Fence Contractor Bay Area – Should You Check Fence Contractor’s References?

A homeowner looking for a fence contractor in the Bay Area may have a large variety of contractors from which to choose. This means they will need to have a way to find out which one will best suit their needs. One way to make sure that the fence contractor in which you are interested is reputable and does high quality work is to check their references. Of course, it goes without saying, when you search through telephone books or on the internet to find a list of fence contractors in the Bay Area that you notice if they have a license number included in their ad or website. Then, be sure to verify that they have a contractor’s license and that it is valid.

The thing about getting a list of references from the company is that, naturally, they will give you their best customers. They expect these people will be sure to give you a glowing recommendation for their company. However, there are questions you can ask that will help you to get a more complete picture of the company and its usual practices.

When you ask a contractor for references, write down the ones they supply. Once you have that list, ask for a list of their five most recent completed project owners. It will also be helpful to ask for two or three of their suppliers.

When you talk to their references and previous clients, ask them specific questions, such as the following:

• How long ago did the company complete your project?
• Were you satisfied with the company’s work?
• Did you have the company come out to the location and give you an estimate before hiring them?
• Did the finished price exceed the quote given (or your budget, if no quote was given)? If so, by how much?
• Did the project take longer than you expected? If so, by how much?
• Were the company’s workers professional, courteous, and punctual?
• Did you have good communication with the company and its crew?
• Was there any property damage? If so, how was it resolved?
• Did they clean up after themselves?
• Did the company offer a warranty? If so, was it in writing? Did you have to use it?
• Would you hire the company again? If not, why not?

When you speak to suppliers, find out how long they have been doing business with the company. Ask if the company pays on time, and if they were late with a payment, how was it resolved? Find out if they would hire them to do work on the supplier’s property. If a supplier would not hire a contractor, it might merit a closer examination, or a switch to a different contractor.

If you can get the information of a current client of the company, where there is work in progress, you can find out more about the company’s work ethic by visiting the location (if the client allows). You can see the quality of the work and how they clean up after themselves. If you can make an appointment with the client to come again after the work is finished, you can see the finished work and whether anything is left behind or undone.

When you need a fence contractor in the Bay Area, it is definitely wise to take the time to check their references before choosing which one to hire. Doing so could save you both time and money in the long run.