It started with a soccer ball.
One perfectly sunny Saturday in early spring, our neighbor’s kid booted his new soccer ball straight into our garden—again. My husband smiled politely, handed it back, and we both silently counted the number of times this had happened since we moved into our West Hartford, Connecticut home. Thirteen. That was thirteen times we’d had to pause a peaceful afternoon, a Zoom call, or a cup of coffee to navigate the invisible boundary between our yard and theirs.
And it wasn’t just the soccer ball. It was the barking dog that didn’t understand where one yard ended and the other began. It was the constant foot traffic when our neighbor’s friends would “cut through” to save a few steps. It was the way our toddler stopped running free because we were too worried about her wandering too far.
We didn’t want a war with the neighbors. We wanted peace. We wanted privacy. We needed a solution—and fast. That’s when we started looking into our options and stumbled upon a local gem: Cox Fence, a reputable fence company in West Hartford.
The Problem We Didn’t Know We Had
At first, it didn’t feel like a big enough problem to hire someone. A fence? Sure, it sounded nice in theory, but wasn’t it a bit of a luxury? After all, we weren’t trying to build a fortress—we just wanted a little space.
But the more we thought about it, the more it made sense. Fencing isn’t just about keeping things out. It’s about protecting what’s in. Our time. Our energy. Our daughter’s freedom to roam. And, frankly, our sanity.
That shift in mindset is what finally led us to make the call.
Choosing the Right Fence Company in West Hartford
We started by doing what most people do: a late-night Google search. We looked up “Fence Company West Hartford” and sorted through the usual suspects. Some felt too corporate. Others didn’t even have reviews. But Cox Fence stood out.
Their site felt approachable, not pushy. The reviews mentioned things we actually cared about: respectfulness, clean job sites, good communication, and timely work. We gave them a call expecting the usual runaround, but what we got instead was a real person who asked real questions—and actually listened.
Within a few days, someone from their team came out to our property. They walked the yard with us, talked through different materials and layouts, and helped us consider things we’d never even thought of—like how the slope of the lawn might affect the installation, or how to keep things compliant with the local code without sacrificing style.
They didn’t push us into a particular style or upsell us into some overpriced modern masterpiece. Instead, they helped us find a practical, affordable option that still looked great.
Installation Day: Better Than We Expected
If you’ve ever had a big project done at your house, you know it usually comes with some level of chaos. Trucks in the driveway, noise, delays… that sort of thing.
But the Cox Fence crew was the opposite of that.
They arrived on time (a miracle in itself), worked efficiently, and left our yard tidier than it was when they started. The entire job took two days. During that time, they were respectful, professional, and surprisingly quiet. Our daughter even made them lemonade on day two because she said they were “being nice to the grass.”
When they finished, we stepped outside to a yard that felt brand new.
It wasn’t just the wood panels and clean lines. It was the feeling of having a defined space. A place that belonged to us. For the first time since we moved in, we let our daughter run without hovering. We ate dinner outside without looking over our shoulders. We felt… calm.
The Unexpected Benefits
We thought we were just buying a fence. What we got was so much more.
Since installing it, our backyard has become our favorite place to unwind. We added string lights, a small herb garden, and even a hammock. The dog next door still barks occasionally, but now it feels like he’s on his side of the world—and we’re on ours.
We’re no longer avoiding awkward neighbor encounters. Instead, we’ve set a clear, respectful boundary—literally—and our relationship with them has actually improved.
And here’s the kicker: we’ve already noticed a slight bump in our property value, according to a realtor friend who visited last month.
Final Thoughts
If you’re on the fence—no pun intended—about whether adding a physical boundary is worth it, take it from us: it absolutely is!
You don’t need to build a palace wall to feel at peace. Sometimes, it’s the simple things—like a well-crafted fence—that give you the freedom to enjoy your home again.
And if you’re lucky enough to live in West Hartford like we are, we can’t recommend Cox Fence enough. They were the perfect partner in this process: local, professional, and deeply human in the way they treated our little project like it really mattered.
Curious if a fence might change the way you feel about your yard? Start by learning more about what Cox Fence offers. A little boundary might just open up a whole new world.
