Chain link fence & resale value

**addfellow** · 10-18-2010, 08:50 AM

Greetings, all...we live in a quiet, leafy suburban neighborhood in SW Michigan with 3/4 of an acre. I'm curious what effect a black vinyl coated 6 ft. high chain link fence encompassing most of our backyard would have on our resale value. Sadly, we now have coyotes in the area, and need to protect our dogs. Thanks!

Steve O'C

**thebigone** · 10-21-2010, 05:02 AM

First off it won't hurt the resale value but forget about that. It is very good that you are concerned about the safety of your dogs! I would never put a dog behind a closed off wood fence with no visibility beyond it. That is the best way to drive a dog crazy! If you are concerned about a chain link hurting the resale value how about either a wrought iron fence or a wood fence with spaced slats that can provide the dogs a view of the outside world?

Good job and keep taking care of those four legged children!

**Greg** · 10-21-2010, 06:46 AM

When it is time to sell your house, offer to remove the fence if the buyer so desires. This way you will appeal to buyers who don't want a fence and buyers who do want a fence.

A chain link fence is not to hard to dismantle and roll up for removal.

**thebigone** · 10-21-2010, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by Greg

When it is time to sell your house, offer to remove the fence if the buyer so desires. This way you will appeal to buyers who don't want a fence and buyers who do want a fence.

A chain link fence is not to hard to dismantle and roll up for removal.

Actually a properly installed chain link fence is not easy to remove. Yes you can remove the fence fabric but what about the poles? Properly mounted poles are set in a base of concrete. Depending on the soil type in that area it can be 80 - 120 Lbs of concrete for each pole. The OP has 3/4 acre lot. Even if only the rear is fenced that is A LOT of poles.

Let's also not forget the original cost of installing the fence. Again, even if it is just the back yard, and you are using Home Depot Day labor, your still looking at $2K+ for materials and labor.

OP,

Install the fence and don't worry about resale. Buyers are so picky anyhow the fence is the last thing they will use to decide not to buy.

**White Bear Lake MN Homes** · 10-24-2010, 07:17 AM

A 6ft black vinyl coated fence to enclose a 3/4 acre yard will be more on order of $6K (if not more)! So removing it prior to selling would be heartbreaking. Also, in most states (I'm a real estate agent in Minnesota), appraisers actually have a positive price modifier if there is a fence present. For example, they will add $2K - $3K to the appraisal value for the presence of a fence, but unfortunuately, the price modifier will still be less than the actual cost of the fence. Great question here!