Advice Sought

[Nevada J Hill]

I live in a quaint Virginia lakeside town of just 1,000
have a nice property in town limits
would like to find somebody with a small van camper or travel trailer
who might want to live here awhile
something 24 feet or under
could probably be next to my back garage unmolested
looking for somebody quiet, respectable, low alcohol, would ask a token rent for some additional person to help keep an eye on things
have electric
would consider house access for regular showers
have huge patio and fenced backyard
southside Virginia
me and girlfriend here at most
can walk to grocery store, dollar general market, library (close) and even downtown (little farther 1.3 miles)

are there any solo or tiny vintage trailer forums?? Looking for forums probably and not groups since I have no RV

any advice on how to ATTRACT such a person appreciated
could be male or female
no kids
pet considered
thanks

 

[buckwilk]

Wow, somebodys prayers just got answered !

 

[Patrick46]

this is a great place to post this!

 

[jimindenver]

If I may


The token rent can get you in to a quagmire and you may have a hard time getting them out of there if things go south.

 

[Nevada J Hill]

If I may


The token rent can get you in to a quagmire and you may have a hard time getting them out of there if things go south.

hey jim-
you may well be right
could i ask Your advice on how to go about this then
what i might do differently??
any suggestions??
thanks

 

[rvpopeye]

Thanks for posting this here , sure someone will need/want to take you up on that deal
!!

 

[jimindenver]

Literally I would suggest you speak to someone in the know in your area. There are a lot of things to consider such as if they got hurt or damaged your property. It isn't the dollar amount they pay you or you pay them, it is what could go wrong. I would suggest checking to see if it is even legal for them to live there and if your insurance covers you from different angles.

 

[TMG51]

I'd just do it with cash and a handshake. If someone abuses the property, you call the police and say someone is squatting without permission. But you won't have to do that because there are people in the world left who appreciate being able to do business on their word without signing paperwork.

As a property owner renting, you get stuck when a bad tenant has a lease and you need to go through an eviction process.

 

[Belinda2]

Nevada,
I tried the same thing last spring without success here in Maryland. I ran an add on craigslist with zero results. I saw this guy at my local library, started a conversation, and invited him. Turns out he didn't want to pay a dollar or two, even though he had a job. He was full of empty promises. Still, I enjoyed his company. I told him about this website and he checked it out. However, about 2.5 weeks into him staying for free without electric he started getting "too casual". He would go to the bathroom behind my trees. I was afraid a neighbor would complain. I was trying to sell the place. Most potential buyers would make an appointment. Rarely, someone would just stop by. The economy was tight, and even though I wished them not to just drop by, I never turned down a potential customer. He was aware of this. Well, a person stopped by and he was living like " a pig", as usual. I quickly told him to close his van door because the potential buyer was coming up the long driveway. He refused. I lost the potential buyer. I let him spend the night. I explained the situation, just incase he didn't understand. He could have cared less about my potential business deal. So, I asked him not to come back.

 

[Nevada J Hill]

Literally I would suggest you speak to someone in the know in your area. There are a lot of things to consider such as if they got hurt or damaged your property. It isn't the dollar amount they pay you or you pay them, it is what could go wrong. I would suggest checking to see if it is even legal for them to live there and if your insurance covers you from different angles.

damn you jim, you go and inject reality into the fairytale
of course you are right
i'm sure my insurance would say up yours if there was any kind of claim
the person could turn out to be a slip and fall artist
and sue me
TMG also is right
leases and official renting can cause legal nightmares too
its a dilemma
i may blow this thread up and go back to hiding under the bed
durn
food for thought

 

[Nevada J Hill]

Nevada,
    I tried the same thing last spring without success here in Maryland. I ran an add on craigslist with zero results. I saw this guy at my local library, started a conversation, and invited him. Turns out he didn't want to pay a dollar or two, even though he had a job. He was full of empty promises. Still, I enjoyed his company. I told him about this website and he checked it out. However, about 2.5 weeks into him staying for free without electric he started getting "too casual". He would go to the bathroom behind my trees. I was afraid a neighbor would complain. I was trying to sell the place. Most potential buyers would make an appointment. Rarely, someone would just stop by. The economy was tight, and even though I wished them not to just drop by, I never turned down a potential customer. He was aware of this. Well, a person stopped by and he was living like " a pig", as usual. I quickly told him to close his van door because the potential buyer was coming up the long driveway. He refused. I lost the potential buyer. I let him spend the night. I explained the situation, just incase he didn't understand. He could have cared less about my potential business deal. So, I asked him not to come back.

Belinda
i missed your post
seems the world is just getting unglued
many people are nuts
i'd probably get your guy
did you sell the house and hit the road??

 

[rvpopeye]

I think if you only post here that the odds are a much more favorable outcome.

