Planning to sell your property can be a daunting task. You’ll probably think of all the house fixtures and features you’ve added through the years and wonder if it has added value to you property. One of the fixtures to look at is your fence.
A backyard fence may increase the value of your property if it was built with the right material, installed by professionals, been given the maintenance it needs, fits the trends in the neighborhood, corresponds to what the potential buyers are looking for, and also based on the overall property style.
A fence provides multiple benefits to anyone living on the property, from privacy to stopping animals or children from getting in or out of your yard. Additionally, an aesthetically pleasing fence is sometimes considered more than a boundary, but a part of the “personality” of the house and property itself.
Have you ever wondered why some properties sell faster than others? Why can some properties in the same neighborhood sell at a higher price than another? Sometimes, the answer may lie on the fence installed.
In this article, we will talk about the different ways a fence can increase the value of your property and some of the reasons why you should build one now before appraising your property. Let’s get started!
How a Fence Can Increase the Value of Your Home
First and foremost, it’s important to make it clear that not all fences can increase the value of your property. There’s no perfect recipe revealing how appraisers determine the additional value of a fence to a property, but if you ask real estate pros, most of them will tell you that a property with a fence will sell faster, especially if the prospect buyers have children or dogs.
Position of the Fence
You’ll find most fences range between three feet tall in the front yard to six to nine feet tall in the backyard.
When you visit a property, the second thing you’ll notice after the house itself is the fence. Having the appropriate fence can undoubtedly improve the appearance of your property. Additionally, installing a tall fence will block other people’s views of your house, so they won’t be able to see what you’re doing in your backyard.
All in all, a properly positioned and aesthetically pleasing fence will add bonus points to your curb appeal and backyard value.
Purpose Value
As the current homeowner, your fence may mean so much to you in terms of monetary value, but it won’t necessarily be the same case for the potential buyers. Other people won’t think about the cost you incurred when you installed the fence. Instead, they will look at its purpose.
Many potential buyers with children or pets (especially dogs) will look for properties with already installed fences to ensure their containment and safety.
Studies show that today, more than 30% of millennials purchase their first home because of their dogs. Since this is a growing trend, now may be the best time to consider installing or improving your fence.
Fencing Materials
There are several materials that you can choose from when building a fence. However, not all materials can increase the value of your property; some of these may even put a negative impact on your property.
Here are eight materials that you can choose from to build a fence:
- Barbed wire – cheap material that can be dangerous and does not offer much privacy.
- Electric/Invisible – cheap material that does not offer any privacy.
- Metal chain link – cheap to expensive material depending on the quality of the product.
- Wood – moderately priced material that may require regular treatment against termites but is great in terms of privacy.
- Vinyl – expensive material that requires little maintenance.
- Aluminum – expensive and lower-maintenance material that is perfect for weather conditions like sun, heavy rain, snow, and wind.
- Wrought iron – expensive and lower-maintenance material that resembles aluminum and is perfect for high-security settings.
- Composite & Trex – most expensive material that needs regular maintenance.
Before choosing the material you’d like for your fence, you should consider the purpose of installing one. If your priority is to get privacy, then wood and composite & Trex are the best options for you. However, if you’re looking for a long-lasting fence that requires little to no maintenance, vinyl, aluminum, or wrought iron would be great.
If your fence is made from good material and installed by a professional, there’s a huge chance of achieving at least 50% net profit from the material and installation costs on your possible resale.
Professional Installation
Although DIY installations are common nowadays, we don’t recommend anyone to install their fences themselves. Hiring a professional to do the fence installation for you will not only ensure the quality of work but also your fence’s ability to withstand the weather conditions and the test of time.
If you partner with high-quality fence material and the expertise of a professional to install the fence, you’ll surely benefit from this investment in the long run.
Fence Maintenance
Even if your fence was installed by a professional and you chose quality material, you must still do regular maintenance to ensure it will last for a long time.
Wood fences are prone to damages and termites, so make sure to cure them every now and then. Fences made of metal, aluminum, or iron need repainting to ensure they’re protected from the weather conditions and can still have an aesthetic impact.
After choosing the material you want for your fence, make sure to ask a professional how and how often do the maintenance work. Remember, it’s better to follow the schedule of the maintenance work rather than doing everything once in a blue moon.
Property Style
When installing a fence in your yard, you must consider the overall style of your property. If the fence doesn’t match the style of your house, it may worsen the appraisal value of the appraiser. Imagine having a minimalistic house and a fence with huge iron gate designs.
Using a design and material for your fence that best complements the overall personality of your house will evidently increase the curb appeal of your property and improve its resale value in the future.
Trends in the neighborhood
One of the factors you also need to consider when fencing your property or choosing the material for your fence is the trend in your neighborhood. If you live in an area where the houses don’t have fences, it might not be a good idea to install one on your property and draw unwanted attention to your family.
Similarly, if you live in an area where most of the fences are made of wood and have a simple design, it may also not be ideal to install a high-rising, wrought iron fence on your property.
Thus, make sure to check your surrounding properties first before doing anything.
Fences are the first line of defense to protect you from trespassers, burglars, intruders, and even give you some privacy from nosy neighbors. Some people hire professionals to build their fences, while others prefer to build one themselves. If you are on a budget, is it cheaper to build your own fence? Read our article to find out.
Reasons to Add Fencing Before Property Appraisal
If you’re not sure whether or not you’d like a fence in your yard, we’ve listed down some of the reasons why adding one is a good idea before any appraisal happens.
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Privacy
Adding a fence in your yard will increase the privacy of your property as it will deter the eyes of unwanted people.
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Serenity
Having a fence on your property will not only block out the eyes of your neighbors but may also lessen the noise and air pollution that comes into your property (depending on the material you choose).
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Security
Installing a solid fence will improve your, your family’s, and your property’s security as it can prevent unwanted people from entering your house.
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Protection
In line with security, having a solid fence will provide you, your family, and your property protection as it may take robbers a longer time to enter your house, giving the police an advantage when responding.
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Boundaries for the front yard and backyard
You don’t want your neighbor to peek inside your property when nobody is around. Having a fence will set up clear boundaries as everyone around you will clearly know where your property starts and ends.
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Curb appeal
Choosing a fence that complements a house will put up your curb appeal and may increase the value of your property.
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Good fences make for good neighbors
Having a fence that is well set on your property lines will ensure that there won’t be any problems in the future, especially if you decide to sell your house.
Wooden fences are a great choice for a home’s first line of security. They are aesthetically appealing and complement our landscape and house design well. However, unlike other fences, wooden ones have a certain lifespan. How long does a wooden fence last? Read our article to find out.
Conclusion
Fences serve a lot of purposes for homeowners. They can keep your children and your dogs inside your property, they can ensure your privacy, and they can prevent people with malicious intentions from entering your home. If you see yourself selling your house in the future, there are a few things that you need to consider to make sure that your fence will increase the value of your property.
Having a backyard fence may increase the value of your property as long as it’s installed within your property lines, built with quality material and by a professional, can be maintained easily, and can fulfill its main purpose. So, before installing a fence, make sure to check your surroundings to get an idea of what type of design and materials to choose to avoid any disputes in the future.
