Most established homes in Australia, particularly in the suburbs (less often in more rural areas) already have fences in situ when you buy them. New home on developments also usually come with a timber one, but what if your home doesn’t have a fence?
Let’s look at some of the reasons why a fence is a good idea for your home.
Why do you need a fence?
1.Pets
If you have dogs, then clearly you will need a fence to keep them in your yard and not wandering around the neighbourhood getting into mischief or being hit by cars on the road. So if you have pets or are considering pets in the future, then a dog proof fence is a necessity.
2.Privacy
Most Aussies are very social creatures, but we generally like our privacy. Which means that when we are lounging in the backyard, we don’t want our neighbours seeing everything we do. A solid fence is a good start and is usually sufficient for a single story home, although if you have a double story home next door, you may also need tall bamboo plants or trees as well.
3.Boundaries
Without a fence line that clearly marks your boundaries, you may build a patio, garage, granny flat or driveway that encroaches on your neighbour’s property. The only way to be sure of your boundaries is to pay a surveyor to mark them, because needing to remove a concrete driveway or a granny flat, won’t make your day!
4.Security
Fences increase the security of your home, preventing thieves from just walking up to your front door and breaking into your home. A fence is an obstruction they need to climb and hopefully, they would be seen before doing any damage.
5.Curb appeal
To conclude why do you need a fence? I would say that most buyers would agree to all of the reasons above. But also because it adds curb appeal. Obviously, a rotten old timber one that is falling down won’t do much for your curb appeal. But a solid one adds value to the whole neighbourhood.