Contract
A good contract will cover most aspects of an installation. Important details to look for are: written completion date; site clean up; responsible party for supplying power and communication lines to the gate; permit fees, if needed; amount the contractor charges if he obtains the permits; hidden conditions clause, i.e., extra costs associated with the discovery of buried boulders, tree roots, utility lines, or unsupportive soil conditions.
Contractor
Your contractor must be licensed, bonded and insured, and have compensation insurance for his employees. A contractor can easily supply you with proof of all the above, so don’t hesitate to ask. You will usually get two out of three of the following qualities in a contractor: price, quality, and timeliness.
Bid Comparison
Start with a reputable, well-known firm. Obtain a bid that is all-inclusive and then have other contractors bid on the same items. Compare "apples to apples". This is a good way of leveling the playing field. The
