How do home buyers treat power lines running over a portion of the Property?

I recently discovered what appears to be a gem home in a phenomenal location in Atlanta. It’s an older house with countless points of upside. It’s rather unattractive from the outside, but as someone who is looking to get their hands dirty and add value (even go as far as doing a major facade renovation), it’s perfect. It is by far the least expensive house in the submarket, and I first thought that no one could get comfortable with its flat roof and no one could see the potential in spending some money here. I discovered that there is a high tension tower located three doors down on someone else’s property and the lines run over the yard of the property of interest (about 1/3 of the way up from the street). I don’t mind living under them, I’ve read reports and there’s nothing too concrete about the effects. Question is, if I build significant value into this house (which it does need) is it still topped out in value because of the power lines? How does the majority treat that?

No Tag

Posted in Articles.

Tagged with Buyers, home, lines, Over, portion, power, Property, running, treat.

4 comments

By wade – May 5, 2010

4 Responses

Stay in touch with the conversation, subscribe to the RSS feed for comments on this post.

Gary M says

Where I live the power company will come out and drop the lines. If you are willing to do a little work or hire someone to dig a small trench they will then hook it back up underground.

May 5, 2010, 5:15 am
Scottish Thistle says

Power lines do tend to put people off of a house, but you might be able to make the house look so good that when it comes time to sell, they will look beyond them. Can you mask or hide them in anyway with trees and such? If you can I’d recommend it. Also…take a look at the area. How fast are houses selling there? Is it considered a good area, with good schools and shops? Do the neighbors seem nice and keep their house looking good? If you answer positively to questions like this, then I would recommend buying it and fixing it up. The value should go higher, depending on how long you plan to live there. Try sites like zillow.com or trulia.com to see neighborhood stats and that houses value. Good luck and I wish you the best!

Cheers!
Thistle

May 5, 2010, 6:11 am
newmexicorealestateforms says

I’ve sold several properties with high tension transmission lines passing above the properties and I have always required that the buyers get a report from and or speak with the local utility company regarding any story of adverse affects having to do with the transmission lines.
You might want to do the same thing and check with the provider and or end user of the transmission line to give you an update and or written information regarding any affects those lines have, if any.
Keep this information and provide it to any future buyers that you might end up having to deal with. Given that it is from a local company any future buyer can contact them if they have any questions and you should avoid stating any facts and or conditions that you have found relating to researching affects since if they turn out to be the wrong facts you could be held liable.
I wish you the best of luck sounds like you found something close to your ticker.

May 5, 2010, 6:15 am