A good bid for a fencing project is well-researched and specific.
In the fencing business, customers often request bids for projects. They want to find the best deal, especially if the project is large, such as an entire subdivision. Whether you work as an independent contractor or represent a company, you need to carefully consider your bid for a fencing job. If you don't do your homework, you might actually end up losing money. Plan ahead and be specific in your bid.
Instructions
1. Gather information from the customer. Get as much information as possible about what the customer wants. What kind of fence? What kinds of caps? How many gates and where should they go?
2. Visit the property. You need to get actual dimensions for the fence line using a measuring wheel. You also need to examine the ground and the surroundings for obstacles that will make the work more difficult or time-consuming. For instance, very rocky ground requires hand digging as opposed to using an auger, or you may have to cut curbing or replace rock.
3. Check costs. Find out what you must pay for materials so you have an accurate idea of hard costs. Don't forget to include cement for posts.
4. Write up the bid. List the specific materials needed for the job along with the price you are charging. You probably want to add 10-20 percent onto the price you actually paid. Then add labor costs. A good estimate for labor costs is $7 to $10 per foot. If the site has not yet been developed and you can drive a truck to it and use heavy equipment, you might charge less than a bid that requires you to haul the cement several hundred yards and has a lot of shale. Put all this information on a form or type it so it is easy to read.
5. Plan for changes. Customers often change their minds between the time the initial bid is made and the fence is finished, so add a sentence to the end of your bid saying that the final bill will reflect the actual footage installed.
Tags: labor costs
