Is it worth building a fence around front garden?

cepheus

Personally I have tended to avoid fences because it's easier to mow the lawn without one, and it's less maintenance. However, the fence would dissuade people and dogs using it and I guess it makes the property appear more attractive. Would a simple 4 foot picket fence add value, or at least pay for itself, if I decided to sell the property? (it is modern back to back and doesn't have a rear garden). It would cost me about £700.

somethingcorporate

The cost of the fence would likely never be recouped in the value of the home (too insignificant to be factored in explicitly) but I agree it would probably make the property appear nicer.

TBagpuss

somethingcorporate wrote: »

The cost of the fence would likely never be recouped in the value of the home (too insignificant to be factored in explicitly) but I agree it would probably make the property appear nicer.

I agree. It will make the place look better, and more cared for, so would probably help to get more viewings, and to sell more quickly, but it won't make any difference to the price.

jjlandlord

I doubt a buyer would say "oh look at that nice fence, let's increase our offer by 1 grand"....

DRP

the person buying your house may be a xylophobic and offer less...

in reality it is such a small factor it would be impossible to tell.

It counts as tarting up your property and as such a well presented house may be more desirable compared to the other one for sale up the street.

Okydoky25

£700 for a 4ft fence?!?

Davesnave

You have just about missed the bare root season, but a hedge would be far cheaper, do the same job and might even look better.

DRP

of course, you'd be hard pressed to find a fencer to do it now - they are inundated at the moment. None i'm trying are answering phones or returning messages left...

My in-laws are on a waiting list to buy fencing panels - they only need one panel!

delain

Okydoky25 wrote: »

£700 for a 4ft fence?!?

That's what I was thinking!

Why is it £700? You could get the materials from a gardening shop and do it yourself for less than half that :eek::eek:

cepheus

He is ranting on about it being expensive due to the demand. He has actually quoted £550 but has said he will have to re-quote higher due to recent increases in costs. The fencing I need is about 28 metres in all. It's a corner house despite being a starter back to back, so there is quite a bit of garden, complicated shape as well with a lamp post just on the property so assume it will have to miss that? It's a mess really.

I will wait to see if I wish to move depending who moves into a house under offer at the back with paper thin walls between us. They are usually young tenants. These houses are favorites for BTL.

To complicate things further after waiting a long time a dog homing charity has offered me a dog which I've accepted (few do without fences), but they insist on me keeping it on a lead all the time (even when walking out) unless a fence is built. A pain since it can jump over 4ft so the fence just defines a territory for it, and couldn't be left in there unsecured anyway.

It doesn't give you a good idea since I've got more lawn space, but it's the same basic design, you can see more of the side than front garden here. Most people think these terraced houses are semis.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-30500483.html

lincroft1710

As this is a modern house with open plan front garden, have you checked to see if there is a restrictive covenant prohibiting fences.

Hedges are very nice, but require frequent pruning.