What does ”Quality at an Affordable Price” really mean?  I ask this because recently, after the hurricane last year, our area was innudated with individuals wanting to provide clean up services for pay.  The United States government recognizies the hazards during these times and has plenty resources to protect consumers after disasters.  There are regulators galore for plumbers, builders, irrigators and the like but there are none for the fencing industry.  So how, as consumers, are we supposed to protect ourselves from shady individuals selling to us during a time of limited resources? 

I have a few suggestions that may help you make smarter choices.  Before any project decide what your priorities are and make a list.   Here are a few things that might end up on your list:

• Really nice looking fence
• My neighbors to share the cost
• No hassle
• Dependable company
• Fast work
• Resonable cost

These things seem fairly simple requests but if all of these are important to you.   I’m going to define for you below each of the bullets to help you better understand what  each of the things on your list mean and apply them in a practical way.

1. A really nice looking fence.   Well just about anyone can install a fence that looks nice for the first few days after it is installed.  The key to a fence that will look nice for years is the quality of the materials.  You want to find a company that only uses quality materials and can clearly explain the differences between all the options available.
2. Getting your neighbors to share in the cost of your fence is a tough one.  I have been asked who is responsible for the cost of the fence.  The answer is not as easy as you might think.  The real question is who owns the fence.  This is determined by whose property the fence is on and who paid for it last time it was build.  Because fences usually run along property lines it is often assumed that the fence is shared and for the most part neighbors do share the benefits.  The decision to install a new fence doesn’t obligate a neighbor to share the cost even if they will share the pleasure of the new fence.  There is a problem if one neighbor installed the fence and the other neighbor decides to replace it without permission.  The bottom line is, whoever decides to replace the fence, signs the contract and oversees installation is the person financial responsible for the fence.  However, many neighbors do share in the costs and decision making of the fence.  The key is to be flexible because what one neighbor may be willing to pay may based on type of fence or finances may not be as much as the other.   Decide before hand how you will split the costs and get it in writing.
3. The best way to make sure that your experience is hassle free is to work with a company with good reputation in your community and many years experience so that you can be sure that they will know what to do to avoid problems or at least solve problems quickly and seamlessly so that you the consumer won’t be stress.  Often our impressions of what makes a good or bad company is simply that the good company handled problems without you being aware there even was a problem and the bad company told you the problem was yours.  Ask questions like, how do you avoid power lines, telephone, cable lines when you dig?  Who is responsible if you hit my sprinklers or plumbing?  If the answer to who is responsible is you, understand the risks and extra cost you will entail if something is damaged.
4. A dependable company is not the company that tells you there are dependable.  No, a dependable company is a company that freely give you references so that you can ask the end user how their experience was.  Don’t take a companies word for it.  Also, in the fencing industry, find out the company address and do a drive by.  If you drive by an empty lot, be wary.  A reputable company will have a business location that you can visit. 
5. Wanting your fence to be installed quickly is important however, let me ask you this:  If you needed to have surgery, would you rather go to the doctor with few patients who can perform surgery anytime or the doctor whose office is full and is in high demand?  Now installing a fence may not seem in the same league as these doctors but a quality fence should last at least 10-15 years.  That’s a long time to look at a crummy fence or worse to find out you need to replace it sooner which ends up being more costly.
6. Lastly, a reasonable cost is more than just the bottom line.  It is what your getting for your dollars.  If you can get a fence installed for a lower price from one company with no insurance, no real place of business and no warranties you may or may not get what you pay for.  You could pay more for the same fence from a company that keeps insurance, has a business office, gives a warranty on the finished product, answers all your questions, freely gives you references, explains your fence to you clearly and answers all your questions and which gives you all the things on your list of wishes and not have to worry about whether or not the end result will be what you want.  Sometimes purchasing a product is more than the end result but a sum of all the pieces you are paying for and the surity at the start that when all is said in done you will be happy. 

By making a wish list before you shop around, you will be sure to compare an apple to an apple and not a bottom line dollar.  Remember do your homework first and you really will get what you pay for.