If you’re looking to sell your home, you may be wondering if your aluminum fence will add to its marketability. After all, a well-maintained and aesthetically pleasing fence should only improve your chances of selling your house, right?
As with books, the first selling point is the photo imagery, and a photo of the house is the first thing potential buyers will likely see in the age of the internet.
An aluminum fence can add to the property value of your home, but whether it does or not depends mainly on the placement of the fence, whether the fence was professionally constructed, and the sort of neighborhood you’re located in. As always with real estate, location is everything.
This article will dive more deeply into the benefits — and the downsides — to installing an aluminum fence. It will also discuss the associated costs, the importance of following neighborhood trends, and how to get the biggest return on your investment.
Read on to learn more about the added property value an aluminum fence can bring to your house!
The Benefits of an Aluminum Fence
Aluminum fencing easily trumps quaint, classic wood fencing and dignified wrought iron fencing with its ability to withstand any weather conditions and last several years.
Whether you need commercial or residential fencing, aluminum is aesthetically versatile enough to fit any style. So it’s easy to see how aluminum fencing can add property value to your home!
The following is a list of ways aluminum fencing can be of great benefit over their vinyl, brick, and wooden cousins.
- Durability: Wrought iron fences are vulnerable to rust and corrosion, but aluminum is not. And unlike wood, aluminum will not fade in the sunlight or rot and fall to pieces from moisture. As mentioned above, it can withstand any climate and any weather condition, from hail and rain to ice and snow, sunlight, and even termites!
- Environmentally conscious: While aluminum isn’t exactly biodegradable like wood, many aluminum fences are made from recycled materials, including used aluminum.
- Low-maintenance: Unlike a wood fence, an aluminum fence doesn’t need to be repainted. Never will you suffer the unsightly mess of chipping paint over rotting wood! At most, an aluminum fence may require a hose-down to be cleared of grass, dust, and mud.
- Easy to install: Aluminum fences can be adjusted to different heights to suit the shape of the land. Aluminum itself is lightweight and flexible, making it ideal to work with for do-it-yourself homeowners. Professional installation, however, is still recommended and also quite affordable.
- Adaptability: Aluminum fences have the unique ability to curve with a sloping landscape. This ability is called “racking,” which means it will adjust to the landscape without stepped sections. A racked fence will adapt to the shape of the ground so that there won’t be holes or gaps for children, animals, and burglars to slip through.
- Long-lasting: Aluminum has the benefit of lasting quite a long time. Because it is built to endure harsh weather conditions, insect infestations, and rust and corrosion, it is an excellent long-term investment compared to other more high-maintenance fences.
- Affordability: Aluminum could be seen as a cheaper alternative to wrought iron. Both have a black, sturdy, dignified aesthetic, but aluminum costs less to install. And though an aluminum fence costs more than a wood fence, the fact that it requires less maintenance means you will save money in the long run. It is a long-term investment that will be returned when the house is sold!
- Safety: Aluminum fences are often used on commercial properties due to their sturdiness and reliability.
- Aesthetically pleasing: Aluminum fences don’t just come in “dignified black.”
These fences can come in a variety of finishes, including but not limited to:
- White fine texture
- Black fine texture
- Clay
- Ninety bronze
- Textured bronze
- Gloss beige
- Gloss white
- Sandy shore
- Satin black
- Speckled walnut
- Chocolate
- Silver
The Downsides of an Aluminum Fence
Though an aluminum fence has many benefits, there are still a few possible downsides to consider, including:
- Cost: Though aluminum fences are pretty affordable, the more visually pleasing ones are more expensive. It’s easy to find a plain aluminum fence for cheap, but most people want a fence that looks nice and matches the overall theme of their neighborhood.
- Strength: Though aluminum is a durable metal, it’s still very lightweight and flexible. The flexibility makes it easy to install but also takes away from the fence’s sturdiness. Depending on your needs, an aluminum fence may not be strong enough. When searching the market, keep in mind that some aluminum fences are stronger than others and choose according to your individual needs.
- Security: As outlined above, aluminum fences aren’t as sturdy as other fence types. This leaves them vulnerable to high impact from cars, falling trees, and large wild animals. There’s also the fact that someone who knows the fence’s juncture points can just unscrew them and enter your property in the middle of the night. That’s an unsettling thought.
The Cost of a Fence
The fact that building a fence isn’t cheap is part of the reason homeowners can see a hefty return on their investment when selling a fenced home. Depending on the size of the property and the resulting length of the fence, expenses can range from $25 to $100 per foot!
There is also the fence’s height to consider. An aluminum privacy fence, for instance, is taller than a regular fence, would require more material, and therefore, would cost a great deal more.
The more you pay for the fence’s construction, the more your property is ultimately worth.
Neighborhood Trends
Sometimes a house that doesn’t fit with the other houses on the block will lose its appeal. If your house is the only house with an aluminum fence rather than a wood fence, for instance, this will make it stand out, causing a hiccough in the otherwise uniform design of the neighborhood. Sometimes it’s good to just blend in.
But if everyone in the neighborhood is without a fence entirely, you may need to take your fence down before you can successfully sell your home. It sounds a little ridiculous, but most neighborhoods have a consistent theme, and houses that don’t fit the theme don’t tend to sell.
Return of Investment
To determine how much your fence adds to your property value, consider its value to a potential homebuyer:
- Most people want privacy in their backyards. Potential buyers want to garden, have birthday parties, or relax beside a pool without a creepy neighbor staring at them. If your aluminum fence is a privacy fence, it will make your property more appealing.
- Your fence should be placed appropriately. A privacy fence in the front yard, for instance, will decrease the value of your property because most people prefer the ability to see who is coming and going in front of their home.
- A fence should offer protection. Potential homebuyers with pets or children want the peace of mind that comes with knowing their fence will be sturdy enough to guard their families.
Conclusion
In conclusion, an aluminum fence is an affordable, low-maintenance way to add property value to your home! Professional installation is essential to ensure proper construction and a return of investment if you plan to sell your home in the future.