FENCE PURCHASE PROCESS
Before you purchase a fence, we recommend that you understand as much as possible about the process.
Most home owners are not too familiar with fencing - after all, you don't need to buy a fence very often.
At BMW Fences and Decks our objective is to provide you with all of the information you need to make an informed decision about your fence. If you you contract with us for the installation, we'll do our upmost to ensure that your expectations are met.
Here is how the process works:
Initial Inquiry: Contact us by phone, email, or via our online form.
We'll collect your contact information, answer any questions you may have and discuss details concerning the type and style of fence that interests you.
Sales Estimate: When you are ready, we'll schedule an appointment for our sales consultants to meet with you. They will review and measure your Fence location, talk with you about the purpose of the fence and help you select the type and style of fence that would best suit your needs.
You will receive a written proposal within 1-3 days (most times that day).
Sales Contract: When you are ready to proceed, you may sign the contract and submit it to us with the appropriate deposit.
Installation: Once the contract is signed, we will order the necessary material and contact you to schedule an installation date. Scheduling back-logs usually range from 1-2 weeks in the winter and up to 4-6 weeks in the Summer. We ask that you be available for approximately 15 to 30 minutes on the first day of the Install for one final review of the layout of you fence and final gate placements. A typical residential installation will be completed in one to five days.
Completion: Once the installation is complete, the installation foreman will review the job with you to ensure that the installation meets your satisfaction. The foreman will submit an Invoice to you for the balance that is due. If possible, please give the Install Foreman cash or check for the appropriate amount at this time. If you are paying with a credit card, you may call our office during normal business hours and we will process the transaction via virtual terminal.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
How are underground utilities (electric/cable/phone/etc) avoided during installation?
At least 5-7 working days before we start your job, we will place an excavation request call to PA 1-CALL. This request dispatches representatives of companies that may possibly have underground lines on your property. If there are lines, they are marked with paint or flags which tell us where we can and cannot dig.
If there are private underground electric or sewer lines installed by you or your home builder, let us know so we can avoid them.
Do I need a building permit for my fence? What do I have to do to get one?
In most cases, a building permit is required within city or borough limits while more rural areas are less regulated. It is a good idea to check with your municipality office since all have different codes. Usually a copy of the proposal we mail to you is sufficient for the codes department in your borough to issue you a permit. Every township or borough is different, but on average, it takes approximately 1 to 3 weeks to receive your permit.
How close can I put the fence to my property line?
It depends on your municipality codes, but in most cases, it is anywhere from right on the line to a 1’ offset. Going with a 6” offset is a good way to play it safe.
Do I need a survey?
We will help you determine if you need a survey. If you are unsure of the property line and can’t find the marking pins, it is probably a good idea to get one, even though it may cost a couple hundred dollars. Your current neighbor may be fine with the fence line, but if a new owner moves in, surveys the property, and determines your fence is on their property, you will spend more money to move the fence than you could have spent on a survey before building it.
Do you charge sales tax?
No. Since we pay sales tax on the materials for your fence, we are not required to charge another tax to the customer for installing the fence.
What areas do you work in?
We service both East and West Shores and all surrounding Area
Do you use concrete when setting posts?
Yes. All of our fences including split rail are set in concrete. The hole is dug 2-3' deep (depending on fence type) and dug wider at the bottom. The top of the hole will be back-filled with dirt. Proper installation of posts is critical to a fence installation.
Is there a long wait to have my job installed, and how long will it take once you get started?
Our waiting list for installations will vary throughout the year. The summer months are the busiest, therefore the wait will be a bit longer. A good estimate is 1-2 weeks in the winter and 4 -6 weeks in the summer, but your estimator will have a better timeframe for you.
The timespan of a job is usually 1-4 days depending on job size, For wood fence, we prefer to set posts on the first day, then let the concrete harden , before we come back to finish the job. PVC and Aluminum fences require the posts to be installed at the same time as the panels so the job will usually take 1-2 days.
