The real estate market is in full throttle and prices are going, if you’ll excuse the pun, through the roof. It’s evident in Portland Oregon as well as elsewhere around the nation. Almost six hundred thousand people live in the Portland area, and it’s known as one of the most environmentally friendly cities in the nation.
If you’re in the area and are thinking of selling a home, you’ll want to do everything that you can to ensure you find a buyer and that you get the best possible price for your property. A little home improvement – updating a kitchen or refinishing hardwoods – can add value to your home.
How Much Value Does a Fence Add?
Rebuilding or installing a fence is one thing that you shouldn’t overlook when you’re getting ready to list your home on the market. There is no doubt that adding a fence or fixing up the existing fence increases your home’s value. Even those little white picket fences in the front yard can help.
As a homeowner, chances are you’ve seen an episode or two or three hundred of “House Hunters” on HGTV. A couple finds a perfect home on a big lot, but when they find out there’s no fence, it takes away from the entire property. We don’t think a potential home buyer has ever said, “The house is nice, but I wish it didn’t have a fence.”
When it comes down to dollars and cents, however, it can be difficult to pinpoint how much “value” a fence provides. There are many factors at play, including the fencing materials used, the design, and even the color of your fence.
Chain Link Fencing: Along with wood fencing, chain link fencing is the least expensive material you can use for your fence. The price can go up if you go with slats or vinyl-coated fencing. There is relatively little maintenance to worry about with chain link fencing, but it won’t have the welcoming feel of other materials.
Wooden Fences: If you have a home in the Pacific Northwest, you probably have a cedar fence. When used with steel fence posts, this material provides a solid fence while providing a warm atmosphere for your backyard. However, they won’t last as long as other materials and more maintenance is required for wood.
Vinyl Fencing: About the only maintenance these fences need is the occasional pressure washing to remove dirt and grime from the bottom of the fence. They come in a wide variety of styles and colors and last a very long time. But you’ll also pay a little bit more for vinyl.
Wrought Iron Fencing: This type of fencing is the most ornate kind of fencing and adds an air of elegance to almost any property. There is very little maintenance involved, but it will be more expensive, both in installation and the materials.
Will you be able to ask for more money when selling your home because you have an ornate cast-iron fence instead of chain link fencing? Probably not. Will you get all the money back from installing a vinyl fence. Perhaps, if you have the right buyer. The true value of fencing comes from how it turns a potential buyer into someone who puts in an offer.
Is there a return on investment with a rebuilt fence?
There are a couple of reasons that rebuilding a fence before you even start the process of selling a home is important. The first is simply attractiveness. People move to Portland Oregon for many reasons, but natural beauty is one of them. If your property has an old fence that isn’t quite what it used to be, it will detract from the attractiveness of your entire property.
Think about it – would you rather buy a home with a nice, stylish fence that complimented it well or a rotting, falling down fence that needs serious work? Although it seems homes are being snapped up as soon as they go on the market, improving the curb appeal of the home will make it that much more attractive.
In other words, getting the most for your home means making sure that it looks its best. And fixing up that fence is one often overlooked way that you can get your home looking better than it has in years. A quality fence will help improve the property value of your home, while one in disrepair will greatly diminish its worth.
Call The Fencing Experts
When you’re selling a home in or around Portland Oregon, you need to do everything that you can to ensure you get a buyer who will pay good money for your property. You don’t need to completely tear down your fencing, and rebuilding a fence is a much better option. It can be completed quickly and will leave your property looking great.
For style, privacy, and functionality like blocking those northwestern winds, homes with fences just make more sense for those in the market for a new home. Be sure you give yourself all the advantages you can when selling your home, and get that fence looking great.
For more than 100 years, Pacific Fence & Wire have been installing and rebuilding fences in the Portland Metro area and beyond. Do you think a worn-down fence has been scaring off prospective buyers? Give Pacific Fence a call today or fill out our online form for a free estimate on your new fence.