It's entirely understandable if you want to erect a fence along your property. Whether it’s for your privacy or to contain your pets, you should follow some basic rules of polite behavior. Before surveying your yard and beginning construction, there are some important etiquette guidelines to follow when erecting a fence on your property.

3 Rules of Etiquette When Erecting a Fence

1. Discuss Your Plans With Your Neighbor

Let your next-door neighbor know what you intend to do. This gives you a chance to discuss the style and location of the fence. Your neighbor will appreciate having a say in the color, material, or other factors, and you might disagree about where the property line lies. If this occurs, it's important to schedule land surveying before investing money in the structure. That way, you won't risk having to tear it down and start over if your neighbor proves to be right. On the other hand, if your neighbor is equally enthusiastic about a fence, they might want to contribute to the cost of construction.

2. Place Unfinished Side Inward

If there is a good—or finished—side and a bad—or unfinished—side to the fence, orient it so the good side faces outward and the bad side faces your house. This prevents the fence from becoming a neighborhood eyesore. However, most modern fences look the same on both sides, so this may not be a problem.

3. Maintain Both Sides

Unless your next-door neighbor was an enthusiastic participant in the fencing project, don't leave the maintenance to them. If the fence needs annual sealing, painting, cleaning, or other maintenance, take care of both sides—not just your own. The fence is your property, after all. To do this, you should first ask your neighbor's permission to access their yard and let them know what you plan to do.

For reliable land surveying to help you locate the proper site for your fence, contact Hart-Frederick Consultants PC. As an experienced civil engineering and property surveying firm in Tiffin, IA, they have been serving clients in and around Johnson County since 1996 and also specialize in city planning and septic and subdivision design. Visit their website to learn more about their company, or call (319) 545-7215 to schedule a consultation.