A well-prepared property makes for a faster installation, a cleaner yard afterward, and a better-looking final fence. Here's the exact checklist we send homeowners before their install day.
One week before installation
- Confirm your property lines. If you don't have a recent survey, mark them clearly with stakes and string. Building a fence over the line is one of the most expensive mistakes a homeowner can make.
- Notify your neighbors. Not required, but strongly recommended — especially if we'll be working near a shared property line.
- Check for HOA rules. Many Michigan subdivisions have covenants on fence height, color, and style. Get any required HOA approval in writing.
Two to three days before
- MISS DIG 811 will arrive to mark public utilities. Do not remove the paint or flags.
- Mark private utilities yourself. Sprinkler lines, invisible dog fences, low-voltage landscape lighting, and gas lines to detached grills are not covered by MISS DIG. If we don't know they're there, we can't avoid them.
- Trim vegetation along the planned fence line — at least 2 feet of clearance makes installation much faster.
The day before
- Move patio furniture, planters, garden decorations, and grills at least 6 feet from the fence line.
- Pick up any pet waste in the work area (your installers will thank you).
- Confirm gate locations one more time — this is the most common last-minute change request.
Installation day
- Keep pets indoors or on leash. Even friendly dogs can bolt when a gate is off its hinges.
- Plan for one member of the household to be available for the initial walkthrough and any decisions.
- Leave a spigot accessible — we may need water for mixing concrete.
- If parking is tight on your street, consider moving cars out of the driveway so our crew can stage materials close to the work.
After installation
- Give concrete footings 24–48 hours to fully cure before hanging anything heavy from the fence.
- Water any disturbed grass to help it recover.
- Take a walk around your new fence and note anything you want us to look at — we'd rather come back once for a small tweak than have you live with something that bothers you.
That's the whole list. We handle the heavy lifting; a little prep on your end keeps everything running smoothly. If you're getting ready for an install — or still shopping around — we're always here for a free estimate.
