Fiance' says garage is too big.....

[mustangmccance]

my opinion is that property value is only important if you intend to sell. if you plan on staying in this house for the foreseeable future, build it to suit your needs.


If the time should come that you need to sell you will then just have to wait for the right buyer. when I built my garage in utah I was told that since the building was in front of the house and it blocked the view out over the valley that it would reduce my property value. my opinion was I wanted the big shop and it also blocked the noise from the railroad. it took 4 months to find the right buyer but when he bought the place the shop was one of the main selling points. just remember men buy homes too. and many of them will have the same priorities you do.

 

[nit2wn]

Have a bud who met his current wife and while they both have houses, they live in hers and rent his. Due to location and ''neighborhood rules'' anything he builds for a garage will be very expensive, and have to ''coordinate'' with the house. There is also the problem that in reality, it is still her house and not theirs. He's went from huge plans of this and that to a small ''get by'' and move later to a large plot of land and then create what he wants. If it were me, her house would have been sold with mine and then we would work on ''our'' house and dreams. No matter how you play this out, even on paperwork, it's still her house. I've always had my own rules, I get half say so on the living room,bedroom and one bathroom. I have one toy/computer room as mine with no required approval of design/decor, and the garage out buildings are mine with one room for some of her stuff. She can decorate the house to her taste.

 

[waggie]

Let me translate that into Male-English for you.

The garage is too big = garage too expensive, too ugly and useless, I (the fiance) can't recoup the money or find a buyer wanting a ridiculously large garage when (not if) I (the fiance) sell my (the fiance) house.

as to why she would think she might have to sell HER house down the road, i'll leave that to your imagination.

I divorced my ex who also complained about the "garage", now I'm with someone who agrees we need an attached house to a big garage.

 

[Zeke]

Depends on where you put the sewing machine.

 

[Aberdale]

Most responders have been too quick to turn this thread from an objective discussion about garage size, to an opportunity to convey marital advise and compatibility issues.

Step back a minute.

If you are looking for a reason to back out of the relationship, then posting about the size of the garage on Garage Journal may be your ticket. However, if the relationship is strong, and you are just trying to get understanding about whether a garage on your property is too large or not, then do what you can to visualize the new addition. Maybe it is too big. Maybe not.

It's really between you and your fiance to decide.

Provide more information about the property and the proposed garage if you want good opinions. Otherwise, we are all shooting in the dark and are quick to judge underlying innuendos that actually have nothing to do with garage size.

 

[camarotoolman]

Build 1/2 now, other 1/2 when she's on vacation.

 

[mmb617]

A garage that's too big.

That's funny, I don't care who you are.

 

[Dave Maxwell]

I'm on an acre and a third and plan to put up a 42x72 and have wondered if it was to big for the yard. We just bought a new home that my wife was in love with. She knew there would be a new shop out back before purchase. Even now I get the can I help design it and maybe make it smaller. Be careful.

 

[mikey531]

I appreciate all the advice, She will accept any size garage as long as it looks good from the outside. I should have been clearer what I needed. I have found garage styles and facades that she likes. I just need a rendering so I can show her what I picture it to look like attached to our house. She has said she just can't visualize what it will look like. I read all the relationship advice and this is the second for both of us. I am in the twilight of my years so longevity isn't an issue. My only son lives 1000 miles away so that isn't a problem. The only issue is finding someway for her to visualize what it will look like.
Thanks

 

[uhohjim]

Just make sure if you're going to spend a big chunk of cash.....that you get what YOU want...........don't wanna lay out the money and then have the what if I had built it this much bigger question .................of course you can NEVER have to big a garage but make yourself happy...........because no matter what....... a woman always seems to find somethng to be unhappy about......whether it's your garage or the JUNK you have in it! lol

 

[autox320]

epic



Dude you are asking for trouble on this kind of forum. So....is she a sugar mama? If not I'd find a new place together or you'll be trapped at hers.

 

[ixlr8]

I appreciate all the advice, She will accept any size garage as long as it looks good from the outside....The only issue is finding someway for her to visualize what it will look like.
Thanks

Several folks here have suggested Google Sketch-it, some swear by it, I tried it and swear at it. I am also becoming anti-Google anything as well, but that is another story. An architect can do exactly what you are looking for, but they get expensive quick. Most around me charge $200/hr and you are probably looking at a min of 8 hrs by the time they measure and draw your house and then the garage. And another couple of hours each time you make a change. There are various DIY home design software packages for $150-$400 that you can draw up the garage as you like it and then import pictures of your home/land as a background to see how it would look. Powerful software that does have a bit of a learning curve. Unless you have a friend who can do the drawings for you.. this is the way I would go.
My fiancee and I are looking at moving, she found a place on 2 acres, with a 40x60 2 story cement floor pole barn and a small, 1500sqft, house. She thought the house was okay, nothing exciting, but she wanted the property so I could have the barn... she is a keeper. Property sold before we could go look at it though.

