White elephant in the yard, not in the room.
January 20, 2015 9:47 PM Subscribe
Asking for a friend: How do I get rid of a large, locked trailer (full of tools and what not) that doesn't belong to me but is sitting on my property?
Long story: (now ex) Husband gave permission to his “good” friend to park his large, locked trailer in our back yard because we had space and the friend needed a space and promised “it’ll be gone in a few months”. Its been five years rolling onto six. Ex husband never asked for any compensation and would occasionally ask friend to move his trailer. Friend would say “next weekend!” but then flake out. Well, ex and I divorced, ex and friend no longer speak to each other and I have the blessing of the ex to deal with this white elephant sleeping in my back yard.
I have contacted the owner of the trailer. He has plenty of money and means to move the trailer somewhere else. I’ve had a nice face to face chat, then a month later I’ve sent three texts each a month apart, and finally, one certified letter with return receipt. I gave him a deadline of thirty days each time. I feel after the certified letter stating that he has thirty days to get his trailer or else I will dispose of it as I choose to, is enough.
I've seen this question http://ask.metafilter.com/71747/How-to-get-the-ex-to-remove-his-motorcycle-from-our-house
TL:DR; How do I get rid of a large, locked trailer (full of tools and what not) that don’t belong to me but is sitting on my property? I don’t care if I get any money out of this. I do not want to spend any of my own money on this. I don't have a truck or know anyone who can tow it to the street. I want to put this on craigslist and whoever shows up with a truck to pull it can have it. Any pitfalls with this plan? I am in Seattle, Washington.
Long story: (now ex) Husband gave permission to his “good” friend to park his large, locked trailer in our back yard because we had space and the friend needed a space and promised “it’ll be gone in a few months”. Its been five years rolling onto six. Ex husband never asked for any compensation and would occasionally ask friend to move his trailer. Friend would say “next weekend!” but then flake out. Well, ex and I divorced, ex and friend no longer speak to each other and I have the blessing of the ex to deal with this white elephant sleeping in my back yard.
I have contacted the owner of the trailer. He has plenty of money and means to move the trailer somewhere else. I’ve had a nice face to face chat, then a month later I’ve sent three texts each a month apart, and finally, one certified letter with return receipt. I gave him a deadline of thirty days each time. I feel after the certified letter stating that he has thirty days to get his trailer or else I will dispose of it as I choose to, is enough.
I've seen this question http://ask.metafilter.com/71747/How-to-get-the-ex-to-remove-his-motorcycle-from-our-house
TL:DR; How do I get rid of a large, locked trailer (full of tools and what not) that don’t belong to me but is sitting on my property? I don’t care if I get any money out of this. I do not want to spend any of my own money on this. I don't have a truck or know anyone who can tow it to the street. I want to put this on craigslist and whoever shows up with a truck to pull it can have it. Any pitfalls with this plan? I am in Seattle, Washington.
Best answer: See what the owner does when you send the text: "Trailer gone. I found someone who wanted it"
If he doesn't react or seems not to care, then do what you want with it. You can always move it to the street, then report it abandoned and the city will take care of towing it. You could even do that now and tell the owner so he has one last chance to pick it up.
posted by ShooBoo at 10:23 PM on January 20, 2015 [10 favorites]
If he doesn't react or seems not to care, then do what you want with it. You can always move it to the street, then report it abandoned and the city will take care of towing it. You could even do that now and tell the owner so he has one last chance to pick it up.
posted by ShooBoo at 10:23 PM on January 20, 2015 [10 favorites]
The usual advice on the Green is to verify with a lawyer that you're in the clear and have acted in good faith. So I figured I'd get that out of the way.
The selfish part of me looked up your location and said, "Damn! Too far away! ARGH!!" So you shouldn't have any issues once you get to the Craigslist part.
posted by RogueTech at 10:25 PM on January 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
The selfish part of me looked up your location and said, "Damn! Too far away! ARGH!!" So you shouldn't have any issues once you get to the Craigslist part.
posted by RogueTech at 10:25 PM on January 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
You should check your local law on this first - and definitely save all of your documentation and records of your attempts to get him to move his trailer - but I would look into opening the trailer and taking various tools and whatnot down to the local pawnshop, and use the money obtained to pay someone to take the trailer away.
Again, check your local law - my gut feeling is that it will probably favor you. You may also want to check on the notion of converting some of the goods to $$$ to pay for storage fees.
Also, have you discussed this with local law enforcement. They may well have dealt with this kind of situation before, and may offer helpful suggestions.
The Usual Disclaimers, I Am Not A Lawyer, etc.
posted by doctor tough love at 10:27 PM on January 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
Again, check your local law - my gut feeling is that it will probably favor you. You may also want to check on the notion of converting some of the goods to $$$ to pay for storage fees.
Also, have you discussed this with local law enforcement. They may well have dealt with this kind of situation before, and may offer helpful suggestions.
The Usual Disclaimers, I Am Not A Lawyer, etc.
posted by doctor tough love at 10:27 PM on January 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
Bolt cutters, a look inside to inventory, and then maybe contacting one of the places listed here (off the top of my head, the Northwest Center does truck pick-ups and accepts tools) or even looking into donating to the police auction. Or -- since Craigslist can be full of flakes and your friend has had enough frustration, try listing on one of the local freecycle groups.
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:28 PM on January 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:28 PM on January 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm thinking you'd have to have a tow company come get it, not just give it away on craigslist. Maybe call one and see if they'd do it at no charge to you if you have the owner's info for them to go after? And no, don't open it and look inside yet. The police might advise you what to do if you call the non-emergency number.
