Did your fence come down after a crazy storm? Or maybe it got knocked out of place. Whatever the case may be, it can be difficult to decide what to do, especially if you share the fence with your neighbor’s. You might not know when to call your insurance company or if it can be fixed on its own. This article is here to help. Here’s exactly what to do when your fence falls down.
What To Do When Your Fence Falls Down
It can be easy to panic when you see your fence is knocked down. But don’t worry, you’ll know what to do in no-time. The most important thing is that you keep your nerves in check. Don’t get too worked up, just relax and go take a look at the fence.
Make Sure the Area is Safe
The first thing you’re going to want to do is to make sure that the area surrounding the fence is completely safe. Make sure nothing is caught up in the fencing and check to see if it knocked anything over.
What is most crucial is that you aren’t in any immediate danger when you get close to the fence. Be careful not to hurt yourself or get cut on any of the fence parts when you check for extra damage. Once you’ve taken a look at your fence, confirmed there is nothing of danger to you and seen the extent of the damage, we can move on to the next step.
Think: Who Owns the Fence?
Now that we have seen the damages, it’s time to think. Who owns this fence? If the fence is dividing you and your neighbor’s yard, do you own it? Does your neighbor own it? If your neighbor owns the fence but it fell on your property, you may want to let them know so they can contact their insurance company.
However, if it’s you who owns the fence, this is your responsibility. You’re going to need to find out your company’s insurance policy and contact them immediately. If the fence turns out to actually be your neighbor’s responsibility, kindly discuss with them their plans to fix and replace the fence using their insurance.
Check Your Insurance
Once you’ve surveyed the damage and determined that the fence is your responsibility, it’s time to contact your insurance company. Think: is this fence included in your insurance? Will it be covered as part of the house or covered otherwise?
These are some of the questions you’re going to want to prepare when you contact your insurance provider. If your fence is eligible for replacement, they will let you know and you can get it fixed as part of your insurance.
If you have homeowner’s insurance, this should be covered. Know your rights when it comes to your home, fences are almost always covered by your insurance. Although, some people may have no insurance or it isn’t covered. This is rare, but in this case, move on to the next step regardless.
Find Someone to Fix it
Now that we know the details of your insurance, it’s time to contact someone who can fix it. When looking for a company to repair or replace your fence, you’re going to want to look at reviews. Make sure that the person you are assigning this job to is reliable and has a good reputation.
One thing to keep in mind is that if your fence fell it didn’t sustain that much damage; you might be able to fix it yourself. Not everyone is capable of doing this, but not everyone is capable of paying without insurance as well. This is important to keep in mind.
If you feel capable of repairing the fence yourself, go right ahead. However, most people will gravitate toward hiring someone for the job. Once you’ve taken the time to research and choose the proper repairman, call them up!
DIY vs Paying for Repairs
As mentioned earlier, you could DIY the fence completely on your own. However, you might need to purchase tools and materials for the repair depending on what your fence needs. It is possible to DIY your fence repair, so if you think you’re capable, give it a try!
Depending on the damage sustained by the fence, this can be a really quick fix. Just make sure that if you’re committing to repairing the fence on your own and it doesn’t work out, most likely you have insurance to cover it.
When it comes to the more popular option, hiring someone to repair your fence can be a bit pricy depending on the damages, so it’s great if you have the proper insurance to cover it.
Is a Blown-Down Fence Covered by Insurance?
Yes, homeowner’s insurance typically covers fence repairs and replacements. If your fence was damaged by the weather or other unforeseen circumstances, contact your insurance company immediately. Your homeowner’s insurance should cover the entire replacement and repair process.
This is why it’s so incredibly important to have insurance. If your fence gets blown down and you don’t have homeowner’s insurance, it could cost hundreds of dollars to fix. This is something to keep in mind when it comes to your fence.
In Summary
When your fence gets destroyed by the unpredictability of the weather, it can be a scary thing. You don’t know how you’re going to pay for it or who to call. Hopefully, after this article, things have cleared up.
You should know your rights as a homeowner, one of them being entitlement to fence repairs and replacements as part of your homeowner’s insurance. This is an important bit of information to take away from this article. Always remember your rights as a homeowner.
When looking for someone to replace your fence, it’s important to be informed and well-researched. Don’t cut corners when it comes to your fence. Insurance makes it easier to replace your fence. So, next time your fence takes damage from the weather, don’t be too worried.
