We have a chain link fence around our yard that appears to original equipment from 1947.

House west of us just sold and new neighbors asked us if they could remove chain link fence on their side because their dog can jump fences and they want a privacy fence. They didn't ask us to share cost and we didn't offer because they are the ones that want a new fence. We agree to let them remove the chain link.

Wife talks to neighbors fencing contractor today and he quotes her a price/lf to replace our entire fence. She texts me the price and I told her I'd think about it.

In the meantime east neighbor talks to same fence contractor, and offers to split the cost of a new fence on the east side. This pretty much seals the deal for me because I now get a whole new fence for the price of 1-1/2 sides + the two short pieces facing the street. Contractor even dropped his $/lf price because he is doing three yards at once.

Question: Should I be a nice guy and offer to pay for half the west side fence?

I would.

I would too.

If you're going to get the whole thing done, yes. Not saying you're trying to do this, but "getting one over" on the neighbor who started the whole fence thing will not reflect well on your character.

Couldn't hurt. Plus then you have a say in style of fence, etc.

Do it. Be the nice guy.

Tear down the fence to show you mean business

I've been in a similar situation before. If you can afford it I absolutely would. Your neighbors have already shown to be decent people by asking first and secondly by not asking for you to pay half. Pay for half and you may just have a new buddy for life.

If he pays half he has every right to tear it down.

Yes

Yes, but use the same conversation with neighbors to discuss further haggling as a group with the contractor on the $/linear foot.

The OB handing out good advice tonight.

Definitely. When it comes to questions like this, I always put myself in the shoes of the neighbor. And as the neighbor, when I see your entire fence get replaced knowing I paid 100% of the tab for what is on my side, I'm probably going to look at you sideways. I wouldn't raise a stink over it, but I would think I moved next to a bit of a cheap dick. But if you come back and tell me your new plans and offer cover half, I'm inviting you over for a beer. And there's a good chance I may even tell you not to worry about it.

OB does not disappoint.

Contractor is already lowering his price once because he gets three yards at once. He is a hard worker, and I wrote the check in his wife's name. I am not going to strangle that goose.

I had a very similar situation occur but the roles were reversed. Neighbor offered to pay half of what we shared only to back out after the fence was constructed. He let his wife tell me "their" decision while standing in their front doorway as he stood several steps behind her and stared at the floor.

I'm about to have a similar conversation with my current (different) neighbor. We have to replace the privacy fence we share early next year. Maybe I'll go about this transaction in a different manner.

Now that you've decided to do your whole fence, I would split the cost with him.

Had that one side alone been replaced, and you were ok with it the way it was, I would not share the cost.

Well if after the fence is put up the neighbor backs out and decides not to pay; you can always commission a mural of a dolphin and a whale getting it on - on their visible side. Its your fence then to display whatever "art" you wish

dodger02 said:

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I had a very similar situation occur but the roles were reversed. Neighbor offered to pay half of what we shared only to back out after the fence was constructed. He let his wife tell me "their" decision while standing in their front doorway as he stood several steps behind her and stared at the floor.

I'm about to have a similar conversation with my current (different) neighbor. We have to replace the privacy fence we share early next year. Maybe I'll go about this transaction in a different manner.

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On second thought I have already loaned the west neighbor a vegetable peeler once. I think they owe me one.

dodger02 said:

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I had a very similar situation occur but the roles were reversed. Neighbor offered to pay half of what we shared only to back out after the fence was constructed. He let his wife tell me "their" decision while standing in their front doorway as he stood several steps behind her and stared at the floor.

I'm about to have a similar conversation with my current (different) neighbor. We have to replace the privacy fence we share early next year. Maybe I'll go about this transaction in a different manner.

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we've always asked the contractor to prepare separate invoices for each homeowner so that you're each only paying for your share. you can consult your neighbors to make sure the total of the invoices is what you negotiated with the contractor.

never had any issues nor has any contractor balked at the separate invoices.

That's my plan this go 'round.

But, since this time we're talking about just replacing the fencing and keeping the already installed steel posts, I might be inclined to do the work myself. But not at the expense of his front teeth and my footing the entire bill.

Who is paying for the survey to make sure the fence is built in the right spot? Who gets the pretty side of the fence, and who gets the braces?

Just be careful. I've seen some crazy things happen when neighbors start building fences. In once case the contractor walked off the job due to one owner being too hard to work for.

Don't agree to an open ended price or half of the fence, agree to pay half of the fence not to exceed $X total or per foot.

I would also make sure to discuss how each person wants to seal the fence, or have the contractor include that as part of the deal to make sure it looks nice and is uniform.

