Citydude
Elite Member
I am going out on a limb and saying this is the best thread I've ever read. I believe we are stewards of the land God entrusted to us. This thread is evidence to that fact. Thank you Gentlemen and have a great Thanksgiving!
How do YOU feel about downsizing and moving away from your country estate?
- Thread starter Retiredguy2
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MossRoad
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I know what is meant by sweat equity and sentimentality... and what it'll bring you come time to sell.
My father and a business partner bought a 20 acre parcel, subdivided it into about 16 lots. He kept the nicest lot overlooking a lake on a high escarpment and designed and built his own home with the help of one cousin (he hired a brick mason for the fireplace) but otherwise built every square foot with his own two hands. The house was a sprawling ranch about 2600 sq ft in the shape of a Y. There were seventeen 4'x8' sections of floor-to-ceiling glass in the living areas and master bedroom. Probably a dozen more half panels in other places. The entire house was redwood, douglas fir and glass. It was very heavily influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright's prairie style. High ceilings and open. It really felt like you were living outdoors. Anyhow, my older siblings all got to work on it with him as young children, they saw the work he put into it and the property and the natural landscaping and artistic touches my mom put into it. Everyone that ever visited that home was highly impressed. My folks had lots of friends and family, and my father entertained business relations. To this day, anytime I meet someone from back then, they ask about the house. It was really something special.
As my siblings grew and moved away and I got older, I spent many, many hours helping my father with his ongoing architectural experiment. I knew every nook, cranny and idiosyncrasy of that structure as we went through it, changing, upgrading, repairing, etc... over the years. When you start looking at it from a strictly sticks and nails kind of perspective, its really a matter of how much are the sticks and nails worth? How well is it put together? And, unfortunately, the driving factor is what are the market values of the surrounding homes and similar homes in the area? It may be worth more than any price in your head, but market value prevails and you end up getting market value, not sentimental value.
And the rub is, you sometimes can't even get replacement cost. For example, when he built the house in the late 50's he got all the glass in the house for $1500.00! In the early 90's he shot a rock out of a snow blower into one of the seventeen big windows and it was $1500.00 for one window! :confused2: He bought an entire train-car load of fir and redwood directly from a lumber mill in the Pacific northwest. I'd hate to think of the cost of that today. Replacement cost insurance on the house was well over $250,000 in the early 90's yet market value was only slightly over $100,000. I don't think he had over $20,000 in the house when he built it in the late 50's. But even if he'd have been physically able to do the labor himself again, the materials would have cost more than the market value in the 90's.
Anyhow, you can't put a price on your own sweat equity. It means the world to you and your family, but nothing to a buyer.
My father and a business partner bought a 20 acre parcel, subdivided it into about 16 lots. He kept the nicest lot overlooking a lake on a high escarpment and designed and built his own home with the help of one cousin (he hired a brick mason for the fireplace) but otherwise built every square foot with his own two hands. The house was a sprawling ranch about 2600 sq ft in the shape of a Y. There were seventeen 4'x8' sections of floor-to-ceiling glass in the living areas and master bedroom. Probably a dozen more half panels in other places. The entire house was redwood, douglas fir and glass. It was very heavily influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright's prairie style. High ceilings and open. It really felt like you were living outdoors. Anyhow, my older siblings all got to work on it with him as young children, they saw the work he put into it and the property and the natural landscaping and artistic touches my mom put into it. Everyone that ever visited that home was highly impressed. My folks had lots of friends and family, and my father entertained business relations. To this day, anytime I meet someone from back then, they ask about the house. It was really something special.
As my siblings grew and moved away and I got older, I spent many, many hours helping my father with his ongoing architectural experiment. I knew every nook, cranny and idiosyncrasy of that structure as we went through it, changing, upgrading, repairing, etc... over the years. When you start looking at it from a strictly sticks and nails kind of perspective, its really a matter of how much are the sticks and nails worth? How well is it put together? And, unfortunately, the driving factor is what are the market values of the surrounding homes and similar homes in the area? It may be worth more than any price in your head, but market value prevails and you end up getting market value, not sentimental value.
