Before you hire, get three documents: a registration number you can verify with the state, an insurance certificate, and an itemized estimate. Walk away from anyone who refuses to provide them.
The Fence Company of Boston is licensed and insured. You are welcome to request the paperwork along with your quote.
What should I ask a fence contractor?
- Is the permit your job or mine, and does the quote cover it?
- Will you notify Dig Safe?
- What depth do the posts go to, and what holds them?
- Which species of wood, or which grade of vinyl? What size are the posts?
- Does the price cover tearing out and hauling the existing fence?
- How many gates are in the quote, at what width, with which hinges and latches?
- What is the start date and how many days on site?
- If you strike rock or big roots, how is the extra priced?
How can I confirm a contractor is registered and insured?
Home improvement contractors must register with the state, and mass.gov has a lookup where you can enter the name or number. For insurance, do not accept a photocopy. Have the contractor's insurance agent email the certificate straight to you.
What must a fence estimate include?
| Item | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Length and height | Feet of fence, and height of each run |
| Material | Species or grade, and style |
| Posts | Size, spacing and depth |
| Gates | Count, width and hardware |
| Old fence | Removal and disposal, yes or no |
| Permit and clean-up | Who handles each |
| Money and dates | Payment schedule and start date |
When two estimates differ by a lot, look for a row in this table that one of them left blank.
Do I really need three quotes?
For a whole new fence, it is worth the effort. Three numbers tell you what the market charges. They also reveal which bidder took real measurements. Judge each one by what it promises on paper, then by price.
What size of deposit is normal?
State law caps the amount a home improvement contractor may take before work begins. Look up the present cap on mass.gov before you hand over money. Use a check or a card so there is a record, and ask for a receipt. Be wary of anyone pressing for a big payment in cash.
The lowest bidder wants half up front and has no insurance papers. Should I worry?
You should. Those two things alongside a rock-bottom price are a pattern. Without insurance, an injury on your property or a broken water line may become your bill. The safer choice costs a bit more and comes with registration, coverage and a full scope on paper.
The contractor took my deposit and stopped showing up. What are my options?
- Write to them with the date and ask for a firm start or finish date.
- Gather the contract, proof of payment and all texts and emails.
- If you get no reply, complain to the state Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. That office oversees home improvement contractors.
Someone cut my internet line or sprinkler pipe while digging. Who covers it?
It turns on two facts: was the line marked, and what does the contract say? Utility-owned lines get marked through Dig Safe. Anything a homeowner added, like irrigation or garden lighting, does not. Walk the yard with the installer beforehand, show them every private line you know of, and have it written on the quote.
The HOA signed off on my fence and now wants it moved. What do I do?
Hold on to the approval letter. It is your main evidence. The disagreement is between you and the board, so the fence builder cannot settle it. An attorney who works with condo and homeowner associations can.
Should I install a fence myself?
It can work for a short run on flat, soft ground. Trouble starts with gates, grades, rock and length, and nearly all of it shows up at the posts a winter or two later. Doing it yourself does not excuse you from the Dig Safe notice.
Want a price for your own yard? The estimate is free, done on site, and the quote comes in writing. Call (508) 690-4738.