A storm takes out four fence panels overnight. The homeowner messages a fencing company the next morning with a photo of the damage and the question "how much?" It is a better message than most, but it still does not say how long the run is, whether the posts are concrete or rotten timber, whether the neighbour's side is involved or whether a van can reach the back garden.
Fencing and decking quotes hinge on details that customers never think to include.
The teardown: what is missing
Fencing is priced per metre, so without a length there is no price. Decking is priced per square metre, so without an area there is no price. Then there is everything underneath: post condition, concrete bases, slopes, tree roots and whether the old structure has to come out and be taken away.
What to ask for fencing
The run length in metres or number of panels, the height, the panel style, whether posts are concrete or timber, whether the existing fence needs removing and disposing, whether the ground is level, soil, clay or hard standing, and whether there is rear access for materials.
What to ask for decking
The rough area, how high it sits above the ground, the material, whether steps, balustrades or lighting are wanted, what is underneath such as lawn, patio or slope, and whether the old decking needs lifting.
Photos beat descriptions
One photo down the length of the boundary, and one of the post bases, tells an experienced fencer more than a paragraph. For decking, a photo of the area from the house door and one showing the drop at the far end does the same.
Storm work is urgent
After high winds, everyone calls at once. A quick temporary make-safe service, clearly priced, wins work that turns into full replacement later.
Capturing it in conversation
SpideyChat for builders and contractors asks for lengths, heights, photos and access at any hour, and captures them for your quote.
Customer: Four fence panels blew down. How much? Assistant: The fencing page lists prices per panel and per metre for each style and height. Could you tell me how many panels, the height, whether the posts are concrete or timber, and send a photo along the fence line? It also helps to know whether there is access to the back garden without going through the house.
Neighbours and boundaries
Fencing raises questions about which side is whose and who pays. The website should never rule on boundary ownership. It can explain that the company will fit what the customer instructs and suggest agreeing with the neighbour first.
Waste and disposal
Old panels, concrete spurs and decking boards all have to go somewhere. Making disposal a visible line rather than a surprise keeps quotes comparable.
Sending leads onward
Captured enquiries can be pushed into your own systems with webhooks on Pro, as described on the integrations page.
Related quoting
Decorators, floorers and roofers all quote from photos and measurements, covered in painting quotes that need room counts and photos, flooring quotes that stall at measuring and roofing quote requests that need photos and access. Structured intake works the same way in removals, described in how moving companies qualify quote requests with a chatbot.
Getting started
Publish prices per metre and per square metre, list what you need to quote and capture photos at any hour. Try SpideyChat on your own site, or read about capture on the features page.