And the rub is, you sometimes can't even get replacement cost. For example, when he built the house in the late 50's he got all the glass in the house for $1500.00! In the early 90's he shot a rock out of a snow blower into one of the seventeen big windows and it was $1500.00 for one window! :confused2: He bought an entire train-car load of fir and redwood directly from a lumber mill in the Pacific northwest. I'd hate to think of the cost of that today. Replacement cost insurance on the house was well over $250,000 in the early 90's yet market value was only slightly over $100,000. I don't think he had over $20,000 in the house when he built it in the late 50's. But even if he'd have been physically able to do the labor himself again, the materials would have cost more than the market value in the 90's.
Anyhow, you can't put a price on your own sweat equity. It means the world to you and your family, but nothing to a buyer.
gwstang
Platinum Member
I would rather die on my acres than live in a "nursing home/apt". 'Nuff said! :confused2:
There is something to say about being able to step out on the back porch and shoot a deer! Have a larger green field planted about 50 yards from the front porch, could have shot a 6 point last year on it. Decided to let him grow another year or so.
My wife of 38 years and myself will be 60 in the next 5 months. She knows there is no way to get me to live in "civilization" anymore. My oldest son and his wife/kids live across the road on 4 acres we gave him so there is someone "close" by...dang outdoor lights! Like one fellow above said, I can see some light through the trees...it's getting too crowded here. lol
My mother is 88 and she chose to live out her days in an assisted living place. Very nice place too (read expensive here) but I only see it as a place to warehouse those that are living to die. She did not want to come and live with us as we have too many stairs for her to navigate. She didn't want to be a "burden" to me or my sisters. It bothers me that she is there but that's the way she wanted it since she could not drive anymore. In good health otherwise and likes where she is because there are other older folks there and they have a "blast". If she's happy, I'm happy. Me, I'll just wander off into the woods someday.........
There is something to say about being able to step out on the back porch and shoot a deer!
Have a larger green field planted about 50 yards from the front porch, could have shot a 6 point last year on it. Decided to let him grow another year or so. My wife of 38 years and myself will be 60 in the next 5 months. She knows there is no way to get me to live in "civilization" anymore. My oldest son and his wife/kids live across the road on 4 acres we gave him so there is someone "close" by...dang outdoor lights! Like one fellow above said, I can see some light through the trees...it's getting too crowded here. lol
My mother is 88 and she chose to live out her days in an assisted living place. Very nice place too (read expensive here) but I only see it as a place to warehouse those that are living to die. She did not want to come and live with us as we have too many stairs for her to navigate. She didn't want to be a "burden" to me or my sisters. It bothers me that she is there but that's the way she wanted it since she could not drive anymore. In good health otherwise and likes where she is because there are other older folks there and they have a "blast". If she's happy, I'm happy. Me, I'll just wander off into the woods someday.........
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I think I am younger than most and still thinking of the ideal place on land with a huge shop...
Being there for Mom after Dad passed away has influenced a lot of my planning... just the other day I was thinking what if the land and shop never become reality... might be too old or to costly... moving 50 vehicles to another State would be a project in and of itself plus dealing with the bureaucracy of titles and registrations...
No one in the family would really be interested and having them shoehorned for storage is not a good way to market them... so, I really not sure how it will all pan out but it is something I do find myself thinking about...
Being there for Mom after Dad passed away has influenced a lot of my planning... just the other day I was thinking what if the land and shop never become reality... might be too old or to costly... moving 50 vehicles to another State would be a project in and of itself plus dealing with the bureaucracy of titles and registrations...
No one in the family would really be interested and having them shoehorned for storage is not a good way to market them... so, I really not sure how it will all pan out but it is something I do find myself thinking about...
OP
Retiredguy2
Gold Member
Citydude...it is very kind of you to make such a comment on the thread as you did. So many responses given have stated that you guys want to stay on your estates...and well that is what I want to do here but it isn't practical. I can probably continue to stay here another 2-5 years before the dreaded move comes, and have already begun downsizing possessions by selling and donating what I cannot sell.
Citydude
Elite Member
I completely understand Retiredguy. The comment wasn't meant that you should stay, it was directed to those who work hard at maintaining their properties. You included. I'm sorry you have to leave something you obviously put your heart into.
