In focus
When it comes to the best steel fencing products available, Waratah® is in a paddock of its own.
News
Fixing fences can increase a property's sale price
28 May,2009
There are numerous articles suggesting strong buying opportunities in rural property at the moment, but small things like quality fencing can give you an advantage if you’re looking to sell.
That’s the advice being given by someone with more than 20 years’ experience in the industry - Peter Honnef, a senior property valuer with Herron Todd White.
“The market has reached a plateau, possibly due to drought and the global financial crisis, and prospective buyers are taking more time to consider their options. That makes it more important than ever to make a good first impression.
“Straight, well-tensioned fences and properly working gates are vital, especially around entry points, so it’s worth doing maintenance before you put the property on the market,” Mr Honnef said.
Waratah National Sales and Marketing Manager Brett Howlett agrees that quality fencing and a good farm plan are a strong value proposition to prospective buyers.
“With average stock fencing valued at between $4,000 and $5,000 per kilometre – not including gates, stays and corners – buyers are reasonably aware of the costs associated with repairing or replacing fencing on a new property.
“Fencing is essential, as free ranging livestock can overgraze paddocks and substantially lower the carrying capacity of the property, not to mention the extra effort required to manage and handle the animals or loss of income through poor segregation.
“Many property buyers are looking for low or minimal start up costs, so they’ll be looking at the time, effort and money needed to bring infrastructure like fences up to scratch,” Mr Howlett says.
Mr Honnef has five key suggestions for prospective vendors, to help them maximise the property value:
• Make sure entry points are well presented, as first impressions count. This includes up to 100 metres of fencing either side of major gateways.
• Check ‘pressure points’ around gates, corners and water. These areas always attract the attention of the buyer and need to be in good condition for running livestock.
• Renovate where possible. There’s no need to replace entire fences when all they need is re-straining.
• If you do need to replace your fences, consider the advances in technology, products and design that have occurred in recent years. Chances are things have changed since they were first installed, given quality fences can last 30 or 40 years.
• Good fences make good neighbours. Boundary fences need to be strong enough to contain your stock, and your neighbour’s.
The quality of fencing material can make a significant difference to maintenance and repair costs, and technology has extended the life of new fences.
Improvements in galvanizing technology mean that products like Waratah LongLife wire can now last up to three times longer than standard galvanized wire, so are long-term cost savers.
Galvanized steel fence posts have taken the place of the old tar posts, and the Waratah MaxY post is also taking the place of many in-line timber and concrete posts. Waratah produces a range of Australian-made galvanized posts built specifically to reduce installation time and effort, and to withstand a wide range of applications.
Steel strainer assemblies are also replacing the role once dominated by timber - they are much easier to install and give a neat & consistent look to fences.
Contact your local rural supplier to find out more about Waratah fencing products, call 13 10 80 or visit www.onesteelwaratah.com.au
That’s the advice being given by someone with more than 20 years’ experience in the industry - Peter Honnef, a senior property valuer with Herron Todd White.
“The market has reached a plateau, possibly due to drought and the global financial crisis, and prospective buyers are taking more time to consider their options. That makes it more important than ever to make a good first impression.
“Straight, well-tensioned fences and properly working gates are vital, especially around entry points, so it’s worth doing maintenance before you put the property on the market,” Mr Honnef said.
Waratah National Sales and Marketing Manager Brett Howlett agrees that quality fencing and a good farm plan are a strong value proposition to prospective buyers.
“With average stock fencing valued at between $4,000 and $5,000 per kilometre – not including gates, stays and corners – buyers are reasonably aware of the costs associated with repairing or replacing fencing on a new property.
“Fencing is essential, as free ranging livestock can overgraze paddocks and substantially lower the carrying capacity of the property, not to mention the extra effort required to manage and handle the animals or loss of income through poor segregation.
“Many property buyers are looking for low or minimal start up costs, so they’ll be looking at the time, effort and money needed to bring infrastructure like fences up to scratch,” Mr Howlett says.
Mr Honnef has five key suggestions for prospective vendors, to help them maximise the property value:
• Make sure entry points are well presented, as first impressions count. This includes up to 100 metres of fencing either side of major gateways.
• Check ‘pressure points’ around gates, corners and water. These areas always attract the attention of the buyer and need to be in good condition for running livestock.
• Renovate where possible. There’s no need to replace entire fences when all they need is re-straining.
• If you do need to replace your fences, consider the advances in technology, products and design that have occurred in recent years. Chances are things have changed since they were first installed, given quality fences can last 30 or 40 years.
• Good fences make good neighbours. Boundary fences need to be strong enough to contain your stock, and your neighbour’s.
The quality of fencing material can make a significant difference to maintenance and repair costs, and technology has extended the life of new fences.
Improvements in galvanizing technology mean that products like Waratah LongLife wire can now last up to three times longer than standard galvanized wire, so are long-term cost savers.
Galvanized steel fence posts have taken the place of the old tar posts, and the Waratah MaxY post is also taking the place of many in-line timber and concrete posts. Waratah produces a range of Australian-made galvanized posts built specifically to reduce installation time and effort, and to withstand a wide range of applications.
Steel strainer assemblies are also replacing the role once dominated by timber - they are much easier to install and give a neat & consistent look to fences.
Contact your local rural supplier to find out more about Waratah fencing products, call 13 10 80 or visit www.onesteelwaratah.com.au