Should I Pay Half Upfront for a New Privacy Fence?
Asked by Fenc3_Queen77
I'm considering installing a 6ft tall privacy wooden fence, measuring 211 linear feet. One contractor gave me an estimate that was $700 lower than the others, but they want half of the payment upfront. It's a bit intimidating for me since my late husband used to handle these projects, and I don't want to get taken advantage of. Any advice?
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I recently had a fence put up and paid half upfront and the rest when the job was done. Good to balance things out a bit.
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It's pretty common for contractors to ask for some money upfront to buy materials. I would recommend checking their reviews online to get a better sense of their reliability.
Fenc3_Queen77: He mentioned it's for materials, but I'm still waiting for more estimates to compare.
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Fences typically don’t take too long to install, so sometimes they want half upfront just to avoid the risk of a customer skipping out on payment. If you decide to pay upfront, ask them to deliver the materials to your place first so you at least have something tangible if they back out. Definitely look for a contractor you can trust, preferably someone with a good history in the area.
Fenc3_Queen77: Thanks a lot! This guy is a friend of my sister’s, and she trusts him, but I think I’ll do a bit more research just to be safe.
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Fenc3_Queen77: Thanks for sharing! It sounds like there are a lot of different views on this.