The first impression was very good - a person who came to provide a quote was polite and provided quote as expected.
Price:
The original price was too _overpriced_ - it was over 1800. Before Elie's Fencing I had already quotes from at least 5 or 6 companies and price of family based business Elie's Fencing was the same as a one from the huge company, one of the biggest on Ottawa market. The lowes was 1360+, and the most expensive around 1860. Most of quotes were in between 1430-1630. However, a person/owner of Elie's Fencing agreed to match the price to one of another contractor - not the cheapest - in middle range - to about 1630+. Person on the phone in Elie's Fencing office told me clearly that they can match the price but in lieu of quality. The person who came (the owner) said this is not true and he will match the price and proide the same work quality.
Timing:
Installation was done quite quickly but I would not give too much awards for this as since it rather a sign that the company just did not have enough work load at that moment.
Quality.
This is the most important part of work. I rather prefer to have less talkative contractor but who provides quality work. In my case they have done installation with bad quality.
Two sides of the fence were done relatively good. However, when they were doing the third side they perhaps were in a hurry.
a) one of the main posts was bent (positioned at angle due chain link tension - or tension was not right or used material for the main posts were of bad quality).
b) at one of posts chain link was not attached to the post
-- need to say - two issues above were fixed by the owner but they were not big ones.
c) the biggest structural issue - the fence was installed not well aligned, with curved upper level - all one side of the fence goes up and down - and there is nothing to do with the ground level - between two posts there is depression (upper fence line bent down), and between two other post there is a hump. Sort of waiving along all one side of the fence. Looking not nice.
The price was not the cheapest at all for plain chain link fence, promises were given for guaranteed quality work, but actual work had been done with low quality.
Warranty
Nevertheless of above I did pay the final payment exactly as agreed and without any delay in full amount. Person was still very nice and polite on the phone, very slow but responded to my messages, and promised to come and review fence issues with me. However, it never happened - after he received his money he never showed up again, never came to review together the issues and all promised 3 years warranty actually - in fact - empty promises.
The Verdict:
Though this contractor has good communication skills, polite and responds to messages/emails/phone calls Elie's Fencing company provides not good work quality.
As since for the most of us quality of work is the key factor I do not recommend to hire this company. At last in my case quality of work was bad and warranty was not provided even immediately after installation). I will never use their services again and do not recommend it to anybody.
Solution:
Keep looking. Find a reliable honest contractor who is able do work properly and keep its promises.
- Approximate cost of services:
- $1,633.00
- What could this company do to improve their services?
- 1. Improve quality of their work 2. Be honest and provide services they promise 3. Provide warranty - not promises for warranty