The title pretty much says it all. We live in a new development, with new houses coming up all around us. Just got word today that a couple neighbors are interested in sharing the cost of fencing. Wondering if some of you have entered similar deals or have some ideas on how not to get hosed. I'm pretty naive & ignorant about this sort of thing. TIA.
New neighbors want to split fence cost
- Thread starter beerme
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It's usually pretty nice. My neighbor approached me and was going to build anyway himself. I said I'd pay my share of materials, helped a little bit, and bought pizza and beer. He did on just his side of the property line and I ended up buying and applying stain to it to help preservation.
The other had the fence built and I offered to contribute something after the fact. They didn't want anything for it, but I find myself still giving them tomatoes from the garden and helping out.
Good fences can make good neighbors.
If it's an even-Steven thing where they're having it built and won't do it until or unless you buy in...a little trickier. They're likely going to do it anyway, but if you buy in they'll likely make it look better on your view. Maybe ask which side they're building out. If they do on their side of the property line...it's theirs to maintain when it needs work 10 years from now...which is better for you in the long run. Make a note and include if you ever sell the house.
I'm guessing others will be along that had tougher experiences to share.
The other had the fence built and I offered to contribute something after the fact. They didn't want anything for it, but I find myself still giving them tomatoes from the garden and helping out.
Good fences can make good neighbors.
If it's an even-Steven thing where they're having it built and won't do it until or unless you buy in...a little trickier. They're likely going to do it anyway, but if you buy in they'll likely make it look better on your view. Maybe ask which side they're building out. If they do on their side of the property line...it's theirs to maintain when it needs work 10 years from now...which is better for you in the long run. Make a note and include if you ever sell the house.
I'm guessing others will be along that had tougher experiences to share.
Waaane
Well-known member
Pretty common in the suburbs I lived in up until a couple years ago. Both for repairs and replace. If you are looking at contractors to do the fencing make sure its not an interested party's brother or cousin. Make sure to get multiple quotes. Build good fences. Fencing can be expensive and done improperly can fall apart quick. Check the selected contractor's references and work. There is a guy on the forum here, or used to be that was a fencing contractor. Went by the name of Fencer I think. He prolly knows what questions to ask better then most.
You also might want to hold off for a couple months until you have a better feel for the integrity of the people that want you to enter into this little consortium. Whats the big rush?
I just finished building a 150 ft fence 20 ft from the neighbor's. They were moving out so I paid for and built the whole thing - about $1200. It won't be falling down anytime in my lifetime and it made the wifey happy!
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juniorfjr
Well-known member
I've shared cost with the neighbor on the one side, and built the one on the other. Second guy was gonna pony some up but never saw a dime. That's OK, I didn't expect anything. The back fence was done by the guy behind me. At that time, wife was going through cancer treatment, so he wouldn't take anything. It's good to have ministers as neighbors.
Now if I could just get someone to paint the house......
Now if I could just get someone to paint the house......
Intech
Mr. Camping Meet
I had a great relationship with my neighbors on both sides. I decided to put up split rail fence. Both neighbors volunteered to contribute and to put it right on the line. They both helped with the installation too. I rented the power auger. Worked out great. I am still good friends with all those people and even with the current owners of my old house. (moved twice since selling) If it is a more substatial fence with considerations of finished side that complicates things a little. If I wanted a stockade type privacey fence I might just do what Garauld did.
The neighbors to the back has a wooden fence when we moved in. The builder wanted us to share that and the side fence with the "model" home. I was concerned about our pets if others weren't johnny-on-the-sport repairing breaches. I opted for chain link inside what is, essentially stockade fencing on all sides.
Over the years their breaches have not been mine and my pets never gotten out as a result.
(which is a good thing since it's damn hard to replace any of those stilletto-heeled, leather bustiered, collared-and-leashed amish girls.)
Over the years their breaches have not been mine and my pets never gotten out as a result.
(which is a good thing since it's damn hard to replace any of those stilletto-heeled, leather bustiered, collared-and-leashed amish girls.)
