Can you take fencing with you?

[JWK]

We are debating how much to do right now on our 5 acres. Of course fencing comes into this the most as it's the most expensive, necessary part of getting some animals.

So if you want a couple of goats, sheep, pigs, is there some kind of fencing that you could take with you, or is this just too "out there". I can't imagine digging up wooden fence posts for 3 acres worth, but maybe there's another solution. Maybe not.

Thanks.

John

[Momwannabe]

John, I know of several people who installed cattle panel fencing and took it with them when they moved. It is not all that hard to do if you use metal t posts. I would never dream of taking field fencing (hog wire, etc) because I find it to be a pain in the neck to work with.

One caveat- if you sell your property, fencing is "normally" considered a permanent installation. You would need to do a disclosure informing potential buyers that yours would be removed. Might be better off to include the price of the fencing in the sales price of the property and get new fencing at your new place, especially if you are moving very far.

Te people we bought our place from took down all the fencing they could get their hands on and sold it at auction (before we bought the place). They were morons because they got pennies on the dollar for the used material, it cost them a ton of labor, and it reduced the value of the property, so IMO, they lost when they sold the place.

[Bearfootfarm]

You could use "T" posts and electric fencing that can be reused. You'd still probably need wooden corners

[FarmboyBill]

If you KNOW your going to move in a few years, dig your holes just enough to set or pound in your posts, but dont fill them in. just cap the dirt around the tops. <akes it a wjole lot easier to take the posts when you leave,

[Shirley]

Originally Posted by JWK

We are debating how much to do right now on our 5 acres. Of course fencing comes into this the most as it's the most expensive, necessary part of getting some animals.

The answer is in your own statement. What will potential buyers be looking for? "Fencing, necessary part of getting some animals."

[KCM]

Properly installed, Fencing usually adds value to a homestead. If you still have your fencing in place while the home is listed 'For Sale' and you stipulate in the disclosure that the fencing does not stay with the sale, you will most definitely lose potential customers. It is considered petty, and becomes a burden to negotiations over the more important issues.


As someone has already stated, just add the value of the fencing to the sale price. And then as a potential selling incentive, simply stipulate that your asking price can be reduced it they allow you to take the fencing.

[seedspreader]

Unless you a specific selling point is the "rural" factor (ie. horse lovers looking for a place, or a mini farm) fencing is one of those things that don't add a whole bunch of value to someone who is just looking to live "in the country". I know a lot of the "country living" folks around here, really are just city folks with 4 wheelers... Fences cramp their style.

Whatever you do, don't show the house for sale and then make a contract item of the fence. If they look at it with fence, sell it to them with fence.

[KCM]

Originally Posted by seedspreader

Unless you a specific selling point is the "rural" factor (ie. horse lovers looking for a place, or a mini farm) fencing is one of those things that don't add a whole bunch of value to someone who is just looking to live "in the country". I know a lot of the "country living" folks around here, really are just city folks with 4 wheelers... Fences cramp their style.

Whatever you do, don't show the house for sale and then make a contract item of the fence. If they look at it with fence, sell it to them with fence.

Yes, but even if not a "whole bunch" of value, the fact remains that fencing usually does add value to potential buyers, and typically adds more value to those looking to contain animals. Besides, most of those "country living" folks from the city wouldn't recognize the value anyway and likely will attempt to offer much less than what the homestead is actually worth irregardless whether fencing exists or not. Many of that type would be just the type to complain if you wanted to take existing fencing with you, only to tear it down themself after they force you to leave it up.
So unless that type of city-turned-country folk would be the typical buyer of property like JWK has, then perhaps the best option would be as many of us have already stated, and that is to simply add the value of the fencing to the asking price of the homestead.