 

[buckwilk]

I doubt your insurance would react the way you think. These kind of arrangements are done all the time all over this country and the world. Sensationalized movies aside, rarely do these fears become realized. For every negative people will bring up you can find a reasonable answer for, if willing. What you want to do is a win win in so many ways. You may end up with a lifelong friend, a person you become a giant influence on. Looking on the downside of every issue, distrusting everyone, expecting failure is a sad way to live and can consume you. Read your first post NJH, go back to that idea and allow it to work. The advice you have been given could be applied to every idea you will ever have. Take commonsense precautions, but never, never let the naysayers discourage you. Do not go back to hiding under the bed, the boogeyman may be there.

 

[Ella1]

read the Home again . . . home again thread. THere's a bit of info there that may help you. Some states are tenant friendly. It will help you to know that, too, along with the other information. Do google "tenant from H3ll" and read there, too. Commonsense precautions include doing background checks, including previous landlords, going back to more than just the last one. You really do not want to have a squatter.

 

[cyndi]

Boondockers welcome has a forum with advice and experiences. That may give you some food for thought.
https://www.boondockerswelcome.com/
Although, membership costs, reading some of the forum may help you understand the legalities, etc.

and Camp in My Garden costs nothing, and fees can be charged.
http://campinmygarden.com/about

 

[speedhighway46]

For vintage trailer information and forums, check out the best . . .

Google: Tin Can Tourists

Been involved with this group for three years and have totally enjoyed it. They are almost as friendly as this site. Centered in vintage trailer use and restoration. Many get togethers all over the country. Great place to meet people and amke friends.

 

[Ella1]

It occurred to me that one way MAYBE to avoid immovable squatters might to be to hire a caretaker. Do those things you would do to hire someone, check your state law regarding removing/firing/evicting a live-in hired help.
How to do it, and timelines. Find out if you should let them get mail at your address.
Do all the background checks: you are trusting your major asset worth how many thousands of greenbacks to them, as well as your belongings.
Have them sign an employment contract with all duties listed as well as length of time of employment. Don't forget to include WHO belongs in that space: just the employee, who may have an overnight guest no more than 2x a week maybe... Keep it short, the shortest you possibly can--two weeks, maybe. If it works, extend it another two weeks. If it needs adjusted, do it then, or let them go. OUT and away. If it doesn't work, let them go, out and gone.

There are other considerations--taxes, maybe increased insurance, do you need some kind of license to do this, etc. His pay could be the space plus a few $. Do be careful.
And just because someone is paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get him...

 

[USExplorer]

I'm currently staying at a place I found through craigslist, after posting a request for cheap housing. I pay cash bimonthly or weekly for an off-grid cabin, no deposit. The landowners made the decision to rent to me on the basis of a single email exchange and short phone conversation. This is my second winter there, although I'll only be staying 2-3 weeks this time around.

If you are a bad character judge, I would advise you to avoid opening your property to strangers. Being taken advantage of will make you embittered and suspicious. I've run into a few miserable specimens of paranoia; there is nothing you can do to get them to trust you.

A post on craigslist will likely attract numerous creeps. If you are up for an adventure, go ahead and post. Meet in a public location first, bring your .45, determine if they are serious and trustworthy.

If someone does not respect your property or ignores a simple request you have every right to make, don't feel any qualms about sending them on their way. Avoid using such platitudes as "I don't mean to offend you, but..." or "I'm sorry it has come to this, but..." or "This is the last time I'm warning you." Simply state your demand formally in a neutral tone. Don't be a pushover or fall for the sob story or get into an argument.

Not too hard to figure out the town you live in. It advertises itself as the only lakeside town in Virginia. Nice quiet place. I spent an evening there on my roadtrip from NH to NC last week.

 

[SoulRaven]

IMHO it's not a real geographically desirable location,

It's too cold in the winter and too hot and humid in the summer.

I actually stop for just an overnight at camp Walmart in Emporium VA it's too busy anywhere near Richmond.

 

[Nevada J Hill]

IMHO it's not a real geographically desirable location,

It's too cold in the winter and too hot and humid in the summer.

I actually stop for just an overnight at camp Walmart in Emporium VA it's too busy anywhere near Richmond.

Mr Loo-
Not sure you realize where I am...no where near Emporia Va or Richmond Va...2 hours south of Richmond on the Va/Nc border...and yes, it's not Quartzite but winters are fairly mild here and summers can get pretty hot for a few weeks...where IS desirable...if we're talking about us FEW on the east coast!!! I love the Blue Ridge Mountains but it can get pretty severe weatherwise there in winter...directly north of Raleigh which also s well over an hour south of me...so my town is pretty nice and the huge lake is a big draw.

Ella...thx for input

I have talked to several Rvers fed up with campground fees of $300-$400 a month.  Granted that does include electric and all hook ups but I got one nice lady in a 28 foot travel trailer heading to my friend sandra's farm in SouthCentral Virginia and expecting to lend a hand in this STILL developing intentional community and help sandra out with maybe $85 a month...tho forwarned mostly boondocking, but limited electric available and water...they are figuring out sewer situation but many boondockers I see use composting toilets anyway...which I was pretty shocked at how well they work and no smell.  So maybe, its all good.