Good fencing leads give you the length in metres, the material, whether the neighbour has agreed, how you get in and what the ground is like. With those five answers you can price a boundary fence. For a pool fence, you also need to know about the compliance certificate. Without them you are guessing.
This article is about fences: boundary fences, pool fences, timber and steel. Decks have their own rules and questions, covered in deck builder leads.
What a good fencing enquiry contains
- Length. Roughly how many metres, and on which sides. “Down the side and across the back” is fine. Most homeowners can pace it out or read it off a survey.
- Material. Colorbond steel, timber, glass, aluminium or something else. This changes the price and the lead time.
- Neighbour. For a boundary fence, has the neighbour agreed? More on this below.
- Access and slope. Is there a side gate, and how wide? Does the block fall away? Steps in the ground change posts, panels and time.
- Timing. A real date, like “before the kids are home for the holidays”, is better than “soon”.
A made-up example of a note worth having before you drive out to measure: “About 38 m of steel sheet fencing down the side and across the rear. Old paling fence is leaning. Neighbour agreed and splitting the cost. Side gate 1.2 m wide, gentle slope at the back. Wants it done before the end of January.” Every line came from the five questions.
Boundary fences and the neighbour question
The neighbour is the most common reason a fence job stalls. Each state has its own law, so check yours. Two examples show the common pattern and where states differ.
- New South Wales: Legal Aid NSW says neighbours must equally share the cost of a dividing fence, with exceptions: someone wanting a higher standard usually pays the difference, and where the fence forms part of a pool fence, the pool owner usually pays for that section. If neighbours do not agree, either can serve a Fencing Notice, and a month later either can apply to the Local Court or NCAT for Fencing Orders.
- Victoria: the Victorian Government says costs are shared equally, with the person who wants a higher standard paying the difference. A Fencing Notice gives the neighbour 30 days to respond. If they do not, the work can go ahead, and the share can be sought in the Magistrates' Court.
- Queensland: where a pool fence is also the shared boundary fence, the QBCC’s pool fences page says you give the neighbour a Form 39 at least 14 days before starting work, or at least a month if they also have a pool, and that either neighbour can apply to QCAT if you disagree. Queensland’s general dividing fence rules are separate, so check them before you quote a boundary job there.
For you, the practical point is simple. Ask whether the neighbour has agreed and who is paying. A homeowner who says “I haven’t asked them yet” has a conversation to have before you quote. Do not get in the middle of the dispute, and do not promise anything about what the law says. Point them to the regulator.
Pool fences and compliance certificates
Pool fencing is a separate trade in all but name. Every state has its own rules, its own inspectors and its own certificate. The following are examples only.
- Queensland: the QBCC says only a licensed pool safety inspector can issue a pool safety certificate. One is needed when selling, buying or leasing a property with a pool, and it lasts 2 years for a non-shared pool and 1 year for a shared pool. The QBCC's pool fences page, linked above, sets out the barrier details, including a height of at least 1200 mm from finished ground level.
- New South Wales: the NSW Government says every pool owner must register the pool, the barrier must meet the version of Australian Standard AS1926 that applies to it, and a council or registered inspector issues a certificate of compliance valid for 3 years. Registering does not mean the pool complies.
- Victoria: one Victorian council's pool page says a building permit is required before building a pool, spa and their safety barriers, and a certificate of barrier compliance must be lodged every four years.
- Western Australia: the WA Government says safety barriers are required around pools with water more than 30 cm deep, and local governments can fine owners up to $750 for not having a compliant one.
Questions that matter on a pool fence enquiry: is it a new pool or replacing a fence, does it need a certificate for a sale or lease, who certifies it in that state, and is the pool shared. A homeowner selling next year who wants the certificate sorted first is a real job with a clear reason to act.
Where fencing leads come from
| Source | What you get | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Referrals and past clients | Trust already built, often neighbours of past jobs | Not on demand |
| Pool builders, real estate agents and landscapers | Jobs tied to a sale or a build | They send work only once they trust you |
| Your site and local search | People looking now | Slow to build; photos of finished fences help |
| Your own ads | Volume you control | Includes price checks; the form needs length and neighbour questions |
| Shared lead marketplaces and job boards | Fast volume | The same homeowner is often sent to several fencers |
Fence jobs are quick to price and quick to lose. The first business to answer with a sensible number often wins. See how fast to respond to building enquiries.
What to check before you buy leads
- Is each homeowner sent to one business, or several?
- Does anyone ring them first and ask about length, material, neighbour and access?
- What happens if the homeowner is a renter, or the job is not what was described?
- Can you see a real example of what you would receive?
- Is there a lock-in, and when do you pay?
The questions work for any source. The wider list is in buying leads for your trade business. PreBuild Systems rings each homeowner who enquires and sends them to one business only (how it works). The fencing and decking page has more on this trade.
Common questions
How do I get fencing leads?
Referrals, your own site and ads, and partnerships with pool builders and agents. Shared marketplaces are fastest but the homeowner is often speaking to others. Track which source ends in signed jobs.
What should I ask on a fence enquiry?
Length, material, whether the neighbour has agreed, access and slope, and when they want it done.
Who pays for a boundary fence?
It varies by state. In NSW and Victoria, neighbours generally share the cost of a sufficient dividing fence equally, with exceptions. Point the homeowner to the regulator.
Does a pool fence need a certificate?
Rules differ by state. Queensland, NSW and Victoria each have their own certificate and inspector. See the regulator pages above.