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bramfrank
BramFrank
Where I live you have no choice - the provincial law states that if your neighbor wants to put a fence along the property line you MUST pay for half - however I would imagine that you get some say in what kind of fence would be installed. My side neighboirs and I shared our fences - the back yard neighbor had excavated 3 feet and built a wall and fence before my home was built, so there was no participation.
When backyard neighbor wanted to CHANGE the fence I pointed out that my obligation had already been fulfilled and that there already was a fence; that the only problem was that his support wall had been built without a foundation and was falling over. Besides, his financial calculations were off (he was a comptroller for a Northern Telecom division - no wonder they went bankrupt) and I told him I was a player for a cheap fence - he wanted fancy stuff and was getting annoying, so I told him to pi** off (he also has a very annoying dog and his kids have late, noisy pool parties and won't keep it down in spite of polite requests) and that was the end of that.
If it is optional, then you WILL get to influence the design - and if you want a fancy redwood fence and the neighbor wants chain link, then you presumably could refuse his request or point out that for his money he would get a much nicer fence than he would if he was paying the whole shot..
Besides, you have to live next to him, so make nice.
When backyard neighbor wanted to CHANGE the fence I pointed out that my obligation had already been fulfilled and that there already was a fence; that the only problem was that his support wall had been built without a foundation and was falling over. Besides, his financial calculations were off (he was a comptroller for a Northern Telecom division - no wonder they went bankrupt) and I told him I was a player for a cheap fence - he wanted fancy stuff and was getting annoying, so I told him to pi** off (he also has a very annoying dog and his kids have late, noisy pool parties and won't keep it down in spite of polite requests) and that was the end of that.
If it is optional, then you WILL get to influence the design - and if you want a fancy redwood fence and the neighbor wants chain link, then you presumably could refuse his request or point out that for his money he would get a much nicer fence than he would if he was paying the whole shot..
Besides, you have to live next to him, so make nice.
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Huh? :blink: That's just nuckin futz.
I have a really strong feeling I would not like life in Kweebeck province one bit.
We live in a neighborhood area of similar homes in a somewhat rural town. Used to be rural anyway. Now it's more of a commuter/bedroom town to Metro Boston.
I can see my neighbor's houses through the trees. More so in winter. We don't generally build fences around here unless we want to restrain animals. None of the houses on my street have fences on or near property lines. We have a pen that we used to use to turn out the greyhounds (when we had them). We also have an "invisible fence" so the Labs can run around at bark at stuff. I would never even ask, never-mind expect (or demand?) that a neighbor help pay for a fence.
That seems kind'a weird.
BwanaDik
Well-known member
Generally agree with everybody except Fred. One thing to consider is to get a note or agreement, in writing, as to who paid for the fence and what is expected from either party for maintenance. Not for you or the current neighbors, but for the next guy that might move in. That way he knows up front what's expected (assuming the current neighbor puts it in the Bill of Sale). My neighbor (good friend, BTW) put a drain line in to drain his back yard into the common ditch out front and it had to cross onto my property to get to it. No big deal for me but we wrote it up anyway in case one of us sells and the next guy complains. At least we had the agreement documented (even informally, we just wrote it up and signed it)
rushes
Well-known member
I'm thinkin the same way.
Did you want a fence?
I'm lucky I live in the hills. My neighbors have horses and cattle.
I just need to negotiate a gate for one or the other, so I can quit mowing...
SDMac
Well-known member
I <BELIEVE> the law or by-laws (I dunno) are the same here in Ontario... I also <BELIEVE> that if you refuse for it to be on the property line, then they'll have to pony up in full. There is a <GOOD> possibility that I am wrong on that though!!
Nuckin' Futz is absolutely a dead-on hit!!
Bram's right - ya gotta live beside 'em for a long time likely... Do your best to play nice...
