Gil, I enjoy your videos. I grew up just down the road from Bon Aire. Have you ever thought of renting the property for weddings? The views are amazing and would generate a great income for the property. Wishing you guys well….praying you figure out a way to keep the farm and your parents in Wingina!
Sorry about your situation. The lesson here is to get someone who knows how to handle money to help you. Someone who can come up with a detailed and accurate plan ahead of time so you can make a smart decision on what is doable and what is not. In this case, the couple should have passed up on the property because they clearly didn't have deep enough pockets to do what they wanted to do.
So you are old enough to get social security and work also. Could you work part time as an amazon drop shipper, rent out a couple of camping areas, grow vegetables for a farmers market, check out your attic for antiques or books to sell online. Grow a lot of pumpkins and offer hay rides, apple cider, facepainting, maybe a tiny petting zoo. We have one locally at an apple orchard ( you can't actually pick the apples but they sell them) and the lines are absolutely crazy. Wedding venue area? Become beekeepers, catering.
Don’t lose heart. You both have come so far in completing your vision for this place. Is it possible to focus the funds left on the things that can become an income producer?
Look at Marymount they do weddings but they also do corporate events as well and they make it work I mean you're not that far from major cities and you're in a beautiful area
Another option would be to try to supplement income would be to try to fund raise through sites like buy me a coffee I just don't want is you give up before you exhaust all your opportunities.
Sorry to hear of your woes, Gill. It appears I will be walking the same path as you with finances and retirement; what to do is a mystery. Do you have enough timber that you could sell some? The land may not be as aesthetically pleasing for a time afterwards, but the land needs to provide income in order to keep it, most will use the timber for an occasional boost to finances. You could rent the fields to a farmer, if you find one, hay or crops, wont pay much but they can cover a few months of those costs per year. I cannot say I know the direction to point you and Laurie towards. I hope that you can find your way through these troubling times.
My Husand and I found your channel and watch in Orange County, VA. We love the restoration. Have you called the local Charlottesville news channels to feature your story? I will also reach out on Instagram.
First of you are not an idiot don't be so harsh on yourself you did what you thought was best at the time. Secondly I would use whatever skills you have or even your land to see if you can generate income. You mentioned that you follow Château owners over in France well so do I. Yeah a lot of them have use their properties for weddings but I've also seen ones with land like you have do corporate events/retreats or perhaps build one of those corporate teambuilding confidence courses and generate income that way?In England they have these companies that host these corporate events they set everything up they find the clients in the Château owners just literally make money by allowing these companies to use their land. I'm not sure if we have something like that here in Virginia but that is another possible way to generate income.
Sell it and get something more modern, easier to maintain. These old houses were usually gerry-built and take a lot of time and money to keep up. Do yourself a favour
Thank you all for the encouragement and great ideas! 😊 We appreciate all of you!
I wish you well, may all your dreams come to fruition. Best wishes to you all, from a 70year older from Australia
Hopefully, we will have a Buckley's chance!
Gil, I enjoy your videos. I grew up just down the road from Bon Aire. Have you ever thought of renting the property for weddings? The views are amazing and would generate a great income for the property. Wishing you guys well….praying you figure out a way to keep the farm and your parents in Wingina!
Great idea
Sorry about your situation. The lesson here is to get someone who knows how to handle money to help you. Someone who can come up with a detailed and accurate plan ahead of time so you can make a smart decision on what is doable and what is not. In this case, the couple should have passed up on the property because they clearly didn't have deep enough pockets to do what they wanted to do.
😔
So you are old enough to get social security and work also. Could you work part time as an amazon drop shipper, rent out a couple of camping areas, grow vegetables for a farmers market, check out your attic for antiques or books to sell online. Grow a lot of pumpkins and offer hay rides, apple cider, facepainting, maybe a tiny petting zoo. We have one locally at an apple orchard ( you can't actually pick the apples but they sell them) and the lines are absolutely crazy. Wedding venue area? Become beekeepers, catering.
All excellent 💡 ideas that I will pursue.
Corporate holiday parties, b&b, reunions. All of the above. Farm some of that fruit, local farmers market?? Cider House?
Love all these ideas. We are beginning to plant fall veggies
Don’t lose heart. You both have come so far in completing your vision for this place. Is it possible to focus the funds left on the things that can become an income producer?
We are working on that as I type.
Look at Marymount they do weddings but they also do corporate events as well and they make it work I mean you're not that far from major cities and you're in a beautiful area
A very good point. Actually, an excellent one!
Another option would be to try to supplement income would be to try to fund raise through sites like buy me a coffee I just don't want is you give up before you exhaust all your opportunities.
Sorry to hear of your woes, Gill. It appears I will be walking the same path as you with finances and retirement; what to do is a mystery.
Do you have enough timber that you could sell some? The land may not be as aesthetically pleasing for a time afterwards, but the land needs to provide income in order to keep it, most will use the timber for an occasional boost to finances. You could rent the fields to a farmer, if you find one, hay or crops, wont pay much but they can cover a few months of those costs per year.
I cannot say I know the direction to point you and Laurie towards. I hope that you can find your way through these troubling times.
All good ideas Paul.
My Husand and I found your channel and watch in Orange County, VA. We love the restoration. Have you called the local Charlottesville news channels to feature your story? I will also reach out on Instagram.
Please do!
First of you are not an idiot don't be so harsh on yourself you did what you thought was best at the time. Secondly I would use whatever skills you have or even your land to see if you can generate income. You mentioned that you follow Château owners over in France well so do I. Yeah a lot of them have use their properties for weddings but I've also seen ones with land like you have do corporate events/retreats or perhaps build one of those corporate teambuilding confidence courses and generate income that way?In England they have these companies that host these corporate events they set everything up they find the clients in the Château owners just literally make money by allowing these companies to use their land. I'm not sure if we have something like that here in Virginia but that is another possible way to generate income.
Thanks, I will look into it! I guess I can't see the forest for the trees. No pun intended. A VERY good idea indeed.
You can't rent it for rental income? Create a Bed & Breakfast?
Working on it furiously
Sounds like you made a whole bunch of bad choices. Sad.
😔
Sell it and get something more modern, easier to maintain. These old houses were usually gerry-built and take a lot of time and money to keep up. Do yourself a favour
It is definitely something we are considering