Ask for three things in writing before hiring: proof of insurance, a contract or work order with the total price, and an estimate that lists every item. Illinois law backs you on the first two for home repair jobs over $1,000.
The Springfield Fence Company is licensed and insured. Ask us for the paperwork with your estimate.
What should I ask a fence contractor before hiring?
- Does my address need a permit, and who gets it?
- Who files the JULIE request?
- How deep will the posts go, and is that below the frost line?
- What will the posts be set in?
- What wood, vinyl grade or chain link gauge, and what post size and spacing?
- Is removal and disposal of the old fence included?
- How many gates, how wide, and what hardware?
- When do you start and how many working days will it take?
- What happens to the price if you hit roots or buried concrete?
How do I check that a contractor is licensed and insured?
Ask for an insurance certificate sent to you directly by the contractor's insurance agent. The Illinois Home Repair and Remodeling Act (815 ILCS 513, section 25) requires anyone in the home repair business to carry liability and property damage insurance. Illinois does not issue a statewide fence contractor licence that we know of, and registration is handled by each city, so ask Springfield's Building and Zoning Department whether the contractor is registered there. The state's own brochure also tells you to check that a business name is properly registered.
What should a fence estimate include?
The length, height, material and grade, post size, depth and spacing, each gate and its width, tear-out of the old fence, any permit, clean-up, payment terms and a start date. For work over $1,000, section 15 of the Home Repair and Remodeling Act requires a written contract or work order for you to sign that states the total cost and the business name and address. If two estimates differ widely, one is missing something on that list.
Should I get three quotes?
Yes, for a full fence. It shows you the local going rate and who took the trouble to measure. Compare scope against scope before price against price.
What deposit is normal?
A deposit that pays for materials is normal, with the balance due when the work is done. We found no deposit limit in the Illinois Home Repair and Remodeling Act. Pay by check or card, never cash without a receipt. For a contract over $1,000, the contractor must give you the state brochure, Home Repair: Know Your Consumer Rights, before you sign.
The cheapest quote wants half up front and will not show insurance. Is that a problem?
Yes. Illinois law requires home repair contractors to carry insurance, so a refusal to show it is a warning sign by itself. Half up front on top of that leaves you with little leverage if the work stalls. Pay a little more for a contractor who puts everything on paper.
I paid a deposit and the contractor stopped showing up. What can I do?
Send a dated letter or email giving a deadline to start the work or return the money, and keep a copy. Then file a consumer complaint with the Illinois Attorney General's Office, which has a Springfield line listed in the state brochure at (800) 243-0618. Recovering money may still mean small claims court. Keep the contract, proof of payment and every message.
The crew cut my internet line or sprinkler pipe. Who pays?
It depends on whether the line had been marked. Utility companies mark their own lines through JULIE. Private lines such as sprinklers, lighting and power to an outbuilding are not marked by anyone. Point them out before work begins and have that noted on the estimate.
My HOA approved the fence in writing and now wants it moved. What now?
Keep the written approval and answer in writing. The dispute is between you and the association. A lawyer who handles association matters can tell you what the approval is worth.
Can I install a fence myself?
Yes, and a short, straight, level run is a reasonable project. The work is in the holes, which need to go below the frost line every 6 to 8 feet, and in hanging gates so they stay square. You must still contact JULIE at least 2 days before digging and follow the city's fence rules.
A real price needs a look at the yard. The on-site estimate is free. Call (217) 262-9381 or text us a photo of the fence line.