A vinyl fence offers your yard great value, style, and security. If you plan to invest in a new fence, then it’s essential to consider the neighbors. A homeowner needs to carry the weight of being a good neighbor to add value and a sense of community to the neighborhood. Anyone can invest in a fence but don’t be ‘that guy’ within a close-knit society who doesn’t get along with anyone in the neighborhood. Here are a few things you need to note to help you make an informed decision.
Notify the neighbor
While you might not need your neighbor’s approval to invest in a vinyl privacy fence, it’s good etiquette to have an upfront conversation that you intend to invest in a fence. A proper conversation will ensure that your neighbor doesn’t feel offended or upset when you invest in a fence without first consulting them.
Moreover, if your neighbors already have a great-looking fence in their backyard, they can help you with a few tricks and tips, and lessons learned while maintaining the fence line. However, if the neighbors don’t have a fence, consider investing in one and ask if they would be interested in sharing the fence line via an agreement. If you share the fence line, it’s a win-win situation as you also share costs while maintaining good neighborly relations.
Consulting with the neighbor is important before you decide on the fence color. Vinyl fences come in different colors, styles, and designs. Since the neighbor must look at your fence daily, ensure that your taste and decision don’t repulse them.
Once again, it’s your choice whether or not to inform the neighbor about the new fence. You are solely responsible for choosing the style or color. Still, it’s good etiquette to notify the neighbors and get them involved to ensure both parties are comfortable with the decision.
Establish Property Lines
A vinyl privacy fence can be an excellent delineator for visualizing where your land begins and ends. A fence acts as a clear boundary line between the properties, and once your property line is verified, you don’t have to worry about infringing on another’s property. However, if you are unsure about where your property starts and ends, consulting with an assessor official and local county recorder is essential. You may also hire a licensed land surveyor to stake out the property line before investing in a fence. A property deed with tax description can help explain the boundaries of the land and can even call out natural specific features like rows of trees, etc., which is meant to delineate the land. You can get a copy of the property deed online or request one from the county recorder’s office.
Again, it’s advisable to rope in your neighbors for the property line discussion. This is important because the neighbors might have incorrect preconceived notions about the property line, and it’s better to discuss the issue than get into a quarrel after the fence is installed. First, share the information you get about the property line with the neighbor and then get them involved in the land surveying process.
Maintaining your fence line
A vinyl fence can spruce up the property and increase its aesthetic appeal. However, buying a fence is not a spur-of-the-moment decision. It’s a long-term investment, which means rather than investing in a wooden or metal fence, you should consider Duramax Vinyl Fence. A wooden fence might look beautiful, but it can devalue the property by looking unkempt and ugly if you fall back on maintenance. Your unkempt fence can stir up drama with the neighbors as well.
That’s why we recommend investing in vinyl fences. Choosing a good fence is half the battle won. Vinyl fences are designed keeping longevity in mind and are virtually maintenance-free. Unlike metal or wood, you won’t find the vinyl fences rusting, rotting, or attracting termites. Fence etiquettes include proper fence maintenance, and Duramax vinyl fences require little or zero maintenance. Our fences are made from 100% virgin vinyl and will never need repainting or repairing. Our fences can be washed with the garden hose and never turn yellow, discolored, or lose their luster. Made with the DuraResin vinyl formulation, our fences are weatherproof, fade-resistant, and long-lasting. Occasional cleaning is all you need to do to prevent mildew growth and get rid of dirt and debris.
Moreover, Duramax vinyl fences don’t warp in the heat, crack in cold weather, and are impact resistant. Our fences can stand the test of time and last for 25 to 30 years with minimal care.
Fence style
Are you living in an HOA community? Then you will have a limited number of fence styles to choose from, and you definitely need to check with the HOA before investing in any type of fence. However, if you are not living in an HOA community, then drive around the neighborhood to note the different fence styles before requesting customization. Choose a style that will match your property, and the aesthetics will be in harmony with the rest of the neighborhood. A coordinated fence design and style throughout the neighborhood is ideal for adding long-term value to your property.
For example, adding a white vinyl fence can work well if your neighbor has a vinyl fence. If your neighbor has a wooden fence, you can surprise him by investing in our DuraGrain Fence. DuraGrain is a wood-grained material that appears like real wood with a cell configuration of vinyl. This means the Duragrain Fence might look like wood but won’t rot, degrade, attract termites, or start developing splinters. Our range of DuraGrain Fences is weatherproof, water-resistant, strong,durable, and doesn’t need repairs or repainting, unlike a wooden fence.
Lastly, if your neighbor has a fence, consider matching the fence height to maintain uniformity and increase the aesthetic appeal of your property.
Conclusion
Being a good neighbor is similar to being a good friend, and communication is vital to fence etiquette. Fence disputes create a lot of tension between friendly neighbors, and the main cause of the trouble is not communicating fencing plans with one another or ignoring courtesies that should be followed. While a good fence can offer privacy from the neighbor, a wrong fence can affect your neighbor’s lifestyle and lead to heated discussions.
Choose the right fence here. Book a free consultation with us to discuss your fencing needs.
