Ask for three things in writing: proof of insurance, a Massachusetts registration or license number you can look up, and an estimate that lists every item. A contractor who will not put those on paper is the one to skip.
What should I ask a fence contractor before hiring?
- Who pulls the permit, and is it in the price?
- Who calls Dig Safe?
- How deep are the posts set, and in what?
- What wood species or vinyl grade, and what post size?
- Is removal and disposal of the old fence included?
- How many gates, how wide, what hardware?
- When do you start, and how long will it take?
- What happens if you hit ledge or roots?
How do I check that a contractor is registered and insured?
Massachusetts registers home improvement contractors, and you can look up a registration on the state's website (mass.gov). Ask the contractor for a certificate of insurance sent to you directly by their insurer.
What should a fence estimate include?
Total length in feet, height, material and grade, post size and depth, the number and size of gates, removal of the old fence, permit, cleanup, the payment schedule and a start date. If two estimates differ, it is nearly always because one of these is missing from one of them.
Should I get three quotes?
Yes for a full fence. It shows you the going price and it shows you who measured carefully. Compare the written scope, not only the total.
What deposit is normal?
Massachusetts law limits how much a home improvement contractor can collect up front. Check the current limit on mass.gov before paying, pay by check or card, and get a receipt. A demand for a large cash deposit is a warning sign.
I paid a deposit and the contractor stopped showing up. What can I do?
Send a dated written notice asking for a start or completion date. If there is no answer, file a complaint with the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, which oversees home improvement contractors. Keep the contract, the payment record and your messages.
The crew cut my internet line or sprinkler pipe. Who pays?
Dig Safe marks public utilities. Lines the owner installed, such as sprinklers and low-voltage lighting, are not marked. Responsibility depends on whether the line was marked and what the contract says, so tell the contractor about private lines before work starts and have it noted on the estimate.
My HOA approved the fence in writing and now wants it moved. What now?
Keep the written approval. This is a dispute with the association, not a construction question, and a lawyer who handles association matters is the right call.
Can I install a fence myself?
A short, straight run in soft soil is a reasonable weekend project. Long runs, slopes, ledge and gates are where most do-it-yourself fences go wrong, mainly at the posts. You still need to notify Dig Safe before digging.
The fastest way to get a real number is a free on-site estimate. Call (617) 917-2681 or text us a photo of the fence line.