Mailbox Dilemma - What to do and where to put it

3766 Views 25 Replies 16 Participants Last post by Alaska, Jul 13, 2017

HowlingFarms

Discussion Starter · Jun 12, 2017

Okay!

This may be a strange question and I can't get an answer for it. We are in the process of trying to get a house built on our property. One of the things we will need to figure out is the mailbox situation.

I have attached a picture of our property and such for visual reference. Note, this is actually a very rural area, many many miles away from the nearest post office or town.

We will have to use an easement (R.O.W.) to get to where our official driveway starts. There is a neighbor who also uses the same easement to get to his driveway.

The post office requires the mailbox be at the official street. So, that being said, what happens if there is a big package that can't be put in the mailbox? They usually run it up to the front door of the house. The question is whether or not they would be able to find our house being 200ft back from the easement's end (down from an established neighboring house).

The next thing is how will this driveway impact UPS and FEDEX deliveries as well?

Do they make mailboxes that will accommodate large parcel boxes? So to avoid anyone having to try and locate the entrance to our property? I don't know how we would let USPS, UPS, and Fedex know where the house is located, and/or to put big boxes in the mailbox.

Map Terrestrial plant Ecoregion Land lot Tree

See less See more

Reactions: 1

1 - 21 of 26 Posts

Forcast

· #2 · Jun 12, 2017

I have the same set-up. The postman may leave a post office pick up card. Depends on how he feels. UPS Fedex will bring big stuff to the house. You will get a number address from the post office if you dont already have one. 911 address i think is law now, has todo with how many yards/feet you are off the main road so fireman can find your house. My house number is on the mail box and also on the drive to the house.

Reactions: 1

rambler

· #3 · Jun 12, 2017

It would look like you have road frontage, so you could put your own driveway in on your own property. I assume that is a ravine and it isn't simple, but could be done and would avoid the years of misery of sharing a private driveway with others.

If you read here, that shared driveway thing is just a miserable thorn in the side..........

Paul

rambler

· #4 · Jun 12, 2017

It would look like you have road frontage, so you could put your own driveway in on your own property. I assume that is a ravine and it isn't simple, but could be done and would avoid the years of misery of sharing a private driveway with others.

If you read here, that shared driveway thing is just a miserable thorn in the side..........

(Nice drawing and such, that is very clearly done!)

Paul

AmericanStand

· #4 · Jun 12, 2017

You can get two large or huge mailboxes and designate one for FedEx and UPS.
In fact the second can be any enclosure since it needn't meet usps standards.
A old fridge or freezer will work and I've seen the mail box attached to the side or with the door removed placed in the freezer section of the fridge.

Belfrybat

· #5 · Jun 12, 2017

What Forecast said. Just make sure you stay friends with the neighbour who is between you and the road since some packages will be delivered them that house regardless of your assigned address. Also, if the neighbour is willing, put a sign by where they driveway turns, with an arrow pointing to your house with your address on it. Not just for mail delivery, but for friends visiting, propane delivery, etc.

HowlingFarms

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jun 12, 2017

rambler said:
It would look like you have road frontage, so you could put your own driveway in on your own property. I assume that is a ravine and it isn't simple, but could be done and would avoid the years of misery of sharing a private driveway with others.

If you read here, that shared driveway thing is just a miserable thorn in the side..........

(Nice drawing and such, that is very clearly done!)

Paul

We would love to put our own driveway in. But you're right, there is a pretty steep drop in those trees on the road frontage. In fact, because of the cattails growing there, it is considered a "wetland" and is actually protected by the state which would cause more headaches. Using the utility easement is easiest and is halfway to the proposed building site as it is.

Belfrybat said:
What Forecast said. Just make sure you stay friends with the neighbour who is between you and the road since some packages will be delivered them that house regardless of your assigned address. Also, if the neighbour is willing, put a sign by where they driveway turns, with an arrow pointing to your house with your address on it. Not just for mail delivery, but for friends visiting, propane delivery, etc.

Thanks, we do plan on having a sign at the end of the easement with our address number on it. And thanks, we never thought about propane delivery and such! That's now another concern. lol

Reactions: 1

AmericanStand

· #7 · Jun 12, 2017

Could you build a drive right at the edge of your property next to the current drive ?

big rockpile

· #8 · Jun 12, 2017

Ok we had situation where normal people wouldn't try to get to our house. My Wife says if you put a Big Box for Packages by the Mailbox they will use it just let them know.

big rockpile

Reactions: 1

rambler

· #9 · Jun 12, 2017

HowlingSprings said:
We would love to put our own driveway in. But you're right, there is a pretty steep drop in those trees on the road frontage. In fact, because of the cattails growing there, it is considered a "wetland" and is actually protected by the state which would cause more headaches. Using the utility easement is easiest and is halfway to the proposed building site as it is.

Thanks, we do plan on having a sign at the end of the easement with our address number on it. And thanks, we never thought about propane delivery and such! That's now another concern. lol

Oh, wetlands, I understand. Blah.

