An aluminum or vinyl fence by Aluminum Fences Direct is a great way to add value, security, and style to your home. Whatever your reason may be for installing a new fence, it’s important that you take your neighbors into consideration. Being a homeowner bears the weight of being a good neighbor to add a sense of community and value to your neighborhood. The last thing that you want to be is ‘that guy’ within a close-nit community that doesn’t get along with others.
Notifying Your Neighbor
You certainly don’t need your neighbors’ approval to install a fence. After all, it is your property that you own. Regardless, it’s good etiquette to have a conversation with your neighbor upfront about your intentions to install a fence. An upfront conversation will help prevent your neighbor from becoming upset or offended that you installed a fence without first consulting them.
If your neighbor already has a fence, then they may be able to provide good tips and tricks as well as lessons learned. If they don’t have a fence, then maybe they would like to install their own and you can both share a fence line through an agreement. The latter situation is a win-win!
If you’re on the fence (pun intended) about fence color or style, then it may be worth asking your neighbor for their opinion. After all, they will have to look at your fence every day and it’s important that they aren’t repulsed by your decision.
Once again, it’s ultimately up to you if you decide to install a fence. It’s ultimately up to you what color or style to choose. That said, it’s good etiquette to notify your neighbor and involve them in the process as much as you are both comfortable.
Establishing Property Lines
A common reason that homeowners decide to install a fence is to establish a clear boundary line between properties. A fence works as a great delineator to visualize where your property begins and where it ends. Before having your fence installed, be sure to verify your property line to ensure that you do not encroach onto your neighbors’ property. Similarly, you want to make sure that you don’t undersize your fence and shortchange the amount of land that you actually own.
If you’re not totally sure about where your property starts and where it ends, then you should consult with your local county recorder or assessor’s office. Most counties nowadays have online maps that you can access to clearly identify your property line. Other steps to take include hiring a licensed land surveyor to stake out your property line before installation.
Your property deed will provide you with a tax description of your property which should also explain the boundaries of your plot of land. Some property deeds go as far as calling out specific natural features such as a row of trees that were meant to delineate the property. You can get a copy of your property’s deed online or from your county recorder’s office.
Lastly, it’s wise to rope your neighbors into the property line discussion. They may have an incorrect preconceived notion as to where their property line is. The last thing that you want is a quarrel about property lines after the fence is installed. Share the information that you gather online with your neighbor and include them in the surveying process.
Fence Maintenance
An aluminum or vinyl fence is a great way to spruce up your property and make it look nice. That said, a fence is just another thing to own that you will have to maintain over time. If you refuse to maintain your fence, then it can actually devalue your home by looking ugly and unkempt. An unkempt fence is sure to stir up drama between neighbors as well.
Because of this, fence etiquette includes properly maintaining your fence. Installing your fence is only half of the battle! The good news is that fences by Aluminum Fences Direct require minimal maintenance. All aluminum fences are powder coated. Powder coating is thicker than traditional wet paint and more durable to weathering. Vinyl fences are long-lasting by nature but do require occasional cleaning to prevent mildew growth.
Damaged fencing should be repaired at your earliest convenience. Failure to repair a fence issue could snowball into a larger issue over time. In addition, failure to repair a fence may be an eyesore for your neighborhood.
Fence Style
If you live in an HOA community, then there are likely only a very limited amount of fence styles that you can choose from (if any). Be sure to check with your HOA prior to installing any type of fence.
If you don’t live in an HOA community, then it may be wise to drive around your neighborhood and take note of the different fence styles around your neighborhood. If you are ‘on the fence’ (pun intended) about which style of fence you should choose, then you could choose a style to match that of the rest of the neighborhood. Having a coordinated fence style throughout the neighborhood may add long-term value to your home.
If your neighbor has a vinyl fence, then it may look best for you to have a vinyl fence as well. If your neighbor has an aluminum fence, then it may look best to match their style (if you are comfortable doing so). Lastly, if your neighbor has a fence, then you may want to match their fence height so that everything looks uniform.
Check out the twelve different fence styles that Aluminum Fences Direct has to offer!
Conclusion
Being a good neighbor is no different than being a good friend, parent, or spouse. Communication is the most important component of fence etiquette. It’s good practice to notify your neighbors of your plans to install a fence, gather their feedback, clearly establish property boundaries, and maintain your fence over time. With these tips and tricks, you are more likely to be a good neighbor and cause fewer issues within your community.
