Good Fences Make Good Neighbors? (Huntsville, Madison: HOA, insurance, new house)

[BMW Dave]

Hello All.

Well I am finally ready to buy my first house. I am currently bidding on a home in Madison City.

But it is zoned county, it's one of the neighborhoods that is off of Slaughter Rd that was incorporated into the city about 15yrs ago.

Anyway, the house is from the 60's and appears to have the original chain link fence to boot.

The backyard of the house touches 4 other back yards. It's shaped like a little house, a square with a triangle on top.


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Like that.

Well on the Right Straight side, the neighbor has his own fence, but on the remaining 3 sides the fence is mine or so it seems. The other neighbors have wooden side fences that just kind of meet my chainlink.

I realize I need to and will get a survey, but regardless, what is proper etiquette?

I personally don't like chain link, I really don't like fences period, but I realize that 2 of my neighbors have dogs and one has a pool, so he has to have a fence for insurance reasons.

I have met several of the neighbors, but not these 3.

My long term goal was to remove the fences completely and grow big ferns, but now realizing they have dogs that simply won't do.

Lastly as I mentioned this is county zoned and no HOA, so no rules on fences at all. I'd rather put a nice one up than remove my chainlink only to have my neighbor just replace it with one of his own.

Any one have any experience with this?

Thanks

[Reactionary]

Congratulations! I've got a friend off Stella on High Drive (if that's your neighborhood). Hah! Just google mapped, there is a house on Stella that fits your description - he might be at the apex and on the left.

For a fence on the property line, rather than have two fences (yours and neighbors), many people have a fence in common (share the construction and maintainance and importantly landscaping design). Failing that one might adopt a city ordinance approach and build a fence with a 5 foot setback.

Definitely share your thoughts and plans with your neighbors.

[BMW Dave]

Originally Posted by Reactionary

Congratulations! I've got a friend off Stella on High Drive (if that's your neighborhood). Hah! Just google mapped, there is a house on Stella that fits your description - he might be at the apex and on the left.

For a fence on the property line, rather than have two fences (yours and neighbors), many people have a fence in common (share the construction and maintainance and importantly landscaping design). Failing that one might adopt a city ordinance approach and build a fence with a 5 foot setback.

Definitely share your thoughts and plans with your neighbors.

Haha,

Indeed it is on Stella. I actually looked at a house on High Rd over the summer, but it had foundation issues.

And I met a nice couple who live on High Rd today while I was mapping out the backyard again.

Yeah I haven't met anyone who wasn't polite, that is a big selling point of the neighborhood, friendly people, but without the HOA so no one telling me very politely to "tear down your shed" or something.

I believe only one of the houses that touches my property is in the City now. The one with the dogs who roam the backyard. Nice dogs actually, one ran to the fence edge and barked at me, I looked right at him/her and said "Shhh". Amazingly, he/she did.

But yeah, ideally I could just plant some bushes and it would eventually cover the fence, but then I don't want it to fall apart and then have someone getting onto me about it...

We have only just started the LONG closing process. Just as I am in my busiest months of the year! It's gonna be a long road

[harry chickpea]

You might consider some sort of vine that can cover the chain link, or planting a barrier hedge on your side of it. We had chain link fence in Florida - everybody had pools, so it was a requirement, but other than trimming near it, I never gave it a thought.

[Reactionary]

My friends are a couple with a baby girl.

[Shalako]

A fence is a good idea--if you need one. I would suggest that you leave things alone at least until you get to know the property owners adjoining you well. Additionally, people in the Huntsville area tend to mov e quite a bit so your neighbor today might not be tomorrow and you never know what type you might be living adjacent to next.

[HB2HSV]

Congratulation on your new house!

If you going to grow big fern trees for privacy, then why not keep the chain link fence but grow the ferns in front of fence? The wood fence looks like crap in a year, unless you paint them, and will require annual maintenance.

[BMW Dave]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

You might consider some sort of vine that can cover the chain link, or planting a barrier hedge on your side of it. We had chain link fence in Florida - everybody had pools, so it was a requirement, but other than trimming near it, I never gave it a thought.

This had been my first idea, but was concerned about the degrading chain link fence on the other side.

Originally Posted by Reactionary

My friends are a couple with a baby girl.

Good another young couple! The neighborhood seems to either have old empty nesters or young couples moving in. I think that is great for the neighborhood.

Originally Posted by Shalako

A fence is a good idea--if you need one. I would suggest that you leave things alone at least until you get to know the property owners adjoining you well. Additionally, people in the Huntsville area tend to mov e quite a bit so your neighbor today might not be tomorrow and you never know what type you might be living adjacent to next.

This is a good point, I have no idea how long they will live there, but this neighborhood doesn't have a high turn over rate. But yes, I won't do it on day one, the house needs a LOT of work before I even worry about fences.

Originally Posted by HB2HSV

Congratulation on your new house!

If you going to grow big fern trees for privacy, then why not keep the chain link fence but grow the ferns in front of fence? The wood fence looks like crap in a year, unless you paint them, and will require annual maintenance.

Thanks!
Very good point on the wood fence. At least the current fence doesn't require yearly maintenance.

[AuburnAL]

You could look into holly bushes. If you could encourage the branches to grow low enough to the ground and the dogs are big enough they might. discourage the dogs from entering your yard to a large degree.