“Watch out for any contractor who can start tomorrow,” says Chris French of C&J Fencing. “There’s often a reason for that.” The fence business is bustling, he says, and the best contactors are in perpetually high demand.
“Also, it's not wise to go with the cheapest company or contractor,” says Mr. French. Low bidders are usually making up the difference by cutting corners, he says.
If you can, find a contractor who accepts payment upon completion and not before. Mr. French also warns against providing your credit card up front, even if your contractor says it’s just for “authorization.” Once they have your account information in hand, it becomes much harder to seek reimbursement later. If problems arise after the work is complete, you’ll also have much more trouble getting anyone to return and fix them.
“Watch out for contractors who say one thing and do another,” warns Mr. French. Also, keep an eye on the materials. Check that they’re using the agreed-upon grade of wood and fasteners. If they promised concrete, make sure they don’t show up with post mix, a more gravelly and less stable alternative.
Contracts and proposals should be clearly written out, suggests Mr. French. Ask your contractor to explain any provisions you don’t fully understand.
If you’re weighing bids, make sure the work is comparable, he says. One contractor may underbid another for “lattice work” but end up using half-inch lattice instead of a superior one-inch grade.
“It’s like trying to compare a Toyota to a Lexus. They’re different cars,” says Mr. French.