 

[white500xl]

There is a lot to be said that you are moving in to "her" house. She will always have the final say on any major decisions.I would suggest she sell her house, and the two of you pick out a house together and build you garage after a joint agreement is made. Take her to some of the guys you know that has built shops that are now filled up with equipment, and wish they would have built it bigger.When you get all of your equipment in place, you will find that the biggest regret is it is way too small. Building on is extremely difficult. It is a lot easier to plan ahead for future expansion, even if you don't have a lot of equipment. You will eventually fill it up!

 

[Tarheelgarage]

My crystal ball sees a divorce in your future.

 

[darkk]

This is what we started with and what it ended up as...added 2330 sq ft.

 

[IONH]

My fiance and I bought our first house a little over 4 years ago now. Back then, she wasn't my fiance and she knew I had to have a garage. We didn't look at any houses without a garage. Then *she* found our current house on Craigslist. Detached garage about 4 feet shorter and narrower than the house. Plus an underneith garage big enough for two more cars (if you dolly one to the side). Sold.

The detached garage is white vinyl, the house is painted dark green. The yard was full of weeds and had ugly hedges. We paid a bit below market (at the time) and the house was ours. The oddness of the colors schemes plus the interior needing some updating did not deter us. Obviously the PO was a car guy at some point in his life and has now passed the torch to me.

I do not think you'll be happy where you are even if you build a garage. Garages are not cheap and if you have any hint that you may want to move in the next 10-20 years, you will likely lose money. I would say you are better off buying a new place where someone else invested the time and money on the garage.

 

[Mr.Magoo]

Sorry to inform you. At this point after selling your house, you have **** in your saddle. Have you looked yet at the hole you shot in your foot. That should hurt worse than the problems coming in you relationship, marriage, union or whatever folks want to call it. The cat that wrote about us yo yo's speaking of marital nonsense was wrapping his arms around sociology ****, talking things about lovey dovey stuff has more than likely put him in this same position where he caved early on and she wears the pants. Obviously we know where he's coming from. As for the majority of us yo yo's, I think we got it nailed real well. It gonna be hard to talk her into moving out of her house to go out on another one. Your salvation was, you once had a house you could go home to. You are in a mell of a hess!

 

[ZRX61]

There's the problem. It's HER house, so it might be the case that what she says, goes.

What he said, you're screwed.

 

[nehog]

Re: Fiancee' says garage is too big.....

... moved in with my future wife in southern New Hampshire. ... I could build onto her house. ...

1. Her house, her rules...

2. Marry her and then perhaps yes, but if you are not married my suggestion is that you forget it. Get the marriage settled then think about this stuff.

3. She's telling you something, something very important--and you are not listening.

 

[NitroPress]

I can see a really big garage overwhelming the look of a house - I have examples within a few miles of me. It's not an attractive look no matter how the garage addition is styled.

A lot of this has been said, but it sounds like you're getting off on several wrong feet here. Concede that she may have a point about hanging a huge-*** garage on the existing property. Concede that all man-cave BS aside, you share the house and property and owe each other something. No matter how many positives you can hang on the deal (being close instead of 500 feet away, happy kiddies swinging through the rafters, etc.) she may just not want a giant pole barn overshadowing the house, and she has a point - or at least a vote.

Step 1, make sure you and her understand what you want as far as your work/home lifestyle - if you're going to be a garage ape, is she good with that? Doesn't sound like it. Step 2, find out what she wants from you and a marriage - is it what you want? Step 3 (assuming you've gotten this far)... consider finding a new property that doesn't have her emotional/economic baggage attached and on which a suitable garage won't be an overwhelming buffalo turd on her vision of the place.

It's all about meeting in the middle, and if you can't do it now, it will be across a divorce lawyer's table sooner or later.

 

[blkhonda1991]

Re: Fiancee' says garage is too big.....

