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Fence Etiquette You Need to Know

Introduction

When you’re thinking about installing a new fence on your property there are many things to consider. However, you need to know proper fence etiquette so that you can be a good neighbor, a responsible homeowner and avoid problems in the future. Installing a proper fence can be very difficult and that’s why you should consider hiring professionals by searching for a “fencing company near me”. With that out of the way, let’s check out fence etiquette you need to know:

The Knowledge

  1. Gauge the boundary – Before you can go ahead with the fencing project, the first step is to gauge the boundary. Your property line should be clearly defined, and you can take the help of a surveyor to figure out the exact limits of your property. Doing this gives you a clear site for putting up the fence and also saves you from future troubles. A clear property line also allows you to discuss fencing with your neighbors with more confidence and helps you dodge financial disasters due to lawsuits.
  1. Check the regulations – When it comes to building any structure on your property, it’s best to check out all the rules and regulations so that you don’t give authorities an excuse to trespass into your property. Checking on the rules and regulations also makes you aware of the limitations in your area. For instance, you may want to erect a metal privacy fence around your home. However, the laws of the neighborhood and the city may discourage such construction. Apart from the style of the fence, they may have specific requirements about the material, height, and other features of the tent. For instance, while you can erect less than 5 feet tall fencing for the front yard, most neighborhoods demand privacy fences be taller than 6 feet and lower than 8 feet.

Things get even trickier depending on the location of your home. For instance, if you reside on a corner plot, you need to take into consideration the safety of drivers and pedestrians. That’s why your fence design can’t be an obstruction that creates blind sights and endangers road safety. Apart from the rules of the city and other civic bodies, you also need to adhere to the rules of the Homeowner’s Association(HOA). While these rules may seem bothersome, they are intended to preserve the aesthetics of the neighborhood and also protect the enhancing features of the home that keeps the value of your home high when you resell it. That’s why it’s best to adhere to these rules and maintain proper fence etiquette. Violating the rules allows the authorities to slap you with hefty fines.

  1. Talk to the neighbors – You have seen numerous fights on the internet about neighbors fighting over a fence. While things seem funny from an outsider’s perspective, it’s an ugly ordeal to go through. You don’t want the same when building a fence and that’s why it’s important to talk with your neighbors before you build a fence. Being friendly to your neighbors and approaching them with your fencing idea can also open new opportunities. Your neighbor may be interested in fencing his property as well. Figure out if both of you can make compromises and align your interests. This allows you to share the cost of fencing with your neighbor. If you hire a fencing company, they will be more than happy with this arrangement since they get more business and may even offer a discount.

When it comes to compromises, you can choose to be the bigger person and good neighbor and offer the good side of the fence to your neighbor. Keep the good side of the fence to your neighbors and towards the street while you keep the less appealing side with exposed runners pointing towards your home. This doesn’t just show goodwill to your neighbors but can also increase the appeal of your home and help to fetch a better price when you sell your property. Since you get the less appealing side of the fence you can negotiate with your neighbor to pay a lower share of the cost for the common fence wall between your properties. If you have the budget, you can both have the good side of the fence by erecting a double-sided privacy fence. While this kind of structure is more expensive, it also has more strength and stability.

  1. Get a reliable contractor – If you decide to hire a contractor for your fencing project, make sure that they are reliable and have a reputation from their previous work. You want someone who can do the job with maximum efficiency and safety and will charge you a reasonable price. Check their license, insurance policies, and other documents. While fencing isn’t a major construction project, it will involve a few people and you want your contractor to do background checks on them and have insurance policies so that you can be reimbursed if something is stolen or if there is damage to your property due to an accident. The best way to scout a reliable contractor is to go around the neighborhood and talk to homeowners with the best fences.
  1. Maintain your fence – Fence maintenance is one of the most basic fence etiquettes that you need to follow. You need to maintain your fence in good condition so that it doesn’t stick out like an eyesore and bring down the appeal of your property and the overall neighborhood. If you aren’t too keen on maintenance, you can construct the fence with materials that demand less attention. For instance, vinyl fencing is affordable, comes in all sorts of styles, textures, and colors, and doesn’t demand frequent maintenance.

Conclusion

Now that you know about proper fence etiquette, you can start your fencing project as soon as you can. If you’re up for a challenge, you can install the fence yourself. However, outsourcing the job to pros will save you a lot of time and hassle. You can hire pros by searching for a “fencing company near me”.

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