How to Compare Fence Quotes and Choose an Installer

Give every bidder the same project brief

Prepare a sketch, approximate boundary information, photographs of your own yard and a list of goals. State what is uncertain. An old fence or online parcel image is not a substitute for a verified property boundary.

Ask each contractor to measure and identify the exact fence runs and exclusions. If one bid includes demolition, two equipment gates and permit handling while another does not, the headline totals are not comparable.

Bring this checklist to the estimate

Tick these during your discussion, then save or print the page using your browser. Ticks are not stored after a reload.

• Legal company name, actual installing party and reliable contact details identified.
• Current insurance and any credentials required for this project independently checked.
• Recent references for a similar material and site challenge; permission-based project photos reviewed.
• Measured layout, fence height, material, finish, post construction and site conditions written down.
• Every gate's clear opening, swing, hardware and access purpose specified.
• Property boundary, existing-fence ownership and easement questions resolved or assigned.
• Survey, permits, HOA review, utility locating and private-line questions assigned to someone.
• Old-fence removal, concrete removal, haul-away, landscaping and cleanup included or excluded explicitly.
• Pool-barrier design and temporary access protection reviewed if relevant.
• Deposit, progress payments, change-order process and cancellation terms in writing.
• Start-window assumptions, weather/material delays and communication process explained.
• Product warranty versus workmanship warranty, labor coverage, exclusions and claim contact understood.
• Final walk-through, open items and any required inspection documentation agreed.

Ask questions a brochure cannot answer

• “Who will actually be on site, and who supervises the work?”
• “Show me how you would handle this slope, gate opening and root area.”
• “What conditions could increase the price, and do you obtain written approval first?”
• “If a post moves or a gate sags, how do I request service, and what costs might still be mine?”
• “What do you need from me before work starts, and what could delay completion?”

A clear answer is more useful than a vague “lifetime warranty” or “all permits included” claim. Ask for the document behind the promise. For a high-value or unclear contract, obtain independent legal or consumer advice before signing.

Use extra care with a pool project

Franklin's official permit matrix treats pools and fences as separate entries with different review categories; Trenton also lists separate pool, fence and electrical applications. Your town's process must be checked rather than inferred from one contractor's general experience.^[19][18]

Write down who coordinates pool excavation, deck/grading work, final fence installation, electrical review and inspections. Ask when access protection must be complete before filling or use. A statement that a panel is “pool-rated” does not answer those project questions.

Understand our role before sending an inquiry

Queen City Fencing is a marketing and referral service, not the installing contractor. A quote request may be shared with an independent provider to respond to your project. You should verify that provider's credentials, insurance, references, price and written terms before hiring.

We do not promise that every project will be accepted, that a particular company will respond, or that a quote will arrive on a guaranteed schedule. See our privacy policy and terms.