If you’ve been following the news on the housing market, you’ve probably seen how homes over the past couple of years have been selling at all-time high prices. You’ve probably also seen the rising mortgage rates over the past few months. Although these rates are causing home sales to slightly decline, you can still get top dollar for your home to finance your next move by investing in improvements such as adding a fence to your home.
When fences are a valuable addition to your home
Installing a fence is a complex project, so you don’t want to just get one because you think it’s going to boost your home’s value. For example, if your home has a great view, then you’re better off investing in boosting your home’s curb appeal and sprucing up the interior.
Generally speaking, as with many home improvements, the impact of a fence on your home’s value depends on if it contributes to meeting the needs of buyers . In particular, for a fence to add value to a home, it needs to provide privacy and protection in a way that blends into the neighborhood aesthetics. One option for achieving this balance is by using retaining walls made of concrete sleepers, which not only provide privacy and protection but also enhance the overall aesthetic of your property. To find the best concrete sleepers in Canberra for your fence project, consider researching the top suppliers and contractors in the area.
While fences are a great selling point for homebuyers who have children or pets because it helps keep them contained, the structures also are useful for privacy conscious homebuyers. Fences are especially beneficial in more urban areas because they allow the residents to maintain some privacy even in cramped quarters.
How much does a fence cost?
Fences on average cost between $1,500 to $4,000 to construct on average. It’s a large range because the cost is impacted by a variety of factors such as the length of your fence perimeter, the type and material of the fence, the cost of permits (if required), and labor. Fence materials generally should cost between $1 and $45 per linear foot.
Vinyl fences tend to be more expensive than other materials but real estate agents recommend investing in them because they can be decorative and also are easy to maintain – frequently just needing an occasional wash with a garden hose.
If you live in a region with heavy rain, wind, and snow, you’ll want to look at materials such as wrought iron and aluminum. The former is extremely durable, however you need to treat it regularly to prevent rust. The latter on the other hand requires less maintenance but isn’t as durable. On the other hand, if you’re primarily focused on privacy, then a wood fence is the way to go.
Things to do before installing a fence
If you think a fence is a good fit for your property, you’ll then need to review your property lines to get an idea of your fence’s size. This information can be found at your county assessor’s office or you can call a land surveyor to get the details if you don’t have them already. It’s also a good idea to have your local utilities company come out and inspect the ground to make sure you’re not building over utility lines which can become a safety hazard.