Paul

Reactions: 1

Bearfootfarm

· #10 · Jun 12, 2017

Just put up some markers that indicate which house is yours, along with directional arrows with the house number, and delivery drivers will find it.

It's not a good idea to put some large container on the right-of-way and parcel services can't use a mail box.

Reactions: 1

In The Woods

· #11 · Jun 13, 2017

As far as USPS, it depends......

We have a fantastic rural carrier. Anything that doesn't fit in the mailbox she brings it to the house and puts it on our covered porch. My wife uses their Priority Mail pickup service often also.

But just up the road is serviced from a different post office. When driving up the road we always see pacakges in plastic grocery bags hanging from mailboxes. I would be livid if that happened here. Best thing to do is go in and ask the postmaster how they handle packages.

As far as UPS and FedEx - once again we have very conscientious drivers. They will always bring everything to the house. In fact, in the winter my driveway is usually slippery even though I keep it plowed (pretty steep hill). Our UPS driver will park on the road and walk any packages to the house.

What I do is now is when I know I have a package coming (thanks to the free myUPS) I will put a big tote with lid next to my mailbox in the morning for him to drop the pacakge in. A lot of people around here who work and are gone all day have put up a permanent box for package drops. This will also work for USPS if they won't bring your packages to the house.

See less See more

Reactions: 1

AmericanStand

· #12 · Jun 13, 2017

There is a USPS form to fill out that tells them what to do with packages that won't fit in the mailbox.

HackingTheHomestead

· #13 · Jul 1, 2017

HowlingSprings said:
Okay!

This may be a strange question and I can't get an answer for it. We are in the process of trying to get a house built on our property. One of the things we will need to figure out is the mailbox situation.

I have attached a picture of our property and such for visual reference. Note, this is actually a very rural area, many many miles away from the nearest post office or town.

We will have to use an easement (R.O.W.) to get to where our official driveway starts. There is a neighbor who also uses the same easement to get to his driveway.

The post office requires the mailbox be at the official street. So, that being said, what happens if there is a big package that can't be put in the mailbox? They usually run it up to the front door of the house. The question is whether or not they would be able to find our house being 200ft back from the easement's end (down from an established neighboring house).

The next thing is how will this driveway impact UPS and FEDEX deliveries as well?

Do they make mailboxes that will accommodate large parcel boxes? So to avoid anyone having to try and locate the entrance to our property? I don't know how we would let USPS, UPS, and Fedex know where the house is located, and/or to put big boxes in the mailbox.

View attachment 60426

This might be a strange reply...LOL...
I actually really like your question. I recently bought a plot of land, and I thought I was silly for thinking about the mailbox. I want to personalize it and paint it. I've never owned land and put a house on it before, so I've never dealt with the mailbox issue. I don't know about you, but I think it's kind of exciting that this is something I need to think about now!

Reactions: 2

AmericanStand

· #14 · Jul 2, 2017

Hacking the homestead , you made me laugh, we truly enjoy that kind of enthuseasum around here !
And yes we understand

Reactions: 2

Alder

· #15 · Jul 2, 2017

Get the biggest mailbox you can down at the road, and get to know your mailman. If they like you, most of them will take care of you. They deal with a lot of a-hole types in their day, and if you aren't one, you stand out from the crowd.

My mailman LOVES my big mailbox, but when something won't fit, he brings it up and sets it on the bench by the porch. Rarely do I get a notice to pick up something at the post office. Added: My mailman is also one of my best egg customers...like I said - make friends.

As far as UPS and FedEx - don't worry. They too will figure it out.

Reactions: 3

gila_dog

· #16 · Jul 2, 2017

Personally, I don't want packages left out by the main highway. Too easy to steal. Also, you don't say where you are, but if you have a lot of snow in the winter, the snowplows are going to pile snow all over your mailbox. We have a bigger size mailbox that will hold small packages. The PO puts what they can in the mailbox, and if it doesn't fit they leave a card telling us we have a package to pick up. UPS/FedEx bring things to the house and leave them under the porch. If you plan to fence your yard (do that if you're going to have a dog), you should put a big box outside your gate for UPS/FedEx to leave things. Don't expect them to come thru your gate, especially if you have a dog. As somebody else said, also think about propane deliveries, and if you are going to have a well, make sure there's room for a service truck to get close to the well. Same for your septic tank.

AmericanStand

· #17 · Jul 3, 2017

What does a truck service at a well ?

Alder

· #18 · Jul 3, 2017

AmericanStand said:
What does a truck service at a well ?

After 26 years, I had my water pipe down in the well corrode and needed the pump replaced. As long as they were in there, had new wiring installed. They needed to get the truck back there to pull the pipe. I had to take down a fence and lop off some trees to get them there - but all in all, not a big issue. Just something to keep in mind. The service guy told me to not expect the new pump to last as long as the old one.

sisterpine

· #19 · Jul 4, 2017

I agree about the well issue, we had to bring in a big truck to pull our pump as well.

AmericanStand

· #20 · Jul 10, 2017

I can see needing a truck to pull casing but it should be rigged with a rope on the submergible pump to make replacing it easier.

1 - 21 of 26 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.