Verizon offered my sister $1800 per month to build cell tower on her land.

[JBT]

A guess a couple of weeks ago Verizon offered my sister about $1800 per month to build a cell phone tower on her land.

My sister, her boy friend, and their baby bought this house sometime last year. Its a nice little place located on the Connecticut river valley in Walpole NH. Its very rural in this area, and very beautiful.
Shes got probably 3.5 acres of land up there and they are sort of Hippies/Granolas.

They are both pretty apprehensive about doing this.

They are concered with the possible health risks there might be and Verizon says they might also let others in the area lease the use of the tower as well. So there would be be a significant increase in traffic on her dirt road which I belive she is the only house on. I also think Verizon said something about helping to maintain their road in the winter months as it can get in pretty rough shape.

What do you guys think? Would you let Verizon do this?

I'm pretty sure I would. $1800 a month is a pretty significant amount of money esspecially for them. But possible health risks and possibley having their beautiful view destroyed would suck too.

 

[ruffilb]

Does she need 1800 a month?

21600$ a year... that's pretty damn nice!

 

[Cattlegod]

hell yes i would

that is a ton of money, although, i'd try and jack it up a bit, ask for 2200 a month.

 

[ruffilb]

Yea, you might consider negotiating up a few hundred $ because of the awesome view it'll be obscuring, destroying the peace, roads, etc...

 

[Pliablemoose]

I'd hold out for more $, add a clause for it to increase 5-10% a year and free cell phone service for every member of my family for life, with a new $500 phone every year for each line.

But that's just me...

 

[ChooChooChooseMe]

How noisy are they?

 

[ruffilb]

Yea, also consider asking for free cell-phone service for life

Although simple $$$ might be the way to go - 100 extra $ on that is 1200$/year...

That's a LOT of money, 21600$, wow.

 

[Viper GTS]

I'd do it in a heartbeat.

If nothing else look at it this way - $1800 probably covers their mortgage, worst case they could move off the property and just let it sit & build equity. Hell, rent it to someone else (for slightly below market value if the cell tower is that big an intrusion), & you'd have your mortgage covered AND be raking in rental income.

Viper GTS

 

[sswingle]

I definately would. Who could refuse 1800 free income.

I have a family member who was offered the same thing, similiar amount of money. She said no, because she didn't want to see the tower. So, verizon went across the street to her neighbor, and put the tower about 100 feet away from where they originally wanted to put it on her property. Now she gets to look at it, and not get any money for it.

How this relates to your sister? Verizon is going to go to the neighbor, and they'll have a tower next to them anyways, so whether there are health risks or not, they will be in the same situation. May as well get paid for it.

 

[vitoprimo]

If your sister decided to go ahead make sure she negotiates placement of the tower such that, when she decides to sell the house, she can split the property in two and retain ownership of the land that contains the tower. Instant cash flow generator for life.

 

[JBT]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
I'd do it in a heartbeat.

If nothing else look at it this way - $1800 probably covers their mortgage, worst case they could move off the property and just let it sit & build equity. Hell, rent it to someone else (for slightly below market value if the cell tower is that big an intrusion), & you'd have your mortgage covered AND be raking in rental income.

Viper GTS

This is pretty much exactly what I was thinking.

 

[sixone]

I wouldn't do it, simply because of the lights they have to install for air traffic. We have a tower about 15 miles from my house, and the lights are frickin' obnoxious. They couldn't pay me enough to live right next to that.

 

[sniperruff]

i'd bargain with them and try for more money. $2500 a month?

 

[Umberger]

Originally posted by: ScottSwingleComputers
I definately would. Who could refuse 1800 free income.

I have a family member who was offered the same thing, similiar amount of money. She said no, because she didn't want to see the tower. So, verizon went across the street to her neighbor, and put the tower about 100 feet away from where they originally wanted to put it on her property. Now she gets to look at it, and not get any money for it.

How this relates to your sister? Verizon is going to go to the neighbor, and they'll have a tower next to them anyways, so whether there are health risks or not, they will be in the same situation. May as well get paid for it.

pwnd. a friend's parents own a large amount of land out in southern VA, and they have several towers on different pieces of property. She has never mentioned any downside. free money.

 

[rmrf]

Originally posted by: ScottSwingleComputers
I definately would. Who could refuse 1800 free income.

I have a family member who was offered the same thing, similiar amount of money. She said no, because she didn't want to see the tower. So, verizon went across the street to her neighbor, and put the tower about 100 feet away from where they originally wanted to put it on her property. Now she gets to look at it, and not get any money for it.

How this relates to your sister? Verizon is going to go to the neighbor, and they'll have a tower next to them anyways, so whether there are health risks or not, they will be in the same situation. May as well get paid for it.

QFT. I've seen the exact same thing happen as well.

 

[batchusa]

I'd ask for a few months pay upfront as a non-refundable deposit.

 

[rmrf]

Originally posted by: sixone
I wouldn't do it, simply because of the lights they have to install for air traffic. We have a tower about 15 miles from my house, and the lights are frickin' obnoxious. They couldn't pay me enough to live right next to that.

Look at ScottSwingleComputers reply. They will find a way to put up a tower there anyway.

 

[necine]

I'd accept verizons offer. Rent the house out. And then move to a different house.

 

[Aves]

I'm with Viper GTS.

 

[neutralizer]

Yes, free money ftw.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: Aves
I'm with Viper GTS.

Does Amanda know this? :brokenheart:

I would first research the possible health risks, if they aren't significant I'd go in a heart beat.

 

[CFster]

Not enough money for me to glow at night.

Perhaps they're interested in an outright purchase?

 

[Chaotic42]

Hell yeah I'd do it.

I don't net $1800 every month, so it would almost double my income.

 

[dxkj]

3.5 acres... put it on one end of the land, divide the land in two, sell the house, keep the tower, and move somewhere much nicer and use that 1800 a month for mortgage there win win win

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: vitoprimo
If your sister decided to go ahead make sure she negotiates placement of the tower such that, when she decides to sell the house, she can split the property in two and retain ownership of the land that contains the tower. Instant cash flow generator for life.

Excellent idea.