Most people don’t think too hard about who’s putting up their fence. You get a couple of quotes, pick whoever’s cheapest or fastest, and move on. Most of the time it works out fine. But when it doesn’t, it tends to go wrong in expensive ways – leaning posts, a fence that doesn’t match the quote, or a contractor who stops answering the phone halfway through the job.
You don’t need a long checklist to avoid that outcome. You need three good questions, asked before you sign anything. Here they are, and why each one matters.
The 3 Essential Questions to Ask
1. “Are You Licensed and Insured – Can I See the Paperwork?”
This is the question people assume they don’t need to ask, which is exactly why it causes so much grief. In South Australia, building work involving structural elements needs to be carried out by a licensed contractor. If your installer isn’t licensed and something goes wrong – a fence that doesn’t meet the required standard, a boundary dispute, damage to a shared retaining wall – you’ve got very little recourse.
Insurance matters just as much. If someone’s injured on your property, or their work damages your home or your neighbour’s, an uninsured contractor leaves you exposed to the cost. A legitimate operator will hand over their licence number and certificate of currency without hesitation. If you get a vague answer, or they act put out by the question, take it as your cue to keep looking.
2. “What’s Actually Included in This Price?”
A quote that just says “$X per metre” isn’t a real quote – it’s a starting figure that tends to grow once work begins. Ask specifically what’s covered: removal and disposal of the old fence, site preparation, concrete plinths if the ground needs them, gates, and clean-up once the job’s done. These are the line items that get added on later if they weren’t nailed down upfront.
It’s also worth asking directly whether the price is fixed or an estimate. A fixed quote protects you from surprise costs and gives you written proof in case the final invoice doesn’t match the agreed amount. Anyone unwilling to put their price in writing is telling you something about how they run their business.
3. “Do I Need Council Approval or My Neighbour’s Sign-Off?”
This is the question most homeowners forget to ask, and it can cause the most drawn-out headaches. Fence height, fence type, and proximity to road intersections can all trigger the need for council approval in South Australia. On top of that, the Fences Act means your neighbour may have a right to be consulted, and possibly to contribute to the cost, if the fence sits on a shared boundary.
A contractor who genuinely knows the local rules will raise this before you ask, not after the fence is already up. If they wave it off or seem unsure, you could end up wearing the cost of a fence that has to be modified – or worse, pulled down – to meet compliance.
Ask Us Anything – We’d Rather You Know Before You Book
At Master Landscaping Adelaide, we’re fully licensed and insured, and we’re upfront about pricing, materials, and compliance from the first conversation. We’ll flag any council or Fences Act requirements before we quote – not after the posts are in the ground.
Contact us on 0480 739 400 for a free, no-obligation on-site consultation. We’ll give you a clear, fixed-price quote within 24 hours.