A tired or broken boundary fence will always be a drag on the positive impression that you want your home to make with prospective buyers and can have an impact on the final sale price.
Fences that lean, have missing or rotten slats are not only unsightly but signal to buyers that they’ll have to spend money on maintenance the moment they move in.
Obviously, that’s not what you want them thinking when they’re wandering through your garden. Such negative thoughts can often outweigh all the positive work you’ll do in preparing your home for sale.
Fences are also one of the last topics you want to raise when you have new neighbours. Their fixing or replacement can be a costly, unwanted a bill that needs to be shared.
You can avoid this by using these four techniques to brighten your fence line and even add to the privacy of your garden.
A lick of paint – Whether your fence is metal or wooden paling, a splash of colour will do wonders to your fence line. Paint wooden slats in contrasting colours if you have had to replace weathered slats with new ones.
Don’t take any short cuts when preparing the fence for painting. Wash it down and scrub it clean beforehand. Also, hammer in any protruding nails. Be aware that most fence wood will soak up the paint and may need two or three coats. If you don’t fancy that much brushwork, hire a paint sprayer.
Screen savers – In every hardware shop, you’ll find stylish metal panels that can be hung on a fence to add interest and contrast. Depending on the size of the screen, you can even hang small pot plants off the screens.
A vine idea – Frames for climbers is a simple and inexpensive solution. Plant climbers in front of your fence and train them to grow along and through the frames, hiding a tired old fence. Ideal plants include Chinese jasmine, bougainvillea, passionfruit and wisteria.
Hedge your bets – If time is on your side, it’s hard to beat a good hedge, although they require regular cutting and maintenance. Native plant options include Callistemon, Lilli pilly, and grevilleas. Many garden stores will feature “fast-growing” hedges for those who don’t want to wait several years for a mature hedge.