installation quotes is that the company that offered them might not be licensed and insured.
No matter what kind of business you have, you need to have the right kind of licensing for your industry and area, and as for insurance, it’s imperative to protect you, the fence company’s workers, and the public. Fence companies need to carry various kinds of insurance, including vehicle insurance, public liability insurance, workers’ compensation, and so on.
If your fence contractor does not have the right licensing or insurance, there is a chance you could be sued if anything goes wrong on your job site. Just don’t do it.
They Might Have Made a Calculation Error
Most fence companies have estimators and salespeople who are responsible for doing takeoffs and quotations. However, they are just people.
Sometimes, especially when it’s the busy season, those people do make mistakes. They might have quoted the wrong kind of fence, left out a fence line, or something else.
Contact any fence company whose price is considerably lower to discuss the scope of work and specifications.
Even if you are tempted to just accept a quote that is much lower, there’s always a chance that the company will discover its mistake during the project and choose to walk away. It’s not professional, and it’s not the norm, but it does happen, and it will cause a much bigger problem than choosing a slightly more costly quote!
They Might Be Using Inferior Products or Installation Methods
The next reason why you might be getting one very cheap fence installation quote in a batch is that the company that offered it uses cheap materials or installation methods.
Read all of the quotes you got carefully, and pay close attention to the specifications and other information. Look for anything that might not be included or that might be included as a rate only. These items are not “carried to collection,” which means they’re not part of the price.
Cut-price materials also aren’t usually covered by a good warranty – or any warranty at all. So if your fence fades or rusts, or your gate operator stops working in six months’ time, you’ve got no options.
You Get What You Pay For
In the fence world, the old saying “you get what you pay for” really does apply.
There are some companies out there that are offering very cheap fence installation, but there’s usually a catch. You might wait a very long time, you might not get the results you want, or they might be using low-quality materials that won’t last.
Always take the time to do your own investigation and find out why the quote for your fence is so cheap before you sign up for something that you might not want!