Scott
08FJR4ME
-WYNPRO-
+1 on the Nuckin futz
So if I put a fence on the street side of the house will the town pay for half ???? If your neighbor wants a fence let him put it on his property and maintain it himself. My thoughts I wouldn't want to worry about the upkeep. My brother inlaw lived in a new development and within a couple of years everyone had there houses fenced off. Looked like fort apache when driving through the hood. No thanks!
I much rather put trees in. JMO
Dave
So if I put a fence on the street side of the house will the town pay for half ???? If your neighbor wants a fence let him put it on his property and maintain it himself. My thoughts I wouldn't want to worry about the upkeep. My brother inlaw lived in a new development and within a couple of years everyone had there houses fenced off. Looked like fort apache when driving through the hood. No thanks!
I much rather put trees in. JMO
Dave
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I've done it a couple ways. One time when our fence blew down between me and one of my neighbors, the neighbor bought the supplies, I did the work.
Another time the Santa Ana winds did in the rest of my fence in the back yard. I had to deal with two other neighbors. They all agreed, cool. The real cool thing was I had a friend that needed work do the job for all neighbors, and he split the costs to each neighbor, so each one of us owed him money and it wasn't one person paying then trying to collect form the other neighbors. We were all happy.
I have heard of other horror stories like, one neighbor pays and the other promises to reimburse them, then it's like pulling teeth to collect. Nerves shot, friendships lost, small claims court, etc.
The one thing is Get it ALL in WRITING!
Good luck.
Another time the Santa Ana winds did in the rest of my fence in the back yard. I had to deal with two other neighbors. They all agreed, cool. The real cool thing was I had a friend that needed work do the job for all neighbors, and he split the costs to each neighbor, so each one of us owed him money and it wasn't one person paying then trying to collect form the other neighbors. We were all happy.
I have heard of other horror stories like, one neighbor pays and the other promises to reimburse them, then it's like pulling teeth to collect. Nerves shot, friendships lost, small claims court, etc.
The one thing is Get it ALL in WRITING!
Good luck.
Patriot
Isabella is Lazarus
neighbors are great around here...Katrina knocked down all wood fences and damaged most chain link
three fences...three neighbors
one decided on a do it yourself and was happy to take care of it with the smooth side pointing toward him...was OK with me adding planks on my side to help make it look finished from my yard...I haven't bothered after 5 years
back neighbor offered to replace very inadequate from age, very damaged from Katrina fence with me. He had already picked out a reputable installer and had a firm quote for his part, our shared part, and the option for me to do the other side of my yard and my gates. Very reasonable and there were lotsa sharletons running around trying to get roofing and fencing business.
his offer was 60% for the finished side and 40% for the other unless someone wanted to finish plank the backside...then 50/50 for the whole job.
I decided I wanted a finished side and he decided to leave the other unfinished. We both were happy to have part of the yards finished and part unfinished and function over form for some.
I also took the quote opportunity and had the other side done as my neighbor never came back from their evacuation and put the house up for sale years later. I had doggies that needed a yard sooner than later.
oh, we were all very good friends and it helped some we were all church goers. None the less, the fencers reasonably wanted 1/3 up front, 1/3 at halfway, and 1/3 on completion. They needed to buy materials for our and all their jobs with customer $$$'s. We were not their first job since folks were allowed back into the area and their homes. Their references were checked and were very good.
Well, when it was time to pay the fencers, they were already informed about the deal made with me and neighbor, and presented separate invoices and did not proceed until both of us paid at each junction.
We had separate contracts with the fencer spelling out the terms in detail including the neighbor deal.
three fences...three neighbors
one decided on a do it yourself and was happy to take care of it with the smooth side pointing toward him...was OK with me adding planks on my side to help make it look finished from my yard...I haven't bothered after 5 years
back neighbor offered to replace very inadequate from age, very damaged from Katrina fence with me. He had already picked out a reputable installer and had a firm quote for his part, our shared part, and the option for me to do the other side of my yard and my gates. Very reasonable and there were lotsa sharletons running around trying to get roofing and fencing business.
his offer was 60% for the finished side and 40% for the other unless someone wanted to finish plank the backside...then 50/50 for the whole job.
