Fencing is a safety precaution and it will also be a beautification project for your home that increases its value. There’s a myriad of factors to consider when installing a fence that will make the difference between being a happy homeowner or one experiencing buyer’s remorse.

Why Do You Want One?

The reason you want a fence can impact the type of fencing you choose. People typically install a fence for safety, security, privacy, to minimize road noise, conceal unattractive features, or establish boundaries.

Cost

Some barriers are more expensive than others. Others are relatively inexpensive and can be installed quickly. Certain types can be more expensive, but are far more durable, available in multiple colors, and can even withstand hurricane force winds.

Maintenance

Depending on the type of fencing, it may require regular inspections, painting or staining. Others only need to be rinsed off with a hose. You need to know how much time you realistically have to spend on maintenance duties, or if you want a minimal maintenance set-it-and-forget-it solution.

Climate Concerns

There’s a wealth of options available for fencing and some react differently to ordinary and extremes in climate conditions. Homeowners can choose wood and metal or revolutionary new materials that can be recycled at the end of their considerable lifespan.

Contractors

Choose your contractor carefully and don’t be afraid to ask for references from former clients. They should be cognizant of local rules and regulations governing fencing in the community and be able to obtain any required permits. Homeowners should expect a professional to answer the phone, not a recording.

Always obtain a written estimate, ensure the materials and work are under warranty, and don’t hire a contractor that pressures you to make immediate decisions or pay in cash. The contractor should be willing to provide information and make recommendations, but the ultimate decision is yours.

Safety in your new home is one of the thoughts that should be paramount in your mind. There are some basic measures you can take to help deter would-be prowlers and intruders. The methods are equally effective if you’re going on vacation or if you have long commutes and work hours. In the excitement of moving in, it’s easy to forget that 73 percent of burglaries and break-ins occur in residential neighborhoods.

Alarm Systems

Installing an alarm system is a basic safety precaution that may also save you on homeowner’s insurance costs. If your new home comes equipped with an alarm system, change the code immediately. Ensure windows have a sticker indicating the home is protected by a security system and place one in the front yard. It’s proven to discourage anyone targeting the home.

Landscaping

Be sure to keep hedges trimmed and growth around doors and windows to a minimum and at a height of no more than three feet to deter crime. Planting prickly or spiky bushes near windows also helps. Mulch them with gravel – the sound of crunching gravel is a definite deterrent.

Lights

Homes that are well-lit are unappealing to thieves and burglars. Invest in some inexpensive timers for different areas of the home. It’s also helpful to alternate the rooms that are lit. The same light in the same window every night establishes a pattern that can be easily tracked by intruders. TVs can typically be set to go on at specific times from the device itself. Smart timers are also available that can be set and monitored from your phone.

Locks

Changing the locks should be at the top of every new homeowner’s to-do list. You never know who might have a key to the existing locks, from local teens to the neighbor across the street.

Motion Detectors

For outdoor usage, few items are as effective and inexpensive as motion detector lighting. The devices should be installed on all four sides of the dwelling. Additional motion detector floodlights should be installed in particularly dark areas or those where people could easily hide.

Video Doorbell

Video doorbells are a smart way to monitor who comes to your door, whether it’s a delivery driver or the mailman. A common ploy used by burglars is to ring the doorbell first to see if anyone answers. A video doorbell will notify you if anyone is at the door via your phone no matter where you happen to be and allow you to respond. You’ll never have to open the door without knowing who is on the other side.

For many years, a home with white picket fence came to symbolize achievement of the American Dream. The image was first used in the 1940s and was immortalized in TV and film as the perfect accompaniment to wealth and success. Part of its popularity was psychological, representing safety and stability in response to the ravages of World War II.

Once considered a status symbol, the prevailing attitude toward the barrier has undergone a change and it’s now often viewed as a stylized version of perfection that doesn’t exist with somewhat creepy connotations. However, the innocent picket fence of Americana has darker origins.

Before coming to colonial America, the pickets of the fence – the upright “sticks” – were logs that were sharpened to a point and inserted into the ground. They were used to repel ground attacks and shield archers. They were known by the French word piquet. Pickets were one of the earliest defenses used in ancient times to protect against marauding tribes.

Early colonists also used pickets to frame their land and protect against encroachment by Native American tribes, bandits, and eventually troops sent by the King of England to quell the colonists’ rebellion. They were further used to defend against opposing troops during the Spanish-American War and the country’s Civil War.

White paint was cheap and to dress up the fences, early Americans began painting them white or using a mixture of lime and water to color them and act as a wood preservative. The white picket fence began to lose ground to chain link fencing in the 1950s as the Cold War arrived, but enjoyed a resurgence of popularity in the 1980s.

The fencing also began to obtain a creepy connotation in response to several films that portrayed them as part of a regimented lifestyle that demanded the masses conform. For many, the white picket fence remains a symbol of those that prefer to live in a “perfect” world, blind to the realities of life.

The white picket fence is a simple barrier, but its impact on the U.S. was huge. It continues to be popular fencing option for keeping children and pets safely within their own yards. It’s typically lower than other types of fencing, thereby encouraging neighborly interaction and conversation. Love it or hate it, the white picket fence has become indelibly imprinted on the psyche as a uniquely American icon.

Creating a pet proof backyard entails more than just ensuring a pet can’t get out. It must also incorporate elements to keep roaming pets out, along with the wide variety of wildlife that could potentially enter. There’s also a multitude of factors that most people don’t consider, but are essential for keeping a dog safe from harm.

Chemicals

Canines should be kept away from lawns and plants that have been treated with fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides. Even the residue can result in a toxic response and fertilizers can burn the pads on a pet’s feet.

Clean the Premises

Damp, dark and debris-filled areas are prime real estate for fleas, mosquitoes and other pests. It’s a good idea to regularly clean doghouses and wash blankets or beds dogs use. Sweeping decks, porches and patios will help keep down pests. Don’t forget to address outdoor structures and storage sheds, along with the undersides of porches and decks.

Fencing

The enclosure will require a fencing option that the canine can’t climb, jump over, or dig under. From raccoons and deer to coyotes and the potential for an occasional panther, the barrier must also prevent wild or stray animals from squeezing through slats or panels, depending upon the style of fence that’s selected. Inspect the fence regularly for weak spots.

Another area where fencing will be critical is the pool. An estimated 5,000 canines die each year from pool-related accidents. Dogs don’t intuitively know how to get out of a pool. There are no guarantees, even with dogs that have undergone training to recognize steps and they may be unable to climb a ladder.

Mow Often

Fleas, ticks and other parasites live in grass and the longer the grass, the bigger the risk that they’ll hitch a ride on your pet and eventually into the house.

Plants

Dogs like to dig, chew, and roll around in greenery. Some types of flowers and bushes are poisonous to dogs, such as amaryllis, azaleas, daffodils, and tulips. It’s best to consult with a veterinarian on poisonous plants. Owners should be prepared to remove existing plants that are toxic and use extreme caution when installing new plantings.

Trash and Recycling

Dogs are naturally curious. They’ll delve into trash cans and recycling containers not understanding the potential for danger such as chocolate or chicken bones. Don’t store trash, recycling containers, antifreeze, cleaning supplies or any type of chemicals where pets can reach them. Antifreeze is deadly to pets.

Water and Shade

Hydration and a shady spot to rest are as important to dogs as it is to their human companions. Fresh, clean water should be available at all times and there should be enough shade plants that enable dogs to get out of direct sun at any time of the day as the sun moves across the sky. Dogs experience dehydration and heat sickness just as their human counterparts and can even die without appropriate shade.