Things to Consider when building a fence

When buying a Southern NH house for sale, you may want or need  to build a fence for it. Building a fence may prove useful if you have pets or kids, want privacy, live on a main road, have a pool or just want to keep others out. They can be attractive, useful or just for looks. Not only can it make your house look nice but it can also raise the value of your Southern NH house. Below are things to consider when building a fence:

Check local ordinances with the town or association. Are you allowed to put up a fence? How high can it be? Does it need to be inside the property lines? Check out the rules and regulations that may apply to your property before putting up your fence.

Why do you want a fence? Do you want to have better curb appeal, do you have pets or kids, or are you looking for privacy? A chain link fence would be fine if you are just looking to put up a perimeter for pets or kids. However, if you’re looking for privacy maybe you want a taller fence that can’t be seen through.

What’s your budget? If you have a limited amount to spend you could put up a prettier fence like wrought iron in the front and a less expensive fence like chain link in the back. Whereas, if you have more to spend the sky is your limit and you could make the entire fence wrought iron.

Talk to your neighbors!!! A good fence can make for a great neighbor while an eyesore may not make your neighbors very happy with your choice. You may even find that if they don’t like your choice they might split the cost or chip in for a nicer fence.

What materials should you use? There are several different materials to choose from: chain-link, metal, wood, pvc or more.All will depend on how much you want to spend and what your desired result is.

Where do you live? Depending on the weather conditions of where you live you may decide on different material. Different materials may work better in a warmer climate versus a colder climate.

What kind of maintenance is needed? Fences can be damaged by insects, weather and rust. How much maintenance do you want to do every year. Think about what you are able and willing to do every year to keep your fence in good shape. For example wood fences can deteriorate over time and need to be painted or stained, iron fences may get rusty over time and plastic fences need to be washed and are prone to breaking more easily.

How big is your yard and what kind of landscaping do you want? Do you have a big or a small yard? Will the material fit in well with your neighborhood? Will it look good once it is installed? What kind of landscaping do you want to surround it? If your yard is already established you may want the fence to fit in around what you already have.

Where will you put the gates? It’s usually best to have 2 entrances in and out of your yard. Plan the entrances in advance, thinking about how you will want to have access to your yard.

Will this be a DIY project?  Have you ever built a fence before? Do you know someone who has? It may seem like a simple project but if you haven’t ever done it before it may be better to save money and have a professional install it.