The old adage is that good fences make for good neighbors. The truth is that a friendly relationship doesn't come about just because you've had a fence built. Rather, your building or maintaining of a fence could well do the opposite.
So while a fence's main purpose may be to keep intruders out or your smaller family members in, a fence can also serve as a point of relationship with your neighbors - provided you have good fence etiquette.
Have Your Property Surveyed
Legally, you can only build on your property. Unfortunately, property lines don't always run along a grid, while fencing lines tend to be straight. So you'll want to have your property surveyed so that you're only building within your property lines.
That said, you have options for building - they just necessitate negotiations with your neighbors. For example, you might have to shrink your yard to accommodate a curving property line. However, you could also talk to your neighbors about putting a small amount of your fence on a corner of property they probably don't use anyway. Just get their consent in writing.
Face the Good Side Out
Wooden privacy fences sometimes have an obvious front and back. The back consists of the posts and rails. The front features the finished side of the planks. Well, when it comes to neighborly relations, you should plan for the "good side" to face out for the neighbors' and passersby viewing pleasure. Such placement also increases your property value.
That said, you don't have to be relegated to looking at the bad side of a fence. You could choose a style that looks the same on both sides. A literal "good neighbor fence" is a fence in which the builders alternate the planks on either side of the rails, resulting in the panels looking the same from both sides. You can also explore other designs that provide that result.
Maintain Your Fence and Landscaping
The state of your fence affects your property value. It can also affect your neighbor's property value. Therefore, to maintain good neighborly relations, you'll want to keep your fence well-maintained. The maintenance depends largely on the material. For example, a wood fence may need regular staining. A vinyl fence may need only the occasional washing.
When it comes to the landscaping, you're generally responsible for anything originating on your property. For example, if a shrub's trunk is in your yard, you're responsible for keeping it from encroaching on the neighbor's yard. You might also be held responsible if your landscaping harms the neighbor's fence. So just keep any landscaping near the fence in good order.
Open Up Lines of Communication
The best tip for having good neighborly relations around a fence is to open up and keep the lines of communication going. It should start with your planning of the fence project. Some inconvenience goes into building a fence, and that can spread to your neighbors. What's more, if the fence benefits both of you, they may even cover part of the cost.
You'll also want to check with your HOA and local regulations before settling on any aspect of the fence. Local regulations often dictate the height of fencing, usually six feet in the backyard and four feet in the front. Your HOA may have policies regarding the material or style of the fence. Communicate your plans with your HOA so you're not slapped with a fine from a hidden rule.
Concerning the maintenance of the fence, communication is essential. Just like you're responsible for damage originating on your property, so, too, are the neighbors. If their dog chews your wooden post or their tree drops a branch onto your fence, they should pay for repairs. However, you'll want to have kept the lines of communication open for this difficult conversation to take place.
Start and maintain good neighbor relations with your fencing choices and maintenance. When you're ready for that new fence, contact
Sam's Fencing Inc.