How to Get a Fencing Quote in Sydney

Rick

Oct 2

6 min read

Most people only arrange fencing every ten or fifteen years, so there is no reason you would know what a good quote looks like. The short version: a quote worth comparing is in writing, itemised, and based on someone actually standing on your boundary. A number given over the phone from a rough length is a guess, and guesses get revised once the work starts.

Here is what a proper fencing quote covers, what to ask, and how to line up three quotes so you are comparing the same job.

Why the quote should follow a site visit

Two boundaries of the same length can be completely different jobs. A flat, clear side boundary with a wide gate and a driveway to park on is straightforward. A sloping rear boundary with a retaining wall under it, a mature hedge in the way and the only access through the house is not.

The things that change the work are mostly invisible from the street:

Ground conditions. Sandstone shelf, reactive clay, old fill and buried concrete all change how posts get set and how long digging takes.
Slope and falls. A fall along the boundary has to be either raked or stepped, and that decision affects materials and labour.
Access. Whether materials and spoil can be wheeled in, or have to be carried through a house, is a real cost difference.
What is coming out. An old fence with deep concrete footings is a bigger removal job than one on timber stumps.
Services. Water, gas, irrigation and stormwater lines near a post hole need care, not a best guess.

If a contractor will not come and look, they are either not really pricing your job or they are planning to re-price it later.

What a fencing quote should spell out

A single line reading "supply and install new fence" with a price under it is not a quote you can compare or hold anyone to. Look for these, in writing.

The fence itself

Type and material, with the actual product described rather than just "timber" or "Colorbond".
Height, and the total length being replaced.
Post type, size and spacing, and how the posts are being set.
Rails, and how many.
Capping, plinth boards and any trim.
Finish: whether it arrives finished, is being painted or stained, or is left bare.

Tip: if you are weighing up materials before you quote, our guides to timber fencing and the wider fencing services we cover set out what each option suits.

Removing and disposing of the old fence

This is the single most common omission, and the easiest way for one quote to look cheaper than another. Check that removal, cartage and tip fees are included, whether old concrete footings are being dug out or left in the ground, and who deals with anything attached to the fence on the other side.

Site access and ground conditions

Ask how materials are getting in, whether any machinery is being used or the holes are hand-dug, and what happens if rock turns up. Also agree who reinstates lawn, garden beds or paving disturbed along the line. None of that is unreasonable to ask before you sign.

Gates

Gates get assumed into a price far too often. The quote should state how many gates, their width and height, which way each one swings or slides, and the hardware included down to the latch and any drop bolt. A gate is a moving structure carrying its own weight, so its posts and footings are usually bigger than the fence posts either side of it.

What is not included

A good quote has an exclusions line. Retaining, tree or stump removal, relocating a tap or an irrigation line, repainting, and surveying a disputed boundary are all things that may or may not be in scope. Better to see them listed as excluded than to discover it mid-job.

Timing and payment terms

Expect a start window rather than a precise date, an estimate of how many days the work takes, and payment stages with a clear trigger for each. Payments tied to stages of work are easier to manage than payments tied to dates on a calendar.

Check the licence before anything else

In NSW, residential building work is licensed, and you can check any licence number yourself on the public register through NSW Fair Trading. Ask for the number, then actually check it: the name on the licence should match the business you are dealing with, and the licence category should cover the type of work.

For our part, we hold NSW Contractor Licence 484384C in the Structural Landscaping category. You are welcome to look it up before you talk to us, and you should do the same with anyone else you are considering. More about us is on our about page.

Whether your particular job requires a licensed contractor, and whether home building compensation cover applies, depends on the value and type of work. Confirm that with NSW Fair Trading rather than relying on anyone's summary, including this one. It is also fair to ask whether the contractor carries public liability insurance.

Deposits and progress payments

NSW sets rules on the maximum deposit a contractor can ask for on residential building work, and on how progress payments can be structured. The limits depend on the contract value and the rules change from time to time, so check the current position with NSW Fair Trading rather than taking anyone's word for it.

What you can judge for yourself is the shape of the arrangement. A deposit that covers materials and a balance on completion is normal. A large upfront payment before anything has been ordered or scheduled is worth questioning.

Questions worth asking at the site visit

Who will actually be doing the work, and will someone be on site the whole time?
How are the posts being set, and what happens if you hit rock or buried concrete?
On a sloping line, are you raking or stepping the fence, and how is the gap at the bottom handled?
Is removal and disposal of the old fence in this price?
Is the boundary clear, or does it need to be pegged before anyone digs?
How long is this price held for?
What would make the price change once work starts, and how is that agreed?
Who clears up, and what does the site look like at the end of each day?

How to compare three quotes fairly

Three quotes for "the same fence" usually are not. Before you compare prices, line the quotes up side by side on the specification: height, post type and spacing, paling or sheet type, capping, whether removal and disposal is included, gates, and exclusions. A cheaper quote is very often cheaper because something has been left out of it.

The easiest fix is to write a short brief of your own, a paragraph is plenty, and send the identical brief to everyone you ask. Then the differences in the numbers are genuinely differences in price. Our guide to fencing costs in Sydney explains what actually drives the figure up or down, which makes an unusually low quote easier to interrogate.

If you are replacing rather than building new, the fence replacement page covers what that process involves, and it is worth knowing how long a fence replacement usually takes before you lock in a start date.

If the fence sits on a shared boundary

Most suburban fences are dividing fences, and the cost of a dividing fence is commonly shared between the two owners. That means your neighbour needs to see and agree the quote, not just hear about it afterwards. Sort that conversation out before you book a start date, not after.

Our guide on who pays for a dividing fence in NSW explains how that generally works and where to get the official position.

Frequently asked questions

Should a fencing quote be free?

For a standard residential boundary it is common to quote at no charge, and we do. Ask upfront, because an unusually complex site or a long drive out of a contractor's normal area can change that.

How long does a fencing quote stay valid?

It should say on the quote. Material prices move, so a validity period is normal rather than a warning sign. If it is not stated, ask.

Do I need to be home for the site visit?

Not always, but it helps. Being there means access can be worked out on the spot, you can point out a tap or an irrigation line, and decisions about gates and heights get made once rather than over three phone calls.

Can the price change after work starts?

It should only change if something genuinely could not have been seen at the quote, such as rock or buried concrete, or if you change the scope yourself. Either way, any variation should be agreed in writing before the extra work is done.

What if my neighbour will not agree to the quote I got?

Getting a second quote that they choose is often enough to move things along. If it genuinely stalls, NSW Fair Trading, LawAccess NSW and the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal are the places to go for the official process. We are fencing contractors, not legal advisers, so we will not give you a ruling on that.

Getting a quote from us

We quote on site, in writing and itemised, across Sydney, including the Sutherland Shire, St George, Canterbury-Bankstown, the Inner West and the Eastern Suburbs. If you want a quote you can genuinely compare, get in touch and we will come and look at the boundary.