I watched my grandfather go through the same thing after my grandmother passed. I helped him start his tractor that set idle for twenty years when he was leaving his property. It was the last thing he took with him. So as I already said, I understand and know what your going through. Be well and take care.
truckdiagnostics
Platinum Member
Another thought that might make things easier. Last there years i have had the local church youth group do my fall clean up. They spend the day, I supply lunch then write a check sending them to camp. its a win win. Several have been out more than one year, i see them and can see there work ethic. I have had one or two out for various projects. I have been utilizing the kids/young adults even though I could do the work myself, so as to keep a presences in the community helps them helps me, then if i get in a bind it is not a big deal. If money is tight it will however be an issue. i get where you are coming from. Three years ago if i would not have dug my heals in told the doctors to fix things, and realized i was going to need help i would have sold the place, you just get to a point where it is to hard and two hard to watch things decline. Some people seem to think being stubborn is a negative, i like to think of it as being persistent. I'm only in my 50's, but who says an old dog can't learn new tricks. I have started to make videos and write directions on where everything is and how to do things and it is a work in progress. I have a contact list, for who to call. AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO DO THE SAME! You never know when something is going to happen and when your down if people can keep things moving so that you don't have so much catch up once you do get better..... things become more manageable. For the most part people will help if you are down you just need to show them how, and you can't do it from a hospital bed!
David P
Silver Member
OP: Do you have any outbuilding space that could be rented out in exchange for the tenant doing some of your maintenance for you? You may be able to find someone local who would jump at that opportunity. Find out what similar spaces are being rented for locally and maybe you'll be able to get your buildings re-roofed, your lawn mowed and keep your parcel.
I agree with the earlier post about this being a wonderful thread. I love seeing the passion that you "experienced gentlemen" have put into your endeavors over the years. Having a dream for a piece of property and then making it happen must be an amazing experience; truly the American Dream. It must be equally disheartening when you get to the point where that dream must be sold. I'm more in the beginning stages of that process but I vividly recall the seller's daughter at the closing for our parcel crying during our meeting.
Her father was quite elderly and the family needed the money in order to provide care for him. She told stories of her youth associated with the property with a look on her face that nearly brought us all to tears. My wife, a wonderful woman, had made her a blueberry coffee cake with blueberries that were growing on the property. Following the closing, we offered to take her for a ride around the property on our gator. She agreed and we all had a nice time with her being able to jog distant memories by seeing parts of the property she hadn't seen in years. It was a very touching experience for each of us and we gave her an open invitation to visit anytime. I think it may have made the sale just a bit easier for her as we shared with her our passion for different dreams we have for the property ourselves. Our dream is different than her father's but our passion is similar.
I agree with the earlier post about this being a wonderful thread. I love seeing the passion that you "experienced gentlemen" have put into your endeavors over the years. Having a dream for a piece of property and then making it happen must be an amazing experience; truly the American Dream. It must be equally disheartening when you get to the point where that dream must be sold. I'm more in the beginning stages of that process but I vividly recall the seller's daughter at the closing for our parcel crying during our meeting.
Her father was quite elderly and the family needed the money in order to provide care for him. She told stories of her youth associated with the property with a look on her face that nearly brought us all to tears. My wife, a wonderful woman, had made her a blueberry coffee cake with blueberries that were growing on the property. Following the closing, we offered to take her for a ride around the property on our gator. She agreed and we all had a nice time with her being able to jog distant memories by seeing parts of the property she hadn't seen in years. It was a very touching experience for each of us and we gave her an open invitation to visit anytime. I think it may have made the sale just a bit easier for her as we shared with her our passion for different dreams we have for the property ourselves. Our dream is different than her father's but our passion is similar.
firemech
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You might think I'm crazy but if you're serious you might price the cost of moving your house and garage. Where I live in Ontario they just made our provincial highway from two lanes to a four lane thus many roadside homes and businesses were expropriated. Many of the locals bought up and moved the roadside homes and had building movers re-locate them. In more cases then not it went pretty smooth. All depends on the reputation of the building mover though
chad22
Veteran Member
My mom told me she wanted to be put in a nursing home when the time comes. She told me of the nursing home she wants to go too.
So I'll do as she wishes.
Me I'm with you. A nursing home isn't where I want to spend my last days.
I currently live in town. But may one day search out a rural secluded place.
I'd rather wander off in the woods and kill over out there somewhere.
And that's what I've told my siblings and my parents that someone or some animal will probably find my body out in the woods.
I don't really care if an animal eats my remains. It doesn't bother me to know that some animal might eat my body up.
But it does bother my siblings and parents that that's the way I want it.
I don't really want a funeral and don't plan to buy life insurance or a burial plot.
Nursing homes always depress me when I visit them.