On The Fence About Fences?

This time of year, the idea of making our yards look nicer or simply giving our lawn a fresh look is on most people’s minds already. In this post we’ll explore typical questions that come up when considering putting up a new fence or fixing one you’ve had for years.

We’ll also answer a few questions that come up in the insurance world such as “is my fence covered in my homeowners insurance policy?” and describe situations where your fence is typically not covered under your policy to put your mind at ease and help you make an informed decision.

Pros of Installing a Fence on Your Property

Many people think that installing a fence on their property will increase the value of their home dramatically, however other than better curb-appeal, this isn’t always the case.

That being said, there are still many good reasons and practical benefits of putting in a fence. Maybe you’re tired of your neighbors staring at you while you’re grilling, or perhaps your yard is quickly becoming the playground for kids on their way home from school.

Adding a fence can be a way to increase your comfort and sanity while providing additional privacy for your home and yard. Here are some pros to installing a fence:

• Added privacy. Do you enjoy sipping your morning cup of coffee in your pajamas? Have a hot tub that you don’t want to share views with the neighbors? Maybe you’d consider doing yoga more often when the weather is nice, but don’t really want a public viewing from the neighborhood. There are all great reasons to add a fence to your property.
• Safety and security. At it’s most basic function, a fence helps to keeps uninvited people and pets off of your property. It cuts down on the extra headache of constantly chasing your neighbor’s pets off, and create a clear obstacle for would-be burglars. Most of us have great neighbors, but it is nice to have clear boundaries defined.
• Defined boundaries. If you live near a school bus stop or the neighborhood kids have been tearing up your landscaping on their walk home from school, if nothing else, an added fence can help enforce your property line and protect your yard. It also prevents neighbors from encroaching on your property line and limits public use of your property.
• A quieter experience. Depending on how your fence is constructed, if you’re located in a noisy area or close to a road that gets heavy traffic, installing the right kind of fence can cut down on the noise and give you a more relaxing backdrop to look at. (Especially if you decide to landscape or add plants near and around your newly installed fence.)

Is a Fence Covered by Homeowners Insurance?

More times than not your fence is likely covered in your homeowners insurance policy under Coverage B, also referred to and known as other structures insurance. What this means for you is that as a part of your homeowners insurance, your fence will be covered against the same risks that you home will be.

This would include protection in the event of a fire, theft or vandalism of your fence and destruction by wind among other things. Of course, if someone decide to drive their car through your fence or takes a can of spray paint to it to display their creativity for the neighborhood to see, you should always file a police report with your local police officer to make sure that any damages are well documented there.

Something to Consider Regarding Other Structures Coverage

Typically, other structures insurance is calculated as 10 percent of the value of the main structure (your home in most cases). What this means is that if your home is insured for $200,000, your fence and garage would be protected and covered for incidents up to $20,000.

This percentage can be adjusted to add extra protection in the event of a disaster. You put all that time, money and effort into making your fence look nice, sometimes it makes sense to adjust your coverage.

Make sure you compare the value of your other structures to you coverage when selecting or updating your homeowners insurance policy. This is something we at Eastling Insurance can help you better understand with a simple phone call. Call us today.

When a Fence Isn’t Covered by Your Homeowners Insurance Policy

As with any structure you own, whether it’s your house, garage, shed or fence it’s important to take care of them with routine maintenance. With a fence, that could mean removing sticks and debris from a chain link after a long and hardy winter, regular staining or sealing as well as protecting it from rust or decay.

Wear and tear is not covered under your policy, so it’s your responsibility to keep up with any repairs or routine maintenance issues that may arise over time. If your fence starts to shift, lean or it’s footings come out or move due to erosion or roots, you will want to get these types of issues looked at in a timely manner.

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