Hypothetical question - hiring a homesteader

Mike Hotel · #1 09/30/12, 11:10 AM

So, at this point, the question is hypothetical. I'm trying to think through pitfalls and problems that may go along with this proposition.

I live in Colorado. However, I was born and raised in Maine and inherited a large tract of land from my grandfather in the northern part of the state. Currently, it is completely undeveloped. There is a rough "path" into the parcel, but no real road.

I've been wanting to build a cabin for quite some time on the land. Money hasn't really been an issue, time has. For me to spend any amount of time working on a project there has been a bit of a challenge, I do manage to get back every year or two, but those visits are spent catching up with family and taking care of business.

So I had a thought: work out an agreement with someone so that they could live on the land for a year or two. In exchange, they would build me a cabin. I'm not talking the Taj Mahal or anything, something simple - maybe 20x20 at the largest. Think hunting cabin. They would have free reign to hunt, trap, fish or whatever on the land - hopefully they would be into having small livestock and make pens and such as well. I would provide a loose budget for building materials and tools. Candidates would, of course, be intensely vetted before being chosen for the job.

What problems could arise? Legal ramifications, etc. What should I require from the person? General thoughts and ideas would be appreciated.

At this point, the land is very wild, yet close enough to town so that a person could find work, if needed.

I'm not looking for all comments to be 'you shouldn't because....". I'm looking for ideas to make it work. Thanks in advance.

Mike

luvrulz · #2 09/30/12, 11:19 AM

Make it part of the deal that they provide insurance and you provide insurance.... Do you have someone in mind? When we bought our farm, we still lived in Florida and the neighbor here in Ky had an interest in our farm. He traded bush hogging, maintaining and keeping the riff raff away in exchange for free reighn for hunting, building deer stands and whatever he wanted to do. The deal was, once we moved up here, the agreement ended.

Worked out great for us - we let him know when we were coming up to visit or go camping. We really appreciated his help and he loved access to this land. Win-win!

bruce2288 · #3 09/30/12, 11:30 AM

You seem to want someone to set up and develope a homestead. IMO to get someone who is able and motivated you will need to pay a salary.

KimTN · #4 09/30/12, 11:58 AM

That is an awful amount of work you are talking about. All for hunting and fishing. My first thought was, where is this person going to live while they are building a house for you? Also, I know that water can be difficult in that part of the country. What about utilities for this person? What if they have a family? Do you really expect someone to build everything for you and just get up and go in a year or so? I think you will have to offer a lot more than hunting and fishing. I could see it if they had free housing and such, but what your saying is that there is nothing there. Even with a budget for tools and building supplies, it doesn't seem like a fair deal. Just my 2 cents worth.

Mike Hotel · #5 09/30/12, 12:04 PM

......that's why I posted the question. Things might sound fine in your own brain, but once you put it out there in the world....

So a living stipend/paycheck. Good idea!

Mike Hotel · #6 09/30/12, 12:11 PM

Beyond that, my thought was to trade rent-free living after the cabin was built for 2 years. Utilities aren't a problem.

Big Dave · #7 09/30/12, 12:17 PM

John Brown Farm out side of Fayettville Ar is set up on these kind of ideas. How much land is there in Colorado? Youth is your key. Not to exploute young people they can and do adjust better than most.This farm has been going for several decades now. Off grid and otheres that share in the dream that are not off grid. CSA, hoophouse, farming and off premise work are all done. How far are you from a collage area? Or maybe you just want a mountain man?

Mike Hotel · #8 09/30/12, 12:25 PM

As I said in the previous post, I'm in Colorado - the land is in Maine. Pretty close to a college town. Thought about that. Also have a live-off-the-land school close by. I was thinking a young person, maybe two. No family. I know, after rereading, that the original post sounds one-sided. That's not how I intended it. My intention is to figure out how I can make it worth it to that person without breaking the bank. It's 100 acres.

Sour Kraut Farm · #9 09/30/12, 12:38 PM

Sounds like maybe near Unity? If so there are alot of homesteading type folks in that area. Maybe float the idea around there, and see what comes back.

RonM · #10 09/30/12, 12:39 PM

Think about it for a minute.....it has never been a dream of mine to go build someone a house for nothing, and get to live in it for a couple years....whoopee......like someone mentioned previously give them a salary or a parcel of the land, if they want it....or both, but I seriously doubt you will have any takers on the initial concept....how much ground do you have, how mch in woods, cleared farmland, etc....sell off enough to pay for a small building.........

Mike Hotel · #11 09/30/12, 12:45 PM

You're right, Ron. Thanks, everybody. Idea scrapped. Onto the yurt! We're going Mongolian style!

thestartupman · #12 09/30/12, 01:35 PM

I disagree with some of the others. I think if you were to have the property set up with a well, and some type of septic. You would also have to provide a power source. I think you might find a young person or couple. I think the hardest part would be to find a person with enough experience to get the cabin built.

oregon woodsmok · #13 09/30/12, 04:26 PM

Some thoughts:

You would have to put in a road. Building supplies aren't getting in there without a road.

Anyone with the skills and money to buy materials is going to buy a cheap parcel of land in Maine and build for themselves. It's not like land in Maine is beyond the grasp of ordinary people.

If you buy materials for the building and you are all the way across the country, I think you stand a very high percentage chance of having materials stolen.

Your best option might be to hire a contractor to build you a hunting cabin. Better yet, wait until you can be there. I know that there are a few reputable and honest contractors, but there are a lot of crooks, too.

Be really careful who you allow onto your property. It would be a shame to have your property turned into a marijuana farm or meth lab.

Hey, maybe install an old mobile and allow someone to live there for free to be a care taker. Show them what you want cleared and they can cut their firewood there. Maybe you can get them to install fence if you pay for the wire and they want some livestock.

But me, I don't want people messing around on my land if I can't be there to supervise.

oregon woodsmok · #14 09/30/12, 04:28 PM

By the way, if you are not around, all the locals are already hunting and fishing all they want to on your property.

TnAndy · #15 09/30/12, 04:51 PM

Set it up like this:

In exchange for 5-20ac, depending on what that type land sells for in that area, they build you a cabin and whatever other improvements you want to your specs. Pick a section of your 100ac so they are farthest from your home site. 80-95ac of raw land is STILL a bunch for you. I bought 75ac of raw, timbered, mountain land, and 30 years later, I've only managed to claw out about 10 for pasture, orchard, garden area, etc....and that is PLENTY.....the rest is probably going to stay in timber for my life time.

They live in it two years (or whatever) while building something on their own parcel they can move to when you want to move in yours. Nothing is titled to them until the improvements you want are to your satisfaction.

You'd have to closely vett the homesteader for experience in construction, and it would certainly take the right person or couple for the job, but I'd think there was a shot they are out there. One way to find out !

**highlands** · #16 09/30/12, 05:35 PM

To make it worth their effort, and it is a lot of effort, I think you need to offer more than just living there a year or two while they build your homestead. Carve off a couple of acres that they will get after the work is done. Then they'll have land free and clear. Do this all with contracts and a lawyer. Open eyes.

Prismseed · #17 09/30/12, 06:58 PM

Perhaps consider a live on caretaker/farmhand indefinitely?

Ugly as sin but personally I dream of making a shelter out of an old tractor trailor box or a shipping container.

Consider contracted use of a portion of the land. Bonus points for certified organic.

Think outside the box. May not be able to find a cabin builder. But someone to make pasture sow/till green manures, plant game crops, and simple keeping mother nature from overrunning.