Here is my story, I had a 24 x 26 and a 30 x 30 garage at my house in Maine. I sold my house and moved in with my future wife in southern New Hampshire. Our plan was to find a house with a big garage or land enough to build one. Everything we looked at was still priced way too high. So I decided to see how big of a garage I could build onto her house. The lot is grandfathered and I can build a 36 x 40 garage and meet all zoning codes. Now she is having second thoughts about the garage being too big? I didn't know you could build a garage too big? I have taken some pictures of garage styles and found one she likes but I think if I could find someone who could do a rendering of her house with the garage so she could see it would look ok. Any thoughts, comments or ideas?
Thanks
Mike

what do you mean by grandfathered? do you have an existing non nonconforming structure? Grandfathering typically means only existing structures that dont conform are allowed to remain but all new structures must conform to current zoning/building codes so you may want to clarify that before you get your heart set on a 36x40 if your future wife actually approves.

 

[nickleone]

YOU WILL incorporate the exercise room/sewing room/ party room for HER in your plans. Remember the bathroom also.
Well heated/air conditioned and plenty of room for HER storage.

Nick

 

[jvitez]

You need to:

1. Get married.
2. Sell HER house.
3. Buy/rent/squat in something that's yours together.

In Grandpa's time, it was his house, his wife. Due to many sociological/economic/religious/cultural reasons, women have the upper hand now in many cases, especially in the legal/financial realm. Move quick!

A PMech: awesome pic, Herr Krupp. Many thanks!

 

[financer83rs]

Why would you leave Maine and your garages? I live in Maine and my house had a 24'X24' attached garage. I built a 26'X 30' Detached and added a bay on the attached that is 16' W by 38' deep with a wrap around the back that is 16'. I will never leave my garages!

 

[OccupantRJ]

See my avatar....

 

[muibubbles]

Just tell her her ring is too big......... and call it even?

 

[Nick DL]

The only relationship advise I am going to say is wait to build the garage until after you are married. As far as the garage goes, well most women look at them differently than we do.

We bought a house back in August that I felt was perfect for our family. It's 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, finished basement, 2 car attached garage, 1.21 acres, oh and a 3 car detached garage with walk up attic storage area. My wife thought that house was ok but she hated the detached garage, thought that it was to big and took up to much yard. In all reality, it didn't. We obviously bought the home and now she loves it. Sometimes people have certain thoughts in their minds of the way things should be or shouldn't be, this maybe the case that you are going through. Get a rendering of what the property will look like with the addition and have a couple different ones drawn up to see what truly looks best for the property. Good luck.

 

[sooperdave]

Plenty of pictures online to show her

 

[GN4WHLN]

I see trouble down the road.

No kidding... if she's not on board with it it may be time to get while the gettin' is good. The garage is too big leads to you have too many tools, guns, cars, and so on. Then you find yourself selling your stuff and attending her book club. PREEMPT! PREEMPT! before it's too late or you'll find yourself posting "I had to sell all my stuff and now I'm miserable, what can I do guys?

Maybe we can set up an intervention for the future Mrs. and see if she can be saved?

 

[Doozer]

I have had conversations like this in the past about my hobbies.

When I bought my first house I told my Realtor I needed a house with a garage. So she showed me houses with 1 car attached garages. I had to explain to her that a 1 car attached is a walk in closet....not a garage. She never understood what I meant and needed. At that point in my life I ended up with a house with a walk in closet, mainly because of the job commute and money.

4 years later.....married....and a racecar "shoe-horned" into the walk in closet. We were in a position to buy a new house this time with a garage. My wife was not brought up around cars or racing. And at times we had several discussions about the money being spent on the racecar. The difference between my wife and the Realtor is my wife loves me and understands that I need racing, cars and a garage. The Realtor could care less.

My wife wasn't on board with racing when I first brought it up. And we talked about it several times and had come to a compromise. Of course we all want monster man-cave garages, but at what cost? I told her that I needed a shop at least 30x30 or the space to build one that big. In the end we found a house with a wood shop out back. 16x45 Stick built on a 6" slab, windows, trim, complete electrical already in and a porch. Its not the dream shop I was hoping for, but it was a good compromise. The quality of the shop is better than what I could afford to build, and I compromised on the layout.

This got kind of long winded.....sorry about that. If your conversations with her always end up with you losing, then you are in trouble. If she will truly listen and understand the difference between your needs and pipe dream wants. Then you are better off then most guys. I am lucky enough to be with someone that goes to every race and helps work on the car. Even though she doesn't know anything about it lol. She never seen a race in her life, and now she is the only crew I have. But if yours isn't that supportive, you are in for a long haul.

 

[Doxhog]

My wife told me we needed a bigger garage so she could park her 2010 Challenger in the garage. So I went and bought a 2000 square foot building to put my toys, tools and projects in and she could have the attached 2.5 car garge. Haven't had any problems since.

She understands my need to have a place to work on my vehicles and projects.

 

[SuperSocket]

Sometimes these big shops and garages can take away from the property value. So it might look like **** to most future buyers (but not to you).

