Before You Compare Prices, Make Sure You’re Comparing the Same Work.
If you manage investment properties, you’ve probably seen this happen.
A fence needs attention.
Someone calls a handyman because the price looks attractive.
A few boards get replaced.
A post gets patched.
A gate gets adjusted.
The invoice comes in lower than the price from a professional fence contractor.
It looks like a win.
Until the fence fails again.
Then you call a fence professional.
And we discover that the previous repair has to be removed before the actual repair can begin.
Now you’re paying for:
The original repair.
The removal of the incorrect work.
The additional labor required to correct it.
The actual fence repair or replacement.
The “cheap” repair just became the expensive repair.
We See This More Often Than You Might Think
When a professional fence contractor arrives after an unsuccessful repair, we sometimes have to undo work that wasn’t designed to last.
That can include:
Improperly installed posts
Incorrect hardware
Improperly attached fence sections
Poor gate adjustments
Mismatched materials
Incorrectly repaired rails
Improper bracing
Sections installed without addressing the underlying structural problem
The problem isn’t necessarily that the person was trying to do bad work.
The problem is that fencing is a specialty.
Knowing how to repair something is not always the same as knowing how the entire fence system is supposed to work.
The Problem With a “Quick Fix”
A quick fix can be appropriate when the problem really is minor.
But a fence is a system.
If a gate is sagging, for example, the gate itself may not be the real problem.
The posts may be moving.
The hinges may be inadequate.
The frame may be out of square.
The ground may have shifted.
The fence line may be putting stress on the gate.
Simply adjusting the gate may temporarily hide the problem without solving it.
That’s why we look at the cause, not just the symptom.
Investors Don’t Need Another Expense
We understand that.
That’s why our goal isn’t to replace every fence we inspect.
Sometimes the right answer is:
“Repair it.”
Sometimes:
“Replace this section.”
Sometimes:
“Replace the entire fence.”
And sometimes:
“Don’t spend money on this yet.”
The recommendation should be based on the condition of the fence and the property’s needs.
You’re Not Paying Us to Fix Someone Else’s Mistake
You’re paying us to get the property to the condition it should have been in the first place.
When previous work has to be removed, the additional labor isn’t simply a way for us to charge more.
It’s the cost of correcting the condition we found when we arrived.
That’s an important distinction.
Ask One Question Before Hiring the Lowest Bidder
Don’t ask only:
“How much will you charge me?”
Ask:
“What exactly are you going to do to solve the problem?”
Then compare the scopes.
Are they replacing the post?
Are they repairing the post?
Are they simply attaching another piece of wood to it?
Are they rebuilding the gate?
Are they just adjusting the hinges?
Are they replacing the damaged section?
Are they addressing why the section failed?
Those aren’t the same repairs.
The Lowest Price Isn’t Always the Lowest Cost
For an investment property, every dollar matters.
But so does your time.
So does your property manager’s time.
So does tenant satisfaction.
So does the cost of another service call.
So does the time between identifying a problem and actually solving it.
A $500 repair that fails may cost more than a $1,000 repair that solves the problem correctly the first time.
That’s why we encourage investors to compare:
Total Cost of Ownership
Not simply:
Initial Invoice
We Work Differently
When we arrive at a property, we don’t want to know only:
“What did the last contractor do?”
We want to know:
“What does this fence need now?”
We evaluate the existing condition.
We identify previous repairs.
We determine what can remain.
We determine what needs to be removed.
And then we establish the appropriate repair or replacement scope.
Your Handyman Doesn’t Have to Be Our Competitor
If your handyman does good work in other areas, keep using them.
We don’t need to replace them.
Let them handle what they specialize in.
When the job involves:
Fence posts
Fence lines
Fence panels
Structural fence repair
Gates
Gate frames
Fence replacement
Large sections of fencing
Complete fence systems
Bring in the fence specialist.
The Goal Is Simple
We don’t want to be the most expensive contractor on your property.
We want to be the contractor whose work doesn’t have to be done twice.
Because the real cost of a fence isn’t what you pay the first contractor.
It’s what you pay before the problem is finally solved.
Need a Professional Fence Assessment?
If you’ve already had a handyman attempt a fence repair—or you’re considering one—let us look at the property before you spend the money.
We’ll tell you what we see and what we believe the fence actually needs.
Request a Fence Assessment
Exterior Fence Builders