[scaryguyoy]

So do gates fall in to that category,we have several gates that we were going to take with us.We were going to leave 3 that we consider to be existing part of the property.We have about 8 that we brought in for our use that we were going to take.I never dreamed someone would consider them part of the sale.They cost from $60.00 to $150.00 each depending on the length.
Frank

[rambler]

Originally Posted by scaryguyoy

So do gates fall in to that category,we have several gates that we were going to take with us.We were going to leave 3 that we consider to be existing part of the property.We have about 8 that we brought in for our use that we were going to take.I never dreamed someone would consider them part of the sale.They cost from $60.00 to $150.00 each depending on the length.
Frank

If attached to the post they are part of the real estate, & you either need to state before the sale they are not included or you need them removed before you show the property.

I would be pretty hot about someone removing gates after the showing, you bet. Dirty name is the best they would get from me, probably a lot more......

If I wanted to use the fence you have up, I would decrease my offer by the cost of new gates to replace them if you took them with, so you might not gain much. depends on what the new buyer wants to do if you will get a lower bid or not, how it affects you.

Mind you, I can understand you taking the gates with & that is fine - just be very clear about it, best to have those gates out of site by the time you are selling. They typically are considered part of the real estate.

Sis was bidding on a property with a shed on it, advertised & shown, the day of the bid they mentioned the lady selling it would like the ornate bell that was screwed to a post if the winning bidder would part with it, but they had to leave it there as it was not removed prior to selling it.


For the original poster, I would either build a temp fence with step in posts & few electric wires, or if you have big bucks the T posts & wire panels and be sure to remove or state you are taking those with, or I would build a good fence & leave it hoping it would add value to potential buyers & bring me more at the sale.

--->Paul

[sammyd]

I would expect any perimeter fencing to be part of the deal, along with its associated gates. Any cross fencing or pens in the middle of the property wouldn't be part unless maybe physically connected to a shed or building.

[Alice In TX/MO]

This happened on one of the properties that borders mine in Missouri. Taking the gates and fences is NOT acceptable. They are part of the property.

You'd better check with an attorney before you start removing things.

[Toads tool]

Originally Posted by Rose

This happened on one of the properties that borders mine in Missouri. Taking the gates and fences is NOT acceptable. They are part of the property.

You'd better check with an attorney before you start removing things.

Oh another Missourian piped in and beat me to it.

Try going halves with a neighbor on a fence and see what kind of bees nest can be stirred up. It's hard to argue with new owners about agreements made with departed neighbors.

As a buyer I would gig you on my bid at least 200.00 per gate. If on my walkthrough I could see where there had been a gate and there wasn't then I would lower my bid according. With the price of gas and the added inconvienence and added labor for myself.
If I went to see a property and saw that the sellers had stripped gates and fences it would probably sour me off of the whole deal. Or at least I would use it against you on the price negotiations, saying how it's not a complete homestead now and such.
Add the price of the gates to the price of the property and tell the buyer why. They cost so much a piece, it costs so much to install, price of gas, yada yada. You know, the stuff that will get thrown up to you if you strip the place.

[GingerN]

Originally Posted by scaryguyoy

So do gates fall in to that category,we have several gates that we were going to take with us.We were going to leave 3 that we consider to be existing part of the property.We have about 8 that we brought in for our use that we were going to take.I never dreamed someone would consider them part of the sale.They cost from $60.00 to $150.00 each depending on the length.
Frank

Fences stay, gates can go.
ETA: we told them prior to them putting an offer in that the gates were not staying.

[EasyDay]

If I viewed the property WITH fence, then was told the fence would be taken down for the sale, I'd walk away from that deal.

We had a neighbor who had a nicely stocked pond. When they put their property on the market, they wanted to deplete the oxygen from the pond to kill all of the fish so they could take the fish with them.

These two scenarios, IMO, are of the same ilk and are totally unacceptable.

[mwhit]

While I think removing the fence would be unacceptable, I do believe that in NY a fence is only considered non-removable if it's permanent. Hog panels or other fencing put up with metal t-posts are not permanent, so you could remove it if you wanted to. That said, I wouldn't remove it for the reasons stated above by others...

