Give Your Customers What They Really Want, in Three Easy Steps!

Even if they don't know what that is.

Buying a fence can be a daunting experience for a homeowner. The huge variety of styles, materials, and types of fence available can be overwhelming. Add to that the wide range of options in quality, whether or not a do-it yourself option is worth considering, and the overall price of a residential fence, and it's no wonder that sometimes, customers feel let down by the process.

When it comes right down to it, your customer wants the peace of mind that they are getting good value for their money, and getting what they paid for.

There is a way to avoid customer disappointment with your work. 

 1.Wherever possible, written orders, including all customer concerns, need to be signed by the contractor and customer as part of your work order/customer contract. Be sure to include site prep, clean up, and disposal of old fence and excess fill, if necessary. This won't prevent disputes, but it does provide a common frame of reference when settling questions that arise.

 2. Wherever possible, specify in the work order the name of the manufacturer of the product you intend to install. Name the grade and species of lumber, along with accurate measurements of boards. (If you are using a full 1” thick Clear Select Western Red Cedar picket, call it out in the contract.) It will differentiate you from the competition, and justify your price. If the customer calls for an “economy model” fence, make sure that the 1/2” thick #2 pickets are specified, and consider a section that lays out the relative advantages of the various grades of materials you offer.

 3. The same goes for hardware and accessories for the fence. Let the customer know that you offer the very best American made hardware from Modern Fence Technologies. Always choose materials you are proud to stand behind. Don't let the customer force you into inferior products to meet an unreasonable price point.

If the customer is unable or unwilling to pay for the quality of materials and work that go into the fences you build, then that customer is probably better off going to another contractor.