One of the top five things that I hear most buyers tell me are “must haves” while shopping for a new home is a FENCE. Sure they could always install one themselves but most buyers in most markets desire to have it built and ready prior to purchase. So the next logical question might be, how much value does fencing add to your home? Although there may not be a calculated monetary value, here’s a few ways that a fence increases the salability and benefits homeowners.

The most pressing reason for a fence is traditionally for the dogs. A large majority of buyers either have dogs or may have a dog in the near future. Sure, they can add a fence but most buyers are particularly attracted to homes that already have the fence installed and ready to go. The style of the fence doesn’t necessarily matter for dog owners but the height of the fence may be of importance. Knowing that a new fence could costs thousands of dollars, a purchaser is likely to pay more for a house with a fence than one without. Additionally, a homeowner will enjoy that added benefit of not having to take their dog for an early morning walk and carry around loads of plastic bags.

Ironically, sometimes the second most pressing need for a fence is to help contain children. Buyers with small children (or the possibility of children and grandchildren down the road), want to make sure that they are as safe as possible. A home that is already fenced-in is of huge benefit to a purchaser worried about the safety of children. A fence provides a peace of mind that can sometimes be more valuable than money.

Another large benefit of a fenced in yard is granting privacy between your home and the environment surrounding. Perhaps it’s to screen you from a neighbor’s home or perhaps it’s to block out traffic. Either way, a fence is an instant man-made form of isolating your backyard from the things around your property. Depending on how you plan to use your property the sense of privacy can be all the more important to you. For example, if you have a pool or a hot tub, you may find privacy being extra appealing. Or if you plan to build a pool, a fence may be required in your city or county so that we be an avoided extra expense. You often can’t put a price on a privacy.

Lastly, a fence can be used to define a space. A fence is a quick way to define the yard and give it shape and purpose. This can make the yard feel larger if done correctly. It also helps give buyers a vision for how the space can be used. Purchaser’s can get excited to dream and plan of how they’ll use the yard to entertain guests, play with children, toss the ball with the dog, and/or other activities. Often times, a wide open vast land stifles the creativity of how it can be used. Whether it’s for yourself or for a future buyer, there’s great value in having a clearly defined yard.

So, can a fence add value to your home? Absolutely. How much? That’ll be different for every individual and may not be monetarily defined. There’s tremendous benefit for dog owners and those with children. Most everybody sees and appreciates the added value of having privacy from others. And a clearly defined yard space will allow for folks to get excited and set the stage for great entertaining opportunities. Certainly, if all other things considered were the same a fence would cause for a higher purchase price but it’ll also allow for a quicker sale which often equates to higher contract price. For other home improvements that increase the value of your home, be sure to read up on other improvements that increase the value of your home.