As you will be well aware it simply hasn’t stopped raining,
it is crazy the amount of rain we have had, really! It has impacted the timescales
of our work. Put it this way, we’ve had plenty of time to get some planning
done and catch up on the paperwork. But we are the lucky ones, we haven’t been
flooded here and our power supply has been fine. Our thoughts go out to those
who have been greatly affected by the storms.
If you are one of the unlucky ones in that you have some
property that has been damaged by the wind and storms, perhaps I can help you by
giving some advice on how to go about getting quotes for work that you need carried
out.
A lot of people these days ‘Google it’ in order to find a
contractor. Usually, it is possible to read reviews that have been left by
previous customers, so this can be helpful and reassuring. You might look for a
firm based close to where you live or perhaps you have asked around and contact
a firm that has been recommended.
It is best to obtain a few quotes and have a good chat to
the contractors so you fully understand what they can offer you and ensure you
get ‘like for like’ quotes.
As an example here’s a suggestion on how to tackle getting
quotes for fencing work:
Have a look on the internet or in your local paper or
magazine for a contractor. Look out for a professional, and read reviews where
possible.
Contact at least three. Fence contractors are busy people,
if you ring and there’s no answer (especially if it’s a mobile) don’t be
surprised, if equipment is running or their hands are full they won’t be able
to get to the phone. But leave a message and they can always call you back.
Arrange for the contractors to visit your property, make
sure it’s at a time when there is still plenty of light.
Ask as many questions as you like. How they started, how
long have they been trading, what materials are they going to use? Is the
timber fully treated? Are they using 4 x 4 posts? How do they plan to fit the
posts, using met posts or concrete? Perhaps
they have a portfolio of work for you to view to give you an idea of the
quality they can offer or they could provide you with references from previous
customers who can vouch for their workmanship.
Most contractors will then contact you within a few days
with an estimate. Some provide written quotes, others just verbal. Either way,
when you choose the quote you wish to accept, the work to be carried out should
always be written in detail and signed by both parties. This will protect you
and the contractor of any misunderstanding, and it’s there in black and white,
the job that is required and the agreed price.
How you choose which contractor is up to you. You may go for
the one with the most experience, best reviews, the cheapest, the one in the
middle or the guy who you had a nice chat with and thought you liked best! If
you have followed the above steps you should be fine. If you get like for like
quotes you can weed out any cowboys that may seem to offer you a cheap price
but may use materials not fit for the job.
So, you’ve chosen the contractor you’d like to use and you’re
talking about money. Some contractors will ask for a part payment. This is
acceptable for them to ask this of you, especially if it is a small business
rather than a large firm. This usually covers the costs of the materials
required for the job. Some contractors will just ask for the full payment to be
made upon completion, they may prefer to keep a credit account running with
their supplier. In either case, you should expect to be given receipts for all
money received. When the job is compete, the contractor should give you advice
on how to look after and maintain your fence, then when you are happy the job
can be signed off.
I hope this is of some help to you.
As far as our week has gone, Richard has been working hard
on some fencing and decking, with still another couple of weeks left on the
job. But look out for the photos of his work coming soon. Garden maintenance hasn’t
begun yet this year due to the weather. But we hope to get out there sometime
next week and make a start on tidying up after all the storms.
Thanks very much for reading, have a great day!