I decided I wanted a finished side and he decided to leave the other unfinished. We both were happy to have part of the yards finished and part unfinished and function over form for some.
I also took the quote opportunity and had the other side done as my neighbor never came back from their evacuation and put the house up for sale years later. I had doggies that needed a yard sooner than later.
oh, we were all very good friends and it helped some we were all church goers. None the less, the fencers reasonably wanted 1/3 up front, 1/3 at halfway, and 1/3 on completion. They needed to buy materials for our and all their jobs with customer $$$'s. We were not their first job since folks were allowed back into the area and their homes. Their references were checked and were very good.
Well, when it was time to pay the fencers, they were already informed about the deal made with me and neighbor, and presented separate invoices and did not proceed until both of us paid at each junction.
We had separate contracts with the fencer spelling out the terms in detail including the neighbor deal.
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YooperDick
Well-known member
Not to high jack this thread, but I'll give you a real taffy pull,
I live in Michigan's U.P. on a private gravel road which is about a mile long and goes through 18 different properties via a system of easements. To complicate matters, some of the residents are full time and others part time dwellers. The road is hilly and goes through three swamps. Where the problem comes in is winter snow plowing and road maintenance in general. Usually after the spring thaw, some of the road washes out leading to the part timers property. Then they want to have everyone on the road pitch in for repairs but do not feel obligated to pay for snow plowing because some don't use the road in the winter. Some of us have tried to have the county take over road maintenance but have met resistance do to the cost of upgrading the road to county specs before they will take over responsibility.
Bottom line? The rule of the road is very simple; everybody does whatever they have to do to get to their own property.
I live in Michigan's U.P. on a private gravel road which is about a mile long and goes through 18 different properties via a system of easements. To complicate matters, some of the residents are full time and others part time dwellers. The road is hilly and goes through three swamps. Where the problem comes in is winter snow plowing and road maintenance in general. Usually after the spring thaw, some of the road washes out leading to the part timers property. Then they want to have everyone on the road pitch in for repairs but do not feel obligated to pay for snow plowing because some don't use the road in the winter. Some of us have tried to have the county take over road maintenance but have met resistance do to the cost of upgrading the road to county specs before they will take over responsibility.
Bottom line? The rule of the road is very simple; everybody does whatever they have to do to get to their own property.
Yeah. We used to live in a remote, unincorporated small community out in the country. Everyone who had "a lot" got a vote in the homeowner's association. The builder got 50% voting up until x lots remained and then he got his votes per lot remaining in his portfolio. We had to pay our share of getting the gravel road graded and repaired as needed. It frequently went longer than it should have until the builder got past the 50% vote phase. Even after that, we had people who wanted to have large plots and bought multiple lots; enjoying multiple "votes" on issues... until it came time to pay multiple shares for costs like road maintenance. ***** ***** *****.
Most of the "takers" were transferred GM employees that resented having to move to the (then new) OKC plant to keep their jobs. It was about the time that they started moving in that we suddenly saw vandalism and other "city" problems that hadn't been there in the years prior. Those of us "locals" figured their kids had brought their "issues" with them and were continuing what they knew from "up north".
Most of the "takers" were transferred GM employees that resented having to move to the (then new) OKC plant to keep their jobs. It was about the time that they started moving in that we suddenly saw vandalism and other "city" problems that hadn't been there in the years prior. Those of us "locals" figured their kids had brought their "issues" with them and were continuing what they knew from "up north".
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Neighborhood (community) financial responsibility seems to be the topic, so I don't see your post (or my reply) as a HiJack.
I've been involved in similar situations where the seasonal users think that they shouldn't have to pay full share. Yet, I'll bet those part timers are further up the road, right? So maybe you should offer to assess share based on how far from the main road their property is? The people that live on the end closest to the main road are getting screwed.
radman
R.I.P. Our Motorcycling Friend
Fences suck. The need for one sucks even more.
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