Personally I think you two need to buy a house together, this house is hers and it's her rules... I think this should be been known before you sold your existing home.


If she sold you on the premise that you can build your own shop if you sell your house, then I think there is going to be a lot of problems ahead for you.

 

[SuperSocket]

I have had conversations like this in the past about my hobbies.

When I bought my first house I told my Realtor I needed a house with a garage. So she showed me houses with 1 car attached garages. I had to explain to her that a 1 car attached is a walk in closet....not a garage. She never understood what I meant and needed. At that point in my life I ended up with a house with a walk in closet, mainly because of the job commute and money.

4 years later.....married....and a racecar "shoe-horned" into the walk in closet. We were in a position to buy a new house this time with a garage. My wife was not brought up around cars or racing. And at times we had several discussions about the money being spent on the racecar. The difference between my wife and the Realtor is my wife loves me and understands that I need racing, cars and a garage. The Realtor could care less.

My wife wasn't on board with racing when I first brought it up. And we talked about it several times and had come to a compromise. Of course we all want monster man-cave garages, but at what cost? I told her that I needed a shop at least 30x30 or the space to build one that big. In the end we found a house with a wood shop out back. 16x45 Stick built on a 6" slab, windows, trim, complete electrical already in and a porch. Its not the dream shop I was hoping for, but it was a good compromise. The quality of the shop is better than what I could afford to build, and I compromised on the layout.

This got kind of long winded.....sorry about that. If your conversations with her always end up with you losing, then you are in trouble. If she will truly listen and understand the difference between your needs and pipe dream wants. Then you are better off then most guys. I am lucky enough to be with someone that goes to every race and helps work on the car. Even though she doesn't know anything about it lol. She never seen a race in her life, and now she is the only crew I have. But if yours isn't that supportive, you are in for a long haul.

Man, sounds like you need a real realtor... one that actually cares what you want. Mine will over-turn a mountain to find me what I want and she'll fight for it too (she's a pit-bull when it comes to negotiations and tells sellers how it is).

 

[Doozer]

Man, sounds like you need a real realtor... one that actually cares what you want. Mine will over-turn a mountain to find me what I want and she'll fight for it too (she's a pit-bull when it comes to negotiations and tells sellers how it is).

She is a great realtor, but there was nothing in my area and price range. Its a military town and all the houses and neighborhoods are cookie cutter. We are in the country now, I have all the space I need.

 

[rsieracki]

The idea that the house must overpower everything else on the property is an American idea.

Around the time this photo was taken the man who lived in this house employed 35,000 people and the shop complex covered 5 square miles. His private railroad, part of which runs past the front door, had 53 miles of track:

Nout sure if that a man were all familiar with but a man we certainly are all familiar with did the same thing in the same scale... his name was Adolphus Busch... you might know him better as the original Bud man... If ever in St Louis, take the PAID tour of Budweiser...far better, longer, more informative and you get a few parting gifts... and beer to drink

Build 1/2 now, other 1/2 when she's on vacation.

if he works at my pace she best be gone for a year


**best advice i can offer is to tell her "well ok honey... im just worried tho... before my 'garage and tool obsession' i spent all my money on beer, strippers and hookers" ... She will encourage you to build an even bigger garage, trust me on this on.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Marriage is about talking and education. You have good reasons for wanting a shop that big. Talk with her and educate her as to those reasons. At the same time have her educate you on why she thinks it is too big. If you both have an open mind this should be pretty easy to resolve.

Finally, a little reason here. You guys are fast to jump and tell someone to run based on very little.

There is always more to the story than a paragraph. Let's be supportive of his goals, and not suggest he dump a woman, or apply unknown and unflattering motoves to her.

Jim

PS Talk, talk, and talk some more. Compromise is there to be had, and fighting will not make anyone happy!

 

[Tarheelgarage]

Finally, a little reason here. You guys are fast to jump and tell someone to run based on very little.

There is always more to the story than a paragraph. Let's be supportive of his goals, and not suggest he dump a woman, or apply unknown and unflattering motoves to her.

Jim

PS Talk, talk, and talk some more. Compromise is there to be had, and fighting will not make anyone happy!

Jim's right. But in some cases, if talking doesn't work, you have to "****'er"

 

[c_mccann]

You'll miss her..

 

[Steevo]

Post a pic or pics of the front of the house/yard from the street, and a diagram of the lot with the house footprint shown on it.
Then we can see if there is any issue with lot size vs. garage size.

 

[Drunken Yak inc]

Gentleman, I fear we have all missed the most important factor in this discussion...

How hot is said fiancée???