A bit off topic, but my BIL just sold 119 acres with a brand new little cabin and pond on it. The buyer was insistent that he leave an old coyote pelt (had it put right into the contract??) I thought it was one of the strangest things I had ever heard. I mean who really worries about a coyote pelt when buying 100+ acres? It wasn't tanned or anything...
Michelle

[nana-san]

MWHIT,

Maybe he wanted the pelt around for a "Once when I went huntin' story" or maybe it adds ambiance to the cabin LOL
I would have to leave the deal if the decided to the the fence with them.

Originally Posted by mwhit

While I think removing the fence would be unacceptable, I do believe that in NY a fence is only considered non-removable if it's permanent. Hog panels or other fencing put up with metal t-posts are not permanent, so you could remove it if you wanted to. That said, I wouldn't remove it for the reasons stated above by others...

A bit off topic, but my BIL just sold 119 acres with a brand new little cabin and pond on it. The buyer was insistent that he leave an old coyote pelt (had it put right into the contract??) I thought it was one of the strangest things I had ever heard. I mean who really worries about a coyote pelt when buying 100+ acres? It wasn't tanned or anything...
Michelle

[seedspreader]

Originally Posted by KCM

Yes, but even if not a "whole bunch" of value, the fact remains that fencing usually does add value to potential buyers, and typically adds more value to those looking to contain animals. Besides, most of those "country living" folks from the city wouldn't recognize the value anyway and likely will attempt to offer much less than what the homestead is actually worth irregardless whether fencing exists or not. Many of that type would be just the type to complain if you wanted to take existing fencing with you, only to tear it down themself after they force you to leave it up.
So unless that type of city-turned-country folk would be the typical buyer of property like JWK has, then perhaps the best option would be as many of us have already stated, and that is to simply add the value of the fencing to the asking price of the homestead.

We're talking a 5 acre tract of land here, it's not much fence. So you have to look at whose going to buy it.

I can't ever imagine (myself) taking the effort do uninstall fence if it means pulling posts and field fence.

hog panels are a different story, since they are portable. But I still wouldn't show it one way and then make a contract issue.

Point being, it's your fence, do what you want with it, but why offer it up as a contract quibble which may cost a sale.

Sale of houses are soft around here. I would think you do anything you can to sell it.

[texican]

I have never heard of any one pulling up boundary fences and taking them with them when they left... maybe I just live in a 'loon free' section of the country...

A fella up the road had his two acres enclosed in cattle panels... everyone thought he was crazy... those things are mighty expensive... Until he moved... and then he was acknowledged as a wise man!

If I were dealing with someone over land, and they started talking about pulling fences (posts, wire, net wire) before they left... I'd have to question their sanity!!! Cross fences I can see, cross gates I can see... boundary fences??? it simply isn't done. Mainly because the labor to remove is more than the value of the fence... and the losses a person would incur from removing the boundary fences, and the new owners possibly having to resurvey and put up new fences.

On the taking the fish out of the pond...... I cannot see the problem. Would someone assume that the cattle, horses, goats, sheep, chickens, would stay with the land, when they bought it? I think not. Lots of people don't think of fish as 'stock'... especially people that want to fish in my ponds!!! When they ask? can I fish, I say Yes Indeedy... and btw, I'll be over next weekend to pick up a fattened calf!... whoa they say, that calf cost money... well, yeah!, and those fish cost me money... the fish cost money, the feed costs money, and their "pen" cost ~20K... If I were to sell my place, I'd not poison my lake with rotenone to kill all the fish.... as it'd take barrels of the stuff... and what in the world would I do with tons of catfish, bass, and perch? The Mother of All Fish Fries? ((that's what my Pa woulda done ))

[reese]

Leave the fences and gates, it may not raise your price, but it may raise your sellability. I know if we had two similar homes, one w/o fencing one with, we would go with the one with. I also agree that if fencing and gates were quibbled about or in contract as not part of the property, I would walk away from the contract. To me, the gate is an extention of the fence. Any improvements and additions to the property should be viewed as part of the property, unless you wish to reduces your potential price or sellability.

Reese