Reviews decide which fence company a homeowner calls, and they help decide which three companies Google shows on the map. A fence company with 80 recent reviews and photos beats one with 12 reviews from three years ago, even if the second one builds better fences. Here is how to collect reviews steadily.
Why fence companies have fewer reviews than they should
Fence jobs are big and few. A lawn company sees the same customer 30 times a year; you see each customer once, for two or three days. If you forget to ask on the final walk, you will probably never ask. That is why the ask needs to be part of how you close every job.
When to ask
On the final walk. The fence is up, it looks great, the yard is clean, the customer is happy and walking along it with you. That is the moment. Say it out loud: "If you are happy with it, a Google review really helps a small company like ours. I will text you the link right now."
Then send the link before you leave the driveway. Not tonight, not next week.
What to send
Keep it short and personal:
"Hi Jenna, thanks for choosing Cedar Line Fence. If you are happy with the new fence, would you leave us a quick Google review? It takes a minute: [link]. Thank you!"
- Use the direct review link from your Google Business Profile, so they land on the stars
- Send it by text, not email. Texts get read
- One reminder two or three days later if they have not posted. Not more
Ask for photos
A review with a photo of the finished fence is worth more than five words. Ask: "If you can add a photo of the fence, that helps even more." Homeowners love showing off a new fence.
Ask everyone the same way
Do not filter. Google's rules say you cannot only ask happy customers or offer a discount for a review. Ask every customer the same way, and deal with problems directly.
Answer every review
- Good reviews: thank them by name and mention the job: "Thanks Jenna, glad the cedar privacy fence turned out the way you wanted."
- Bad reviews: answer calmly within a day, without arguing. Say what you will do: "I am sorry about the gate latch. I have called you to come back and adjust it this week." Then do it. Future customers read your reply more than the complaint
Common fence complaints to get ahead of
- Gates that sag or do not latch a few months later. Use a steel frame kit on wide wood gates and come back to adjust for free in the first year
- Mess left in the yard. Haul away every scrap, every bag and every chunk of concrete
- Posts not plumb or tops not level. Check with a level before you leave
- Communication. Customers hate not knowing when you will show up. Reminders the day before fix most of this
What makes a review useful to the next customer
A review that says "great job" helps a little. A review that says "they put in 180 feet of cedar privacy in two days, hauled off the old chain link, and the price matched the website" helps a lot, because the next homeowner reads it and sees their own project. You cannot write reviews for customers, but you can make it easy for them to be specific:
- Mention the job in your text: "the new cedar fence" instead of "our service"
- Ask on the final walk what they liked most, and thank them for it. They often repeat it in the review
- Reply to each review with the fence type and the town, which also helps Google connect your profile to those searches
How many reviews you need
There is no magic number. Look at the three fence companies Google shows on the map for your town and count their reviews in the last 12 months. That is your target. Steady beats bursts: two or three new reviews a week in season looks natural, while 40 in one week and nothing for three months looks odd to people and to Google.
Make it automatic
The hardest part is remembering after a long install day. Set it up so the review request goes out automatically when you mark the job done or when the balance invoice is paid. FencePilot sends a review request by text after every job, so no install gets forgotten. See the full fence company marketing setup.
Reviews are half the map
Google also looks at your profile and your website. Read the Google Business Profile guide and the fence company website checklist for the rest.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get more Google reviews for my fence company?
Ask on the final walk when the customer sees the finished fence, text the direct review link before you leave, ask for a photo, and send one reminder two or three days later.
Can I offer a discount for a Google review?
No. Google does not allow incentives for reviews or asking only happy customers. Ask everyone the same way.