If you are thinking of replacing your fence, you must be sure that it does not rest on the property between your neighbor and yourself. Proceeding with your project without clarifying this small but important matter can cause a lot of problems down the line, so it’s best be safe than sorry.
Before replacing your fence, it is usually a good idea to discuss you intentions with your neighbor. It is best to discuss everything from materials you’re considering using to whether or not the new fence should be placed on the property line again.
Typically, it’s best to place the new fence where the old one rested, but you shouldn’t assume that your neighbor will be okay with this without giving them the courtesy of asking first.
Where Exactly is Your Home Property Line?
If you think that the existing fence was not initially installed on the actual property line, you can make sure by hiring a licensed surveyor to come out check. As a professional, the surveyor will be able to accurately mark the property line, but this service can cost more than several hundred dollars.
The high expense is mainly due to the fact that most cities or municipalities won’t take the liability of identifying just where the line is because of strict fencing laws.
Sometimes, things can get messy when it comes to property lines. Injuries, root damage, and other problems that occur on a shared property line are just some things that can cause tension between neighbors due to cost of insurance (for injuries) and removal (for tree roots, fences, etc).
In most cases, there is already a marker of some sort in the front of a property, usually on the street or sidewalk that identifies where the property line starts. If, however, your home does not have this, speak to your neighbor about splitting the cost of hiring a surveyor.
What Should You Do If Your Neighbor Does Not Cooperate?
Naturally, the relationship between some neighbors is not always a happy one. Plenty of homeowners do not care for their neighbors, prompting them to keep to themselves on most occasions. With such relationships, you may not be able to count on your neighbor to help split the cost of a professional survey or fence removal, in which case you should take these next steps:
- Leave the Fence Alone: You may have to cut your losses and get creative about your new fence by leaving the old fence alone
- Install A New Fence on YOUR Property: Another option is to simply install a new fence within the property line where you know you’re working with your property and your property only.
With this option, you can avoid the cost of fence removal, paying a surveyor to determine where the line is, and you gain the option of installing whatever fence you want since it will be on your property!
Research, Research, and Research
Every city is different in their building and installation requirements, so it is always a good idea to go online and do research on what your city requires before beginning any project. If you’re still not sure, or you just want to cover all your bases, make a trip down to your local Building and Planning Department (usually located in City Hall) to discuss your plans for your fence and your property.
When you’re all ready to build your new fence, visit Finyl Vinyl. This company comes in as one of the top building companies in Southern California, and they can’t wait to help you transform your home. Finding your property lines is an important step to take before moving forward with your project, so follow the steps above and then give them a call at 714.893.9921 or head over to their main site to learn more about the services they provide.
Photo Credit: Roberta Neidigh