Will Adding Fencing to Your Home Increase the Value?

Homeowners are always looking for ways to increase the value of their home, particularly if they are planning on putting it up for sale in the not too distant future.

One of the options most often considered is the installation of a fence around the property. Fencing can provide your home with a wide range of benefits including privacy from nearby residences and buildings, safety for your family, and additional beautifications that will make prospective buyers take notice.

But there are other things to consider before you call Fencing Unlimited and arrange for one of our experts to come out to give you an estimate. You’re already aware that building anything on your property requires compliance with local building codes and permits must be secured before any ground is broken.

It’s the same with your fence and regardless of the reasons why you’ve decided to have one put in, you must be sure that the fence meets the stringent standards of your community’s building codes. Fencing that has doesn’t meet those standards is not only useless but it can actually drive down the value of the home as buyers will be mandated to have these compliance measures undertaken, potentially costing hundreds if not thousands of dollars in repairs just to get up to code.

Another thing to keep in mind is the aesthetic design of your home and the fence you choose to surround it. Picking the wrong type of fence can also be detrimental to your home’s value. If it doesn’t match it’s going to look awful. One more thing to consider is the look of the fences around the neighborhood. Adding a fence that stands out like an eyesore against the other properties near you could also turn off buyers.

Fences for Increased Value

As there are a number of reasons why you might install a fence around your home, the possibility of increasing the value of your home could offer many benefits that future buyers might appreciate.

If privacy is your main concern, those fences are typically four to nine feet in height. The more privacy that is offered, the more buyers will be interested in purchasing the home at a price that is higher than what you originally paid.

The height of the fence can also motivate buyers with children and pets to consider buying your home as it adds a layer of security that will keep pets and children from running out into the street. That security can also be found in a deterrent against intruders and thieves coming into the home in the middle of the night or when you aren’t home.

But it’s also crucial that your fence is made of the right materials to fulfill the purpose of getting the fence installed in the first place, to match the exterior decor, and to reduce the amount of maintenance necessary to keep the fence looking its best at all times.

Accomplishing all of these things in equal measure is the best way to ensure that the fence will increase the value of the home as much as possible.

Materials

Certain materials will have less of an impact than others and the price you pay for the fence is part of that equation. Going for a cheaper material will bring lesser additional value than putting in something that’s more expensive.

For example, chain link fence has certain advantages and disadvantages. It’s good for keeping children and pets from wandering off and it offers a moderate level of security. But you won’t get a lot of privacy from chain link and it’s a utilitarian choice when it comes to aesthetics. In other words, it doesn’t do much for the appearance of the home.

The result will be an increase in home value that’s nominal at best. It may not be the worth the money you’re paying to have this fencing put in as it relates to increased value.

You may find that other materials such as wood, vinyl, and wrought iron provide more of the attributes that you are seeking while raising the resale value of the home. Privacy, security, and aesthetics can all combine to provide you with a profit of over half of what you pay for the fencing and installation when the house sells.

So will adding fencing to your home increase the value? The answer is yes, but how much remains to be seen and it’s up to you to determine what your profit might be based on the type of fence you put in.