As the saying goes, "You never get a second chance at a first impression.", and that can be decidedly so when it comes to the fence your client may have around their home. We all know that when someone talks about their American dream of owning a home it's almost always described with a white picket fence, but is the current fence that surrounds your client's home driving potential buyers away? Unfortunately, many potential buyers don't get a chance to see how truly beautiful the home is because the fence that surrounds it is such an eyesore.
If that's the case with your clients home, then taking a look at what type of fence your client has as well as its condition, together you can determine if it's worth your client's time in repairing it or replacing it. Not only can fencing be a decorative element, but it can also be used to add privacy and protection. Not only can the right fence add privacy and security but it can also add value to the home and become an attractive selling-point for potential buyers.
Fences come in many different styles and in many different materials from chain link to decorative. The style of the fence depends on your client's taste and needs, but they should also take care in determining what fence might help sell their home.
The popularity of wood fences shows that they can add an element of beauty for a home but they can also possess several problems including rotting and termite infestation. Should your client decide to go with a wooden fence then putting in galvanized posts will be your client's best bet to eliminate these potential problems. Galvanized posts are made of metal and are sealed to prevent rusting. Since the posts are used as the framework for building a fence, metal posts keep termites from attacking like they do with wood fence posts.
Chain link fences are inexpensive and are usually the least attractive. Besides being virtually maintenance-free unfortunately they won't impress potential buyers. They are more commonly found in residential backyards where homeowners try to keep children and pets safe. Furthermore, they don't offer much privacy but slats can be purchased and inserted into the body of the fence to give more privacy.
Wrought iron fences are very ornamental, pronounced and definitely make a statement. They will require more maintenance including scraping, sanding, and painting unless your client decides to go with an aluminum ornamental version.
A growing sector in the fencing market today is vinyl. One great benefit to having vinyl fencing is that there's no longer the need to hire a painter and it also takes the worry away about termites with this type of fence. Some people feel that vinyl looks a little too plastic. However, vinyl fence specialists have pointed out that they are a great alternative to wooden fences because not only are they virtually maintenance-free, but they have proven to increase the value of a home.
If the fence that surrounds your client's home is tired and worn out, buyers may stay away with a bad first impression and may pass up on the opportunity to see the beauty that the home possesses. Work with your clients and help them see what options are available and together you can help increase the likelihood of a successful sale.