re: How long is too long to wait for a contractor to give an estimate?

quote:

---

Yes! I've had lots of experiences with contractors recently and they make me want to quit my job and start up my own contracting company. All I'd have to do is talk competently, return phone calls promptly, and actually give estimates and I'd be golden. I could probably retire within 10 years. I'm sure my promptness and professionalism would go a VERY long way. The competition makes it easy.

---

Well that and maybe actually knowing how to do the work.

quote:

---

Well that and maybe actually knowing how to do the work.

---

Not so fast. To become a fence contractor in Texas you're only required to have a business license. There is no trade license.

I had a guy come into Master Halco one day wanting to open an account. He just had a fence installed by a contractor. The owner of the fence company came out at the beginning, got measurements, etc., and then quoted the guy the price. The next day the sub-contractors show up to do the work. When the work was complete the fence company owner returned and verified completion. That was the end.

The guy that had the job done owned a temporary nursing company. Absolutely no experience in fence. He asked what he needed to open an account (just the business license) and within a day had done so. He opened a fence company the following day and completed four jobs his first month. All Master Halco needs is length, height, wood type, gates and a couple of other variables (pole type, top cap, etc.) and they'll work up a complete quote with all needed materials.

We have tons of fence sub-contractors in Texas and many are very good at their craft. You can be in the fence contracting biz in a day here.

What's crazy is if you make a post on your local Facebook swap shop about looking for a fence contractor, you will get 100's of replies from people desperate for work. I don't get it.