What Can $24.97 a Month Buy You?

I've received a number of e-mails with the same common concern: "I want to do this, but I just cannot afford it." For example:

I understand you have increased the warranty for the new system, and that's great! However, a good warranty doesn't do me any good if I can't afford the system. Please give me an exact detail of what it's going to cost and where I get the money to pay for this. We have 2 students in college. I'm working 2 jobs and so is my husband to make ends meet now. How in the world do we afford another $17,000 bill...unless there is a way to afford this, we won't be adding another bill to the already long list. Let me know what you can do to help us in this situation, because I do understand the increase in value if your property does have sewer and water.

While I share this concern, and will work very hard with the Financing Team and Vendor Negotiation Team to help, I have come to an epiphany of sorts: I cannot afford to miss this opportunity. You see, $24.97 a month not only buys me the right to join the Grassland Sewer Project, it will protect my property value and it may even accelerate my home's appreciation for years to come.

Let me break it down for you:

• The minimum cost for a homeowner is $24.97/month. This fee funds the build out of the septic system, but not your costs to tie in. It provides your neighbor with the opportunity to tie in if their septic system is failing.
• You may be asking "what do I care if their septic tank fails? That is their problem, not mine." Technically yes, you are right. However, consider what will happen to your property value if your neighbor has a bad septic system and cannot get it fixed. Come to think of it, not just your immediate neighbor, but anyone in your neighborhood...or a home in any of the affected areas for that matter.
  
• One - just one - irreparable septic system will likely cause every one's home value to decline. Imagine two, or three, or ten. Imagine trying to sell your home then. At the very least, a smart buyer will want the seller to compensate the buyer for taking on the risk of your septic failing. That will most likely take the form of a lower offer price.
  
• The truth is that our areas are already considered risky because of the reputation of our septic problems. Ask any honest Realtor and they will tell you the same thing: avoid these areas if you can because the septic systems are failing. Our Realtor told us this 12+ years ago. The problem has only worsened since then.
• This fear has already suppressed home values in the affected areas. The benefits of huge yards, great location, excellent schools, etc have not been fully valued by the market because of nasty, disease-ridden effluent in our yards. That is the cold, hard truth.
  

So, what does $24.97 a month do for me? Sure, it solves the problem for my neighbor. But I take away the only objection to living in the affected areas. Therefore, I benefit by unlocking the pent-up demand for homes here...and protect, even accelerate, the value of my home.

$24.97/month is a small price to pay for such awesome benefits. I'll take that deal any day!