"Free" building what to do

[fred d]

I was working at Lowes the other day and went to talk to a customer about recip saws.
She was about 60-65 years old, and wanted a battery operated saw to cut up tree branches when they fell off trees.
She told me her husband and son had passed away and she was on her own, no family locally.

She has about 3 acres with a metal building(50x50? Maybe larger) she wants removed. There are also 2 large enclosed trailers loaded with who knows what. They were parked on the the property by a friend who owned a carnival years ago. She thinks that they may have a merry-go-round in them but not sure. The friend has since passed away.

There is also a older Mobile home on the property. And a 78-79 1 ton box truck there as well

She wants to have everything removed. I was going to offer to remove the building, trailers and Mobile home and truck for a price(?)
This would be based on the fact that I would be entitled to everything in all of the trailers to keep or dispose of as I see fit. Plus all proceeds from scrap metal

Building- old style exterior galvenized corrugated metal. Walls are about 18-20 feet tall with a peek of 25ft. Steel trusses and support structure.
Not all metal panels are in good shape, but for the most part they are.

Enclosed trailers- 2 trailers about 28' long. All tires are flat and dry rotted.one of the trailers has a large bow in the side(looks like it must have been leaking and side is deteriorated. Unknown contents(possible snakes and other critters)

Box Truck-Chevy 1 ton dually chassis fairly rusted out, contents of box unknown.
Probably 20-24 ft Long. Tires all dry rotted

Mobile home- was lived in off and on over the last 10 years by owner of enclosed trailers. Has been sitting in same place for 30+ years.

Problems-
1. I work 2 full time jobs and do pressure washing on the side = No Time
2. If there are things of value, I don't really have room to store them. Until sale(could rent storage but cost would need to be offset by value)
3. I have 3/4 of an acre but don't have much room to store trailers. Would need to sell fairly quickly
4. Not sure if there are titles to anything.
5. Even with good tires, not sure if trailers would be moveable because of how long they have been sitting.
6. I am 53 and don't have near the stamina/energy I once did

I could just do the building for free and be done. And would have a free building.

I think there might be some value in other items and getting paid to clean entire property might be financially worth while. Not sure how much it would cost to have a dumpster dropped off and fill with all the trash. Will also need to rent some sort of lift to remove roof and trusses

Also been wanting to quit one full time job. If I got say $5k to do entire property, plus any $$ from contents and scrap would go a long way to cover loss income.

Ok hit me with the things I haven't thought of.
I need to make a decision in the next week or so.

 

[fred d]

Also
It's Houston Texas
It's HOT & HUMID

 

[fitz11]

Sounds not worth it unless she is paying you very well, and if you are taking all of the stuff to sell and scrap I don't see why she would? Do you have a large truck and trailer to move the stuff?

 

[fred d]

Yes
Diesel truck with a 18 ft car hauler

 

[ryan77]

after explaining all the work and effort and pain in the **** to remove the items and hassle to her, ask how much she wants to just sell the property as is, it may be a weight off her shoulders, land is always increasing in value and you'd have a place to store stuff and offload all the stuff in the trailers at your leisure, then when the property is clean sell it for a profit or use it. loans are at great rates these days.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

So basically you want $5k to remove everything but the building (which you would do for free).
How do you sleep at night?

 

[ratdoggy]

So basically you want $5k to remove everything but the building (which you would do for free).
How do you sleep at night?

Most places charge $100 per hour for their labor (dealer for instance) I'm sure he's not going to be making that based on the work that has to be done. would it be lucrative???? Probably. Is he going to get rich??? Probably not.

 

[fitz11]

Most places charge $100 per hour for their labor (dealer for instance) I'm sure he's not going to be making that based on the work that has to be done. would it be lucrative???? Probably. Is he going to get rich??? Probably not.

But places that charge labor like that don't end up with piles of free stuff to sell and make more money.

 

[sublimate]

Most places charge $100 per hour for their labor...

Wow, I need find a job at one of these "most places" where cleanup labor is $100/hour.

Plus, 50 hours to move a couple of trailers and a box truck?

 

[ratdoggy]

But places that charge labor like that don't end up with piles of free stuff to sell and make more money.

Sure they do ...Body parts and brake drums and rotors, wire,gutters and copper piping.

Wow, I need find a job at one of these "most places" where cleanup labor is $100/hour.

