When we initially approached them, we offered to pay upfront and get compensated later, but they didn't seem to go for that and said they preferred to do it themselves. But I think you have a great point and I will try and communicate that to them, I just want to get it done at this point! Thank you!

To me, it would be worth it, even if they never paid. Adding on to what you have even if they try to make it look like what you put in, will probably never look exactly the same.

Organize your argument, call the fencing contractor and explain your reservations to him. It gives him the opportunity to justify the increase to your satisfaction, or to reconsider the increase and make an adjustment in your favor.

It isn’t clear from the numbers you listed, But I think you are saying the total if your neighbors had done their part would have been 240 ft of fencing and a gate for $3600+$750=$4350. And now without your neighbors it is $1800+$1750=$3550?

I can see how you’d feel this is high if you only look at the initial $4350 as $15/lf for the fence plus $750 gate. But, from your contractors perspective they have some set costs (driving, working with you to decide in the style, getting materials, paperwork) that are a set cost. You wouldn’t expect them to come out next year and install 5 more feet of fencing for 5x$15=$75, right?

So if we look at it that way, maybe their first total was $12.91 lf for 240 ft of fencing, $750 gate, and $500 of set costs.

Now if you want only 173 ft of fencing (two-thirds of the original 240 plus 13ft as you say). That $3550 total could still be viewed as a reasonable total of 173ftx$12.91 per ft, plus the $750 gate, plus the $500 set cost, plus an extra $65 for the contractor to run back to the store to return the parts he bought but your neighbor is now cancelling.

Just be up front and tell your contractor that you don't understand and would like it explained so that you feel it's fair to everyone. I'd rather have that conversation with a client than have there be any weirdness in the relationship.

Teresa, wood fences age and develop a ‘patina’ as time goes on. If you don’t build the fence all at once now, it will never match no matter how well your neighbors can build their own. Personally I would just do the whole thing.

Yes, I would do the whole thing, too.

The neighbors who want to build the fence may have the best of intentions. But stuff happens. Unexpected illness, death, divorce, job transfers, job loss, etc., meaning their portion of the fence may never happen.

If you do pay for it all, don't anticipate getting paid back. It's easy to 'forget' to pay you if there are no consequences. Or it will always be a 'bad time' financially and they'll do it in the future.

You'll either become resentful if they don't voluntarily pay you or you'll have to hound them and they'll become resentful.

If you don't anticipate getting paid back, if it does happen then you can just consider it a bonus.

Can a fence contractor charge more if we're asking for less fencing?

Of course he can. Nothing stops him, certainly no law. And nothing stops you getting bids from other contractors if you don't like the present one's revised bid.

Lots of good advice above, especially from Greg.

After some discussion, we're agreed that they will build new fencing themselves in the same style we're using (the husband does construction),

I just re-read your post. Have you considered hiring this neighbor for the project instead of the other contractor?

Forget the above.

Since the project is 2/3 completed....what happened is that you are reneging on the original terms of the deal.

IF you ever have any thought of using this guy again, you need to honor the original deal. If that means eating the entire cost of the fence on that side of the property, you eat it. (Just tell yourself that if you were on a corner lot, you'd be paying for all of that side anyway because there would be no neighbor to split costs with.)

The revised quote for less fence has a 'you broke the contract' penalty included. And no, you won't find this as a line item on the bill. Or a 'putting the horse before the cart penalty'...because you proceeded w/ the project before you had everyone on board. However you want to look at it.

As far as the non compliant neighbors---since one of them is 'in construction', he/she may be a little miffed that you didn't ask him for a quote on the project. Or not. May be that since he is in the biz, he thinks the quote was inflated. Or, just reluctant to pay for labor to do something he considers everyday DIY. Also given that they have been in the house for only a couple of years, that the house has needed extensive work, they are likely to consider the fence a Low Priority item. And, being in construction right now, he is likely to be flat out Too Busy to worry about a fence.

Sure he can. It’s called adding in the PITA factor. (Pain In The @ss)

Have your contractor explain why the cost went up. As a note, Gates usually cost more than fence panels as they require more material along with the hinges and latch.