Yes, its half yours. Do the right thing and pony up.
Generosity and neighborly acts can earn yourself the same treatment.

Yes, and if he shares his whiskey with you afterwards then you're golden. If not, no more second chances.

milkman00 said:

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In once case the contractor walked off the job due to one owner being too hard to work for.

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I own a fence company and there have been hundreds of clients I would have loved to have given a GFY to and walked off their job, the only thing that kept me from doing it was fear of damage to our reputation.

There have been plenty of clients whom I've finished their jobs and then told them not to call again. Some still do anyway.

People are the worst.

I had a neighbor that unilaterally replaced a section of fence and then later asked if we would cover a portion of the cost of the mutual section. I was a bit annoyed as I wasn't included on the bid and cost per foot decision, but we ended up paying to be good neighbors. Then Ike knocked down a tree through another section of fence, and I just replaced that myself at my own expense like for like because it was easier than dealing with the neighbor who was already frustrated at fate that the tree hit his house and cost him an insurance deductible. It was a healthy tree though and "act of God" so my responsibility ended at the property line.

The two sides we replaced when one neighbor asked if we'd be interested in doing it as a team one weekend, so I priced out materials for both remaining sides and presented them to each side neighbor, and we both agreed on weekends to do each side and split the cost each side. It worked out pretty well, and builds good relationships to be fair and reasonable.

I offered to pay for half the west neighbor cost, and we're good now.

They had their property surveyed when they bought it. The survey monuments were still visible, and the fencer followed them. The old fence meandered a bit, and the new fence is in the same location +/-6" depending on how bad the old fence leaned and meandered.

Old fence was 4' tall. New fence is 6' tall. The problem now is that there are two volunteer trees near the fence that are in conflict. On my side is a 6" mulberry. In another 5 years it will be a good shade for the house. Unfortunately trimming it away from the fence would pretty much ruin it, and boxing around it would only delay the issue. I am taking it down this weekend, and neighbor is going to help haul it off. He has it worse. He has an 18" hackberry on his side that is leaning into the new fence significantly. It is also leaning onto our property. If it ever falls (which hackberry trees often do) it will take out our electrical service. He is considering his options. Removal will probably be about $2-3000. It provides nice shade for us but will eventually be a safety hazard.

Taking out trees to avoid a couple of minor fence path deviations from PL seems a bit extreme unless you planned to get rid of them anyways. Most any tree can be kept in good shape for a long time with selective trimming to keep the canopy from threatening the stability of the tree.

On my old place we worked around several trees on one side with a little creative carpentry.

They are trash trees. The mulberry, while providing a little shade for the house is also 5' from the foundation. It is a feral tree that will eventually be more problem than benefit.

The hackberry on his property leans a little more each year. It is eventually going to be MY problem. Getting rid of it saves me the risk and also will give a nice pecan tree in his yard some room to grow. One of the reasons it leans onto my property the way it does is to grow away from the bigger pecan tree.

Ok, so they are problems you are working into the overall project.

FWIW, I'm if the opinion there are no trash trees, just trees not located in a good circumstance for the traits of their species. Mulberries and hackberries have their places, usually out in the country away from houses where their berries can attract and feed birds, and where their fall leaves and hackberry sap don't matter.

I have done both, removed trees and accommodated them. One tree was accommodated by flipping the fence boards to the other side of the support boards for one section, while the trunk of another now sticks through a "window" in my fence.

Update:

Should have known better. The guy was in the middle of building a fence for the neighbors so we assumed he checked out as legit. The opposite neighbors and I cut him checks for materials, and as soon as that happened he got flakey. It took him another two weeks to finish neighbor 1 after they hounded him, and he has been blowing me and neighbor 2 off since then. Various excuses. He told us he will be here next Monday.

Found out he has had a lot of complaints about not finishing projects including theft charges.

If not, he gets a demand letter.

At my previous residence, my back fence was in bad shape. I got a contractor to quote tearing down the old one and replacing it with a new one. I took that bid to the neighborhor behind me, who had a swimming pool that was never maintained and a dog that was constantly destroying fence boards. He agreed to pay half. The work was done and when I went to collect, he told me that his wife did not like the new fence, so he wouldn't be paying me anything. If I ever need a fence with a neighbor, I will make them sign a contract with contractor for their section of the fence. That way if they back out of paying, then the contractor can fight it out, but not me. Also, no way I'm giving a neighbor a large check for some promised work. Just my thoughts from being burnt in the past.

ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS check out people working on your house. Never take anything for granted. Unfortunately, too many shady people out there. Good luck.

Cheaper didn't always turn out to be cheaper.