Ask three fencing contractors to price the same 30-metre back fence and you could easily see quotes thousands of dollars apart. Worse, the cheapest number is often the one that grows on installation day, once the crew hits rock, discovers the old fence is fibro, or realises there is no side access for materials.
Most of those surprises are avoidable. An accurate fencing quote depends far less on luck than on the information you give your builder before they price the job. This guide walks Melbourne homeowners through what to prepare, what to ask, and how to compare quotes so the price you accept is the price you pay.
Why “Ballpark” Fencing Quotes Go Wrong
A quote given over the phone or from an online calculator is built on assumptions: that the ground is easy to dig, the block is flat, the old fence comes down cleanly, and the crew can wheel materials straight down the side of the house. When any of those assumptions turns out to be wrong, the job changes and so does the price.
The most common causes of variations are hitting rock or heavy clay while digging post holes, sloping ground that needs plinths or stepped panels, removal of an old fence that contains asbestos, and restricted access that means everything has to be carried by hand. A good builder will pick most of these up on a site visit, but the more you can tell them upfront, the tighter and more reliable the quote will be.
Start With Your Boundary and Your Neighbour
Before anyone measures anything, be sure of where the fence is actually going. Your title plan is the starting point, and existing survey pegs can help. If the boundary is unclear or disputed, a licensed land surveyor is worth the cost; building a fence in the wrong place is an expensive mistake to undo.
In Victoria, dividing fences are covered by the Fences Act 1968. In general terms, adjoining owners share the cost of a “sufficient” dividing fence, and the Act sets out a process for giving your neighbour a fencing notice if you want them to contribute. Talk to your neighbour early. Agreeing on the style, height and how costs will be split before you request quotes means you can ask for one joint quote rather than having to re-price the job later. Consumer Affairs Victoria has a plain-English guide to the process if you need it.
Measure, Photograph and Sketch
You do not need to be a surveyor to give a fencing contractor useful information. A tape measure, a phone camera and ten minutes will make a real difference to the accuracy of your quote.
- Measure the full run of fence, then each section separately (for example, rear boundary, left side, right side).
- Note the height you want, and whether it changes along the run.
- Mark gate positions and widths. A pedestrian gate and a double driveway gate are very different jobs.
- Take photos of the whole fence line, the existing fence, any slope, trees, retaining walls, garden beds against the fence and the access path from the street.
- Draw a simple sketch with your measurements written on it.
Send all of this with your quote request. An experienced fence builder in Melbourne can often give you a far more realistic figure from good photos and a sketch than from a vague phone description, and the site visit will be quicker and more productive as a result.
Decide on Your Material Before You Ask for Prices
Every fencing material has its own cost drivers, so knowing roughly what you want lets builders quote like-for-like.
- Colorbond: price is affected by height, colour, panel style and whether you need plinths along a sloping or uneven boundary.
- Timber paling: treated pine versus hardwood posts, paling grade, and extras such as capping, plinths, or a lapped-and-capped finish.
- Hardwood or Merbau slat: board width, gap size, framing and whether the timber will be oiled.
- Aluminium slat and pool fencing: panel style and, for pools, the need to meet Victoria’s pool and spa barrier requirements.
If you are still undecided, ask each builder to price the same two options. That way you can compare both the materials and the builders at the same time.
Site Conditions That Change the Price
Some of the biggest swings in fencing costs come from what is underground and around the fence line rather than from the fence itself.
Ground conditions. Much of Melbourne sits on reactive clay, and some suburbs have rock just below the surface. Both affect how long post holes take to dig and how deep footings need to be. If you know your area is rocky or you have had trouble digging before, say so.
Slope. On a sloping block the fence needs to be either stepped or raked, and the gaps underneath usually need plinths or retaining. This adds materials and labour, so make sure the slope shows clearly in your photos.
Access. If materials and old fencing have to be carried through your house, over a neighbour’s property or up steep steps, the job takes longer. Clear, wide side access keeps costs down.
Underground services. Gas, water, power and telecommunications lines can run close to boundaries. Ask whether your builder lodges a Before You Dig Australia (BYDA) enquiry before digging.
Trees and garden beds. Decide in advance who is responsible for clearing vegetation and roots along the fence line, and whether any trees need to be protected.
Hidden Extras to Ask About Upfront
Many “cheap” fencing quotes are cheap because they leave things out. Check whether each quote includes:
- Removal and disposal of the old fence, including tip fees.
- Asbestos handling. Many older Melbourne fences are made of asbestos cement sheeting (fibro). Removal must be done safely and, depending on the quantity, by a licensed asbestos removalist. Flag an older sheet-style fence at the quoting stage.
- Retaining walls or sleepers under the fence where ground levels differ.
- Gates and hardware, including hinges, latches, drop bolts and any automation.
- Site clean-up and removal of offcuts and spoil from post holes.
- Permits. Taller fences, fences on corner blocks, properties with heritage overlays, and pool barriers may need council or building approval. Ask the builder who will check this and who will arrange it.
Questions to Ask Every Fence Builder
Whoever you invite to quote, ask the same set of questions so you can compare the answers:
- Is this a fixed price, and what exactly would trigger a variation?
- What is included and excluded? Can I have that in writing?
- Are you insured, and do you hold any licence or registration required for this work?
- How deep are the footings and how far apart are the posts?
- What warranty do you offer on workmanship and on materials?
- When can you start, how long will the job take, and will you liaise with my neighbour?
Reputable Melbourne fence builders will be happy to answer all of these and put the key points in the written quote. Vague answers, or reluctance to commit anything to paper, is useful information in itself.
How to Compare Quotes Fairly
Once the quotes are in, resist the urge to jump straight to the bottom line. Line them up side by side and compare height, material grade, post size, footing depth, plinths, gates, removal and clean-up. A quote that is $800 cheaper but leaves out old fence removal and plinths is not cheaper at all.
Watch for red flags too: a large deposit requested in cash, no written scope of works, pressure to sign on the spot, or a price that is dramatically lower than every other quote. In fencing, as in most trades, an unusually low number usually means something has been missed or will be added later.
Get It Right Before the First Post Goes In
An accurate fencing quote comes down to preparation. Confirm your boundary, agree on the plan with your neighbour, measure and photograph the site, and decide on your material before you pick up the phone. Then ask every builder the same questions and compare their quotes line by line.
Do that, and you will spend less time on site visits, avoid nasty surprises on installation day, and end up with a fence that is built properly at the price you agreed to.