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Aqua
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# Posted: 12 Apr 2012 05:03pm
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I want to build, and I'm brainstorming ways to get cheap labor/materials or trade for labor/materials. I wonder about letting someone build an off-grid cabin on my land. In exchange they would give me some hours of labor. I would need to be allowed to end the agreement after 1 year or a few years, or if the county found out and was being an a$$ about it. This would be for someone who doesn't mind it being short to medium term, maybe they want to travel or try out the area, or who can't afford their own land yet, but could afford enough cabin materials to get started. And they could leave the cabin intact, or take what they wanted to use elsewhere. I might even provide some of the materials. Would this be a bad idea for me? Does anyone have similar ideas?
I want to start making money from the land, or getting labor or materials in trade. I don't have the time to grow on it myself, and I would have a commute to the land. I would like to find someone to raise low maintenance animals on it or hunt on it, and give me some meat/eggs, but I don't have enough fencing for keeping most animals. Leasing it for short-term camping seems possible but doubtful I could get many takers and seems like plenty of effort each time it's leased. What are some other ideas?
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 12 Apr 2012 09:47pm
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If its good hunting, I'd bet you can lease out a spot for a cabin to hunters. Have them build the cabin. As long as they renewed it, they get first crack the following year. You co uld have several lease, oen for early bow deer, general buck season, modern firearm, maybe turkey, elk season....
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Aqua
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# Posted: 22 Apr 2012 11:26pm
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It's small so all I could get for letting someone hunt is a share of meat, or a little labor.
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turkeyhunter
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2012 07:19am
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how small is small on acreage??? and what state???
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zouri livin
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# Posted: 12 Jan 2014 01:55pm
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I have similar situation to the one above but have about 500 acres of land to work with only about 150 acres of woods. rolling hills clay, silt and rocky solis. lots of shrubs.
I have thought long and hard about how to get some work for trade. it seems like a land lease is the way to go. i had big response to an ad i put up, although non of them ended up working out. but i feel that IF you found the right person it might work.
But id love to read some your idea on this web page.
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zouri livin
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# Posted: 12 Jan 2014 01:57pm
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does anyone know where to get a rock solid lease for this type of trade? cabin for land use, or cabin for hunting?
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zouri livin
Member
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# Posted: 12 Jan 2014 01:59pm
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If you are within 30min of a major city 100,000ish you may be able to let someone start an organic veggie farm or some high value type of produce etc..
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neb
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# Posted: 12 Jan 2014 04:45pm
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I was in the road side produce business for a while and you can do a nice business with some hard work. It was a very good venture and I did well. Good luck in your passion.
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Nirky
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# Posted: 12 Jan 2014 06:05pm
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I can imagine a bunch of legal issues which could arise in this situation. If I was going to proceed, I'd first spend an hour or two asking questions with a real estate attorney.
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lawnjocky
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# Posted: 12 Jan 2014 08:16pm
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Real Estate law is state specific so you need a lease agreement drafted for your jurisdiction.
If you do go with a lease in exchange for labor, agree on a value for an hour's labor and keep track. You should have weekly reporting so you don't get blindsided. Establish how materials are to be purchased and have a maximum that the worker can purchase in one purchase and for the reporting period.
Set a value for each months rent. The rent will be deducted from the outstanding labor balance if any, and payable monthly in cash if there is no outstanding labor balance.
Reserve the right to terminate the agreement at any time for cause or no cause upon 30 days written notice. In the event of termination by either party or a government agency any outstanding labor balance shall be paid by the owner of in monthly payments not in excess of the monthly rental amount.
You should have an indemnification and hold harmless agreement for any injuries to the person, personal property or financial in nature to the tenant, his guests or any other persons he allows on the property.
There should be a provision for attorneys' fees for the prevailing party in any dispute arising from or related to the agreement or Tenant's use or occupancy of the property.
The agreement needs to include details on waste disposal, sanitation, etc.
That should get you going in the right direction.
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bldginsp
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# Posted: 12 Jan 2014 08:36pm - Edited by: bldginsp
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I agree with lawnjockey that specifying the terms of the agreement at the outset is a good idea to avoid misunderstandings later.
But just in the most general sense, it seems to me that if anyone did invest time, energy, and money in a small off-grid cabin on your land, they would not want to abandon it after a year or two. Removing it is perhaps an option, but a lot of work and it leaves them at square one with finding a new place for their cabin.
As well, if you did have an agreement for labor for rent, and later they didn't want to do it or couldn't be there at the right time, it could easily fall apart with bad feelings on both sides.
I'd consider a standard long term lease for X amount of the property, and then use the money from that to hire people to do your building. A long term would be more attractive to the renter, and the money will accumulate for you over time. Then, if it works out, you could occasionally exchange work for rent if the renter is willing and available.
Good fences make good neighbors. That's why we have carefully worked out land lease arrangements, for cash monthly. It keeps the relationship simple, clear, and legally revokable.
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TheCabinCalls
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# Posted: 14 Jan 2014 12:32pm - Edited by: TheCabinCalls
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It feels like you are about to jump into the deep end here. Be careful. I have a motto - stick to what you know. Or you run the risk of getting burned...could be money...could be worse.
If you really want to trade something for labor and/or materials you need to:
1. make sure you have your build plan ready to go. you need to be ready to take advantage if someone agrees to help you.
2. use a skill, trade or something you have to offer.
3. the deal has to be fair and clear for both parties. using your land for hunting might be worth $1000 or more for the season if you can prove it has decent activity. So in that case you'd get $1000 worth of labor or materials. If you are leasing land for dwelling that may or may not be allowed to stay - is really risky for the other party.
Bartering isn't getting something for free...it is offering something of value for something of near equal value.
The best way to get cheap materials is to use your time to shop for deals...leftovers, closeouts, mismeasures, going out of business, etc.
The cheapest labor is you, family and friends. May not be the best, but it is the cheapest. That said, you are more likely going to find someone willing to trade labor for what you have to offer rather than material.
Good luck! Anything is possible...just be careful.
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