Plus, 50 hours to move a couple of trailers and a box truck?

I'm sure it'll take longer than that. And the trailers aren't going to make him a lot if they are semi trailers. I'm saying that if you had to hire a company to do a job they will charge at least $100 per hour.

 

[AP514]

does she have a ride'n lawn mower ? I would give you a hand....for trade

 

[HoosierMark]

What about offering to help her get rid of it and you split the profit. You simply do the marketing. Or accept the building as trade for getting the rest cleaned up. Sounds like an oppurtunity to me.

 

[jabberwoki]

That's how I got my shop!

 

[fred d]

does she have a ride'n lawn mower ? I would give you a hand....for trade

Actually she has 3
1-cub cadet and 1-Bolen neither work
Huskvarna that is fairly new

 

[fred d]

Wow, I need find a job at one of these "most places" where cleanup labor is $100/hour.

Plus, 50 hours to move a couple of trailers and a box truck?

The trailers are not Semi trailers. They are bumper pull
The box truck and the mobile home will have to be dismantled in location and sent for scrap

Trailers are at best going to salvaged as flat beds, at worst scrap

If I can get every thing done except building in less than 100 man hours I will be happy

Already asked about purchasing property
She is not sure. Likes the location, but upkeep is becoming an issue.
She lives in an older doublewide on the property

I figure between recip blades, cutoff disc dumpster and other "cost" I will be $500-900 out of pocket

Building may, may be worth $1000 if it was down and someone trying to sell it for the material
She has 3 vehicles and does not need money.
Has a very good job with a fortune 50 company.
Just can't do it herself

Being honest, I am not sure I would do it for $5k
It is going to be a lot of work

 

[bczygan]

You are already too busy.

Figure what she would have to pay a company to do the work.

Charge that less a small discount.

Hire some good cheap grunt labor and take the profit, and materials that you need or want.

 

[Nighttrain]

So what's in the trailers ?

 

[Morrison]

So what's in the trailers ?

Probably a few dead bodies.

Sent from my Torque using Tapatalk

 

[ZRX61]

Before you decide to scrap the mobile home, post pics of it.

& pics of the other two trailers please.

 

[RustCollector]

You ask "What to do?" What havent you thought of? We are not in your position -and we are of all different mindsets. Some of of us don't need the money or the headaches, some of us would kill to be in that position. I say (because you asked) go for your gut feeling, you know the intital thought that slammed your brain when you realized what all was involved. Did you think "WoW I just scored? Or HMMMNNN, I dunno? Don't rely on the opinions of complete strangers and morons like us, go with what you know. And--- if your gut says run--- THEN RUN!!!!

 

[nicksnothereman]

I was working at Lowes the other day and went to talk to a customer about recip saws.
She was about 60-65 years old, and wanted a battery operated saw to cut up tree branches when they fell off trees.
She told me her husband and son had passed away and she was on her own, no family locally.

She has about 3 acres with a metal building(50x50? Maybe larger) she wants removed. There are also 2 large enclosed trailers loaded with who knows what. They were parked on the the property by a friend who owned a carnival years ago. She thinks that they may have a merry-go-round in them but not sure. The friend has since passed away.

There is also a older Mobile home on the property. And a 78-79 1 ton box truck there as well

She wants to have everything removed. I was going to offer to remove the building, trailers and Mobile home and truck for a price(?)
This would be based on the fact that I would be entitled to everything in all of the trailers to keep or dispose of as I see fit. Plus all proceeds from scrap metal

Building- old style exterior galvenized corrugated metal. Walls are about 18-20 feet tall with a peek of 25ft. Steel trusses and support structure.
Not all metal panels are in good shape, but for the most part they are.

Enclosed trailers- 2 trailers about 28' long. All tires are flat and dry rotted.one of the trailers has a large bow in the side(looks like it must have been leaking and side is deteriorated. Unknown contents(possible snakes and other critters)

Box Truck-Chevy 1 ton dually chassis fairly rusted out, contents of box unknown.
Probably 20-24 ft Long. Tires all dry rotted

Mobile home- was lived in off and on over the last 10 years by owner of enclosed trailers. Has been sitting in same place for 30+ years.

