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So your next door neighbour has told you that he is looking at getting a new paling fence for your boundary. In most jurisdictions you have to go 50/50 in this cost. You have no choice.

Obviously the first step, after consulting with the neighbour over the style of paling fence etc, is to get a paling fence quote. This is where you have to be cautious. Read on to find out what to ask the paling fence contractor and what to look out for in the quote….

Firstly, ask what materials are being used. You want treated pine palings preferably. They last a lot longer than hardwood. A word of warning here. Do not burn your old fence if it is treated pine. It gives of a toxic fume.

Ask him the time frame it will take. We do not want to pay out good money to have a fence thrown up in 2-3 hours. If you see supports running from the fence to the ground after he has finished means they have not let the posts or uprights set properly.

Make sure that if they have to move any objects to erect the paling fence, such as a small garden shed or playground equipment etc, that they say so. Usually you can do it but if they do it, it could become another expense.

I suppose the best tip I can give is to get 3 or 4 quotes. You see, if the paling fence contractor is busy he will inflate the cost knowing he will not get the job. This will not worry him as he has a lot of work on.

In the unlikely event you agreed to the inflated quote, he would put his other work on hold and do yours knowing they are making a huge profit doing your paling fence work. I have seen differences of over $1,000 for a job. Read again… Get 3-4 quotes. Ask your neighbour to get 3-4 fence quotes as well. if you are armed with 7-8 quotes you are sure to get value for money.

How do I know these pitfalls in getting a paling fence quote? Because my fencing contractor in Melbourne, Matt, from MG Fencing TOLD me about them before he even quoted me on the paling fence job.

He actuallt urged me to get a hanful of estimates and weigh them all up with my neighbour. he offered to sit down with us both and go through them. He told me the exact procudure he would take, the time frame to the hour.

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