Retaining Wall/Fence

[ClemsonCatfish]

This is a bit hard to explain, but hopefully it makes sense. I am working on an FHA appraisal. The subject is built on a slight sloping grade in a residential section of a medium sized town. The edge of the back yard has a 5-6' high retaining wall that separates the neighbor's yard from the subject yard. So, from the subject yard, there is about a 5-6' drop down to the neighbor's yard. There is a wooden fence that is owned by the neighbors and is anchored in the neighbor's yard, that is built up against the retaining wall. The fence is elevated on 4x4's, so if you can picture it from the neighbor's yard, there is a retaining wall, and the fence portion begins at the top of the retaining wall and is approximately 5-6' high. From the subject side, it looks like a fence that is 5-6' high. I didn't measure them, as they belong to the neighbor's, but the 4x4'x must stick out of the ground about 10-12'. There is a slight gap of about 6-10" in some areas between the retaining wall and the fence. I may be over thinking this, but would the subject property also need a fence to prevent anyone/anything from falling off the retaining wall and down the gap between the retaining wall and the fence? I wouldn't fit, but a child or dog might. Appreciate any advice on this.

 

[glenn walker]

This is a bit hard to explain, but hopefully it makes sense. I am working on an FHA appraisal. The subject is built on a slight sloping grade in a residential section of a medium sized town. The edge of the back yard has a 5-6' high retaining wall that separates the neighbor's yard from the subject yard. So, from the subject yard, there is about a 5-6' drop down to the neighbor's yard. There is a wooden fence that is owned by the neighbors and is anchored in the neighbor's yard, that is built up against the retaining wall. The fence is elevated on 4x4's, so if you can picture it from the neighbor's yard, there is a retaining wall, and the fence portion begins at the top of the retaining wall and is approximately 5-6' high. From the subject side, it looks like a fence that is 5-6' high. I didn't measure them, as they belong to the neighbor's, but the 4x4'x must stick out of the ground about 10-12'. There is a slight gap of about 6-10" in some areas between the retaining wall and the fence. I may be over thinking this, but would the subject property also need a fence to prevent anyone/anything from falling off the retaining wall and down the gap between the retaining wall and the fence? I wouldn't fit, but a child or dog might. Appreciate any advice on this.

Move on and be done. All hypothetical and not provable.. lol

 

[glenn walker]

We create 90% of our own problems and once you go down hypothetical what if Rabbit's Trails the world of appraisers hell begins.

We used to tell our guy's prove it cite it or shut up. We had an appraiser on a FHA report that reported paint on the neighbors 1950 home may be lead based and in a wind storm paint chips could maybe blow into the Subject Property's yard. I'm like so WTF you want us to condition the neighbor house ? The guy says yeah his property is a Health and Safety issue to the neighborhood. You just can't make this **** up. We placed him on our secret never use again list as he was the Health and Safety danger in the community. Lol

 

[sputnam]

This is a bit hard to explain, but hopefully it makes sense. I am working on an FHA appraisal. The subject is built on a slight sloping grade in a residential section of a medium sized town. The edge of the back yard has a 5-6' high retaining wall that separates the neighbor's yard from the subject yard. So, from the subject yard, there is about a 5-6' drop down to the neighbor's yard. There is a wooden fence that is owned by the neighbors and is anchored in the neighbor's yard, that is built up against the retaining wall. The fence is elevated on 4x4's, so if you can picture it from the neighbor's yard, there is a retaining wall, and the fence portion begins at the top of the retaining wall and is approximately 5-6' high. From the subject side, it looks like a fence that is 5-6' high. I didn't measure them, as they belong to the neighbor's, but the 4x4'x must stick out of the ground about 10-12'. There is a slight gap of about 6-10" in some areas between the retaining wall and the fence. I may be over thinking this, but would the subject property also need a fence to prevent anyone/anything from falling off the retaining wall and down the gap between the retaining wall and the fence? I wouldn't fit, but a child or dog might. Appreciate any advice on this.

Yep.... Overthinking it.

 

[J Grant]

If is not specified in FHA, then no. Describe the elevation fence etc and recommend it is appropriate if you feel it is relevant.

We are not the safety police, there to prevent every possible future incident.

 

[Mark K]

Not sure from your post but is the fence and retaining wall on the neighbor's property?

If so, not your problem. Your report is for the subject property and any deficiencies regarding it. There is nothing that the current owner or potential buyer can do about the neighbor's property.

 

[Tom D]

The 'danger' is to the neighbor. Someone on their property rolling over the retaining wall into your yard. Now what safety hazard does your property owner have, that person coming under the fence landing on your dog.

Interesting concern, but for the wrong owner

 

[J Grant]

lol possums or raccoons going under the gap in the fence? Put up a sign - wildlife crossing.