Problems-
1. I work 2 full time jobs and do pressure washing on the side = No Time
2. If there are things of value, I don't really have room to store them. Until sale(could rent storage but cost would need to be offset by value)
3. I have 3/4 of an acre but don't have much room to store trailers. Would need to sell fairly quickly
4. Not sure if there are titles to anything.
5. Even with good tires, not sure if trailers would be moveable because of how long they have been sitting.
6. I am 53 and don't have near the stamina/energy I once did

I could just do the building for free and be done. And would have a free building.

I think there might be some value in other items and getting paid to clean entire property might be financially worth while. Not sure how much it would cost to have a dumpster dropped off and fill with all the trash. Will also need to rent some sort of lift to remove roof and trusses

Also been wanting to quit one full time job. If I got say $5k to do entire property, plus any $$ from contents and scrap would go a long way to cover loss income.

Ok hit me with the things I haven't thought of.
I need to make a decision in the next week or so.

Unless she's loaded (which she ain't if she's cutting trees on her own) it would probably be better just to get someone to pick it up for free (church or civic group). I'm not everyone but it's kind of one of those morally ambiguous situations where someone is looking for charity and the other is looking to get paid. I'm not saying she won't pay you but it's probably not something you're going to get 5k from man...she's probably looking to "pay" "expenses (i.e. a dumpster)" and you take what you want. In that case a civic-type group would make good use of the stuff and do it for free but that doesn't mean you can't "pilfer" the good stuff if you want to, it just makes the removal after the fact your responsibility (more or less).

 

[sloppy]

Pics of the Granny she sounds like a keeper..

 

[Playwme]

5k seems like a lot.

Someone with the right equipment would probably do it for her for nothing but the scrap value and salvage rights. If there's a merry-go-round in one it's got to be worth something.

 

[fred d]

5k seems like a lot.

Someone with the right equipment would probably do it for her for nothing but the scrap value and salvage rights. If there's a merry-go-round in one it's got to be worth something.

Agreed, but IF is a big part of the problem.

With the time restraints I have, I hate to spend all this time-sweat-energy if it is not financially beneficial.

On the other hand.......Could net myself some cash to fund my hobbies

 

[Dataguy]

I'd take a serious look at what's in those trailers if I were you. The trailers may not move, but if there is in fact a merry-go-round in there like they use in carnivals, that might be some serious money. A quick look on eBay shows the cheapest one they have listed at $25k. Carnival rides are expensive to buy and owning one is essentially a small business. If it's in halfway decent shape and you can establish a clear title to it you could probably sell it, take expenses off the top and split the money with the lady and still come out way ahead.

Even if it's not in great shape, or complete, or fixable, the horses alone would be worth quite a bit sold individually. There's an active market for memorabilia like that.

 

[Mandres]

Sure they do ...Body parts and brake drums and rotors, wire,gutters and copper piping.


I'm sure it'll take longer than that. And the trailers aren't going to make him a lot if they are semi trailers. I'm saying that if you had to hire a company to do a job they will charge at least $100 per hour.

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[NUTTSGT]

Carnival stuff and maybe some older "good stuff" Get all the good stuff off the property, scrap the junk and then call American Pickers.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Do you have a man lift available for the disassembly and reassembly of the building?? Scaffolding could be used,, but wouldn't be as convenient

 

[TractorJeff]

$5000 is reasonable for removing rotted rusty ****, debris and junk!
Drop a Dumpster, go through, throw out garbage.
Evaluate the rest, pull the "has value" items out, call a flatbed tow service to come pick up the trailers as is, take them right to the junkyard.
Walk away with the building and be done!
At 53, I could still do this!
If you need to pay Labor, isn't there some guys sitting down by Home Depot waiting for a job?

 

[HAY YOU]

So you want to charge her for the privilege of being able to make more money on her stuff. Well that's not a new idea. A lot of folks would just cut to the chase & just take a gun with them to hold her up.

 

[Nick Danger]

I had a friend who needed 5 acres cleared of the stuff her ex-husband had collected. a scrap metal company took the metal for free. It came out to twelve dumpsters of metal that had to be hauled 40 miles to the scrap yard. Only one company would even touch the job.

She had to pay to get rid of the vehicles, building materials, paint, chemicals, and so forth.

 

[Blue]

Call an auctioneer?

