Get three things on paper: the contractor's Montana registration number, proof of insurance, and an estimate that lists every part of the job. Anyone who avoids putting those in writing is a risk.
The Billings Fence Company is licensed and insured. Ask us for the documents with your estimate.
What should I ask a fence contractor before hiring?
- Who checks zoning and gets the fence permit, and is that in the price?
- Who contacts Montana811?
- How deep do the posts go, and how far apart are they?
- What species and grade of wood, or what grade of vinyl?
- Is tear-out and hauling of the old fence included?
- How many gates, what width, what hardware?
- What is the start date and how many days on site?
- What do you charge if you hit sandstone, cobble or old concrete?
How do I check that a contractor is registered and insured?
Montana requires construction contractors to register with the Department of Labor and Industry (Montana Code 39-9-201). Ask for the registration number and look it up on the department's website. For insurance, have the contractor's agent send the certificate straight to you.
What should a fence estimate include?
Length in feet, height, material and grade, post size, depth and spacing, each gate, tear-out, the permit, cleanup, the payment terms and a start date. When two estimates differ by a lot, one of them has left out something on this list.
Should I get three quotes?
For a whole fence, yes. You learn the going rate and you see which contractor measured and which one guessed. Read the scope lines, not just the bottom number.
What deposit is normal?
A deposit that covers ordered materials is common, and the contract sets the amount. We did not find a Montana rule that fixes a number, so read the payment terms closely. Pay by check or card, get a receipt, and be careful with anyone who wants most of the price in cash before delivery.
The cheapest quote wants half up front and will not show insurance. Is that a problem?
Yes. Low price, big deposit and no insurance certificate is the pattern to walk away from. If an uninsured worker is hurt in your yard or a line is hit, you may be the one paying. A registered, insured contractor with a full written scope is worth the difference.
I paid a deposit and the contractor stopped showing up. What can I do?
Write to them with a date and ask for a firm start or finish date. If that gets nothing, you can file a complaint with the Montana Office of Consumer Protection at the Department of Justice. Save 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 was marked and on the contract. Montana811 locates cover utility-owned lines. Sprinklers, propane, invisible dog fence and wiring to a shop are private and are not marked. Show them to the contractor before digging and have it written on the estimate.
My HOA approved the fence in writing and now wants it moved. What now?
Hold on to that written approval. This is a covenant dispute, not a fence problem, and an attorney who works with homeowner associations is the person to see.
Can I install a fence myself?
A short level run in soft soil is a fair do-it-yourself job. Clay, cobble, slopes, long runs and gates are where home-built fences fail, nearly always at the posts. You must still contact Montana811 two business days before you dig.
A free visit to your property is how you get a real number. Call (406) 303-4455 or text us a photo of the fence line.