Seattle, huh. Sure would be a shame if it got stolen, though.
posted by ctmf at 11:50 PM on January 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
Seattle, huh. Sure would be a shame if it got stolen, though.
posted by ctmf at 11:50 PM on January 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
Start charging rent.
posted by sammyo at 3:31 AM on January 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by sammyo at 3:31 AM on January 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
In most parts of the US, you can not have a inoperable, unregistered vehicle or trailer 0n your lawn. That is building code violation.
After six years, I doubt the trailer is registered or operable.
You could turn yourself into to the local code enforcement. Most likely, they will give you 30 days to have the trailer removed - then having the thing carted off is not on you. Code enforcement made you do it.
posted by Flood at 4:54 AM on January 21, 2015 [3 favorites]
After six years, I doubt the trailer is registered or operable.
You could turn yourself into to the local code enforcement. Most likely, they will give you 30 days to have the trailer removed - then having the thing carted off is not on you. Code enforcement made you do it.
posted by Flood at 4:54 AM on January 21, 2015 [3 favorites]
Do trailers need to be registered in your state? If so that may pose a problem. You can always take this guy to Small Claims court to compel him to retrieve it.
If registration doesn't pose a problem, call around to wrecking yards to see if one will come get it AND pay you for it. Or donate it, there are a number of charities that take old vehicles.
I might put an ad on Craigslist for it.
Trailer, Abandoned on property, may be full of tools. Ex's friend left it on my property 5 years ago. Time for it to go. Come prepared to move it and it's yours. First come, first served.
Then send a copy of the posting to the owner. If he gets there first, awesome, if not, oh well.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:25 AM on January 21, 2015 [5 favorites]
If registration doesn't pose a problem, call around to wrecking yards to see if one will come get it AND pay you for it. Or donate it, there are a number of charities that take old vehicles.
I might put an ad on Craigslist for it.
Trailer, Abandoned on property, may be full of tools. Ex's friend left it on my property 5 years ago. Time for it to go. Come prepared to move it and it's yours. First come, first served.
Then send a copy of the posting to the owner. If he gets there first, awesome, if not, oh well.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:25 AM on January 21, 2015 [5 favorites]
You say you've sent him multiple texts plus the certified letter telling him he has thirty days to remove his property --- has that been the same deadline in all messages, or have you been giving him thirty days from each text and letter? In other words, have you been holding firm to a single end-date, or letting him slide and slide again? If you've been reiterating the same firm thirty-days-notice date, then you should be fine. (Keep copies of every single communication you've had with him, including notes of face-to-face meetings and phone calls.)
I agree with checking your local laws before opening the trailer or hauling it to the curb: you may not have to notify him when you do, since it's been nearly six years and it might count as abandoned; but to cover your own butt, check the law.
posted by easily confused at 5:44 AM on January 21, 2015
I agree with checking your local laws before opening the trailer or hauling it to the curb: you may not have to notify him when you do, since it's been nearly six years and it might count as abandoned; but to cover your own butt, check the law.
posted by easily confused at 5:44 AM on January 21, 2015
Agree with others that you get a legal opinion as to whether you can do as you please. Given your history of trying to contact the owner, my IANAL opinion is that you're good to go.
1. Get the trailer opened, either by locksmith or crowbar. Then, put a padlock on it, for safe-keeping.
2. Take pictures of what's inside.
3. Put it up for sale on Craigslist, with lots of pictures. Make it an all-or-nothing deal. Buyer has to take the trailer and its contents.
4. Buy yourself something nice with the proceeds.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:00 AM on January 21, 2015 [6 favorites]
1. Get the trailer opened, either by locksmith or crowbar. Then, put a padlock on it, for safe-keeping.
2. Take pictures of what's inside.
3. Put it up for sale on Craigslist, with lots of pictures. Make it an all-or-nothing deal. Buyer has to take the trailer and its contents.
4. Buy yourself something nice with the proceeds.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:00 AM on January 21, 2015 [6 favorites]
A b-i-l is somewhat notorious in the family for looking for these sorts of deals. There's definitely a market out there of folks who will happily remove this from your property and pay you for the privilege. Don't pay to have it removed, unless time is a critical problem.
posted by bonehead at 6:47 AM on January 21, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by bonehead at 6:47 AM on January 21, 2015 [3 favorites]
Have you considered sending a letter or text saying that someone is coming for it on a certain day, even if there isn't an actual interested party?
If you are in Washington, the WA DOL has a page about abandoned vehicles which is probably relevant.
posted by fiercekitten at 7:20 AM on January 21, 2015
If you are in Washington, the WA DOL has a page about abandoned vehicles which is probably relevant.
posted by fiercekitten at 7:20 AM on January 21, 2015
Talk to a lawyer or check the local laws to see if it counts as abandoned or what you can do legally.
What I'd do.
Send him an invoice for the years of storage since your husband left.
Sell off trailer & contents when he doesn't pay.
That's what storage places do.
posted by wwax at 8:54 AM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
What I'd do.
Send him an invoice for the years of storage since your husband left.
Sell off trailer & contents when he doesn't pay.
That's what storage places do.
posted by wwax at 8:54 AM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
Even if it doesn't have to be registered in your state, after no movement for 6 years the tires are pretty likely to have dry rot. After checking the laws, etc., to make sure you're in the clear to get rid of it, make sure that whoever comes to take it removes the trailer on a trailer or flatbed that keeps all of the wheels off of the road (or, I guess, replaces the tires and does a structural check first). Agree with the above that you can probably find someone who will pay you for this privilege.
posted by anaelith at 9:28 AM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by anaelith at 9:28 AM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by deadwax at 10:06 PM on January 20, 2015