I had to help someone get rid of a good amount of stuff awhile back. Called up several local auctioneers, and they all were willing to take the time to come by the place, take a look at what was there, and give me an evaluation. These weren't the fly-by-night guys either, they were reputable auctioneers who had a good following. These guys were prepared to spend some time going through buildings and sorting accordingly before the auction, all the owner had to do was collect the check.

 

[dreamingmuscle]

Rent a back hoe or mini excavator etc to help with the demo it will save a ton of time and effort esp if they have A/C.

Forget the Nay Sayers If everything goes as scrap you might clear 2 grand depending on how you cut up the iron and clean the copper. Tell her when all is said and done you would like 5 grand total in your pocket including the scrap money.

 

[bad_idea]

What is your overtime rate at your job? When I do work for people I typically charge my overtime rate plus materials. Figure up a fair amount of hours and give her an estimate. All rental fees have her pay for the directly. Go survey the property and list any worthwhile items on CL now. Begin work. Anything still on CL in a couple weeks, just scrap.

 

[John in OH]

Before you jump into this, make sure you aren't going to find a few leaky drums of creepy mysterious chemicals in one of the trailers or in the back of the shed!! Properly disposing of unknown gunk could be very expensive!

 

[BDT/NWMN]

If I took on a project like that, I would have the owner paying for the dumpsters and disposal fees.. It is her junk to get rid of; and I wouldn't put myself under a possible financial strain for any oversight in the refuse disposal fees..

What IS in the trailers?? without knowing; you are dealing numbers out of the blue sky.. They could be stuffed full of worthless junk rather than gems..

Your property could end up looking like a junk yard also... Would she want the Craig's list crowed flocking to her property to examine any saved goodies? I understand that she wants the stuff off her property... Wouldn't that mean stuff would end up at your place..?

If extra labor is hired, whose insurance would cover an injury? Her homeowners insurance?

Just a few things to ponder, but there may be some hidden reasons as to why that property has not been cleaned up.

Can the plated truck and trailers be legally scrapped without proper ownership documentation?

 

[Blue]

Yikes, why do all the good threads end up with name calling?

Anyway, seems like there are a lot of unknowns. Trailers filled by a guy who "used to run a carnival?" "Might have a Merry-Go-Round" in them?"

That sounds like the garage equivalent of hearing about an old Chevy stashed in a barn. Sure, it could be a '68 Vette. Could also be a '84 Cavalier. And, the guy who owned the trailers lived in the mobile home for a time? Gotta think he would have sold anything of value in the trailers long ago.

The whole thing sounds like a hell of a lot of work.

Instead of planning on taking it all on yourself, why don't you help the lady out by finding all the necessary pros to come out and do the job? You could beat yourself to death trying to tear apart an old mobile home, or you could get an excavator and a dumpster out there. Have the excavator mash-up the mobile home and put it in the dumpster. This lady probably wouldn't know the first thing about how to get something like that lined up, but you probably have at least a general idea of who to call.

Not to mention, is there gas/septic/etc going to that mobile home? She'll definitely need some help in getting the proper contractors out there to take care of that stuff.

Then, open up those trailers with a flashlight and poke around in them a bit. See if it looks like junk, or something worthwhile. If it looks like something worthwhile (if Uncle Marv really did store his entire carnival, Merry Go Round included in there), get on the net and find out the best way to sell it. I guarantee there are folks out there that specialize in Carnival equipment.

Once that box truck is empty, call around to the scrap yards and see who would be able to handle getting it towed off the property. I know around me, most of the guys can't handle towing something that size, but there are a couple of the bigger guys that do.

You get the idea. You won't be able to knock it out all at once, but over a couple months I'm sure you could get it all squared away. And, depending on what's in the trailers, you should be able to make some decent money for your time.

With a little luck, you'll help this lady out, you'll make some decent money without busting your ***, and everyone will be happy.

Honestly, any other way sounds like asking for a headache (literally). All it takes is one slip off of a trailer for a seemingly good deal to turn into months and months of pain and heartache (ask me how I know, as I sit here in month 3 of nursing a busted leg).

 

[softailgarage]

I think I would make an offer on the property. You could take your time and end up with some land.

 

[Ryan]

Cleaned up... Anymore of the stupid *** name calling and I'll start closing accounts.

Carry on...

 

[fred d]

Cleaned up... Anymore of the stupid *** name calling and I'll start closing accounts.

Carry on...

My apologies
Won't happen again