In my previous blog I discussed the topic of fences and how the installation and maintenance of them could be tricky propositions, especially if you inherit one from a pervious homeowner. For instance, if a fence separates your yard from your neighbors’ whose responsibility is it to care for the fence? What if you don’t like your neighbors’ style of fencing? What do you do if your neighbor put up a fence years ago and now it’s falling apart?
To find the answers you may simply have to consult with your community association. More often than not they have written rules governing fencing. Some require you to provide photos of the desired fence and obtain permission from the neighbor who would be affected by the fence. Some communities even have put together “fence regulations,” which requires homeowners to talk with neighbors before repairing or putting up a fence.
The following are some basic, common sense tips you may want to consider prior to planning your own fence project:
· Consult your neighbor(s) prior to repairing or installing a fence. Your discussion should include details on style and cost sharing.
· Experts say the cost estimates include the total cost of the construction, reconstruction, maintenance or repair as well as the value of the labor if someone is hired to do the work.
· Ideally you should divide the cost 50/50, however, if you and your neighbor cannot agree experts recommend the neighbor pay 50 percent (half) of the cost of a “basic” fence, or 50 percent (half) of the actual cost, whichever is less and the owner pays the rest. That way if the owner wants a more expensive fence than a “basic” fence, the owner pays the extra cost.
· Before you have any work done be sure to consult the survey to check the limits of your property line.
· My father, a county planner offers this advice: Check with the local building codes to ensure you don’t violate any county or city zoning regulations, and pay for all building permits necessary to construct the fence. The last thing you want to happen after you fork over money to erect a fence is to get a visit from the local inspector with a summons in hand, along with fines and penalties for not abiding by the rules.
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