Garage not at home?

[tegguy]

OK so I need advice and I figured this would be the best place to ask. My fiance and I are looking for our next house but would like to stay in an area where the properties are under an HOA and/or do not have enough land to build a shop on.

I would like a place to work/store my cars but there is a chance that it wouldn't be on my property what are my other options?

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

Time. How much time would it take to travel "to the shop" and back? I think that would get pretty old after a while. How big of shop are you thinking? I would be very, very reluctant to do something remote, unless you were looking at 3,000sf.

Check out the zoning requirements for the properties outside the HOA subdivisions (I wish I would have before I bought). We were limited to 600sf detached building (shop) until I worked with our town board and increased it to 1,000sf. We have a 40,000sf lot. Look closely at the zoning regulations in the municipalities and townships you're considering. Talk to the zoning administrators and building inspectors.

Keep us posted.

 

[tegguy]

Time. How much time would it take to travel "to the shop" and back? I think that would get pretty old after a while. How big of shop are you thinking? I would be very, very reluctant to do something remote, unless you were looking at 3,000sf.

Check out the zoning requirements for the properties outside the HOA subdivisions (I wish I would have before I bought). We were limited to 600sf detached building (shop) until I worked with our town board and increased it to 1,000sf. We have a 40,000sf lot. Look closely at the zoning regulations in the municipalities and townships you're considering. Talk to the zoning administrators and building inspectors.

Keep us posted.

Thanks the problem if I were to build a shop it would have to be like 30x60 and the properties we have been looking at it that we would consider buying do not have enough property to build this and get the house we want. Fiance doesn't care about the garage she wants the house. We aren't buying anything anytime soon I have to finish school but we started our search early because it won't be simple.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

My limited experience with HOA's is that they are by nature, not shop friendly. HOAs are designed around homogenality ... similar houses, similar sizes, similiar yards, all looking "nice" in the eyes of the original developer and the current HOA board. Don't get my wrong, I like nice looking neighborhoods that don't look like the midway of a cheap carnival!

1,800sf is pretty good sized; much bigger than the 1,000sf I can build. I think the problem with existing properties with HOAs that an additions you want to make (whether freestanding or attached ... like an attached 2,000sf "garage" that is really your shop) will need to go before the HOA board and you will probably be shot down.

Another property with a separate shop is the cost (whether ownership or rental) of the additional property.

Be nice to the fiance. Slowly convince her to allow you to buy a property onwhich you can build the 1800sf shop. Good luck!

 

[tegguy]

Ya I really dislike HOA's. I've tried the nice thing but she wants to stay in a certain county and a certain distance from work/groceries. I don't think I'm going to be able to find something to meet all our requirements. I found a great location with a shop but a horrible house and she won't even consider it cause she looks at the money we would pay and then have to put into it to male it what we would want and says its too much money and time.

 

[Need4racin]

Those houses might look nice now while they are newer, but generally houses on a small lot decrease to being worth nothing when the construction is old and out dated. Costs too much to tear them down with the property being so small and worth so little.

 

[cyamaha2007]

I had a shop 15min from home I hated it. If i needed blank on a work night i had a 30min trip to deal with. Also since you can put eyes on it every day security is an issue. It also led to less productivity. The tool i needed was never at the right garage. Now my shop is 100 feet from my deck and i love it.

 

[Mickey O]

Thieves like shops that aren't near homes.


Find a home with some land and no HOA.

 

[Joe B.]

Once the babies come you won't have time to get to the shop if it is not right next to the house. If you end up in the HOA house just give up on the shop idea and find a new hobby.

Wow, that was harsh...but true.

 

[70redbee]

Tell her it is a two way street. You get what you want in the shop and she gets what she wants in a house. If you let her tell you what you're gonna do now, just wait a few years and she will make you miserable. As they say it takes to to Tango. Get rid of her if she needs to be the boss, in a true relationship it is a compromise.

 

[StaggeringGoat]

Sounds like you need to grow a pair and tell the fiance what YOU want. Who is paying for this new house?

I have basically what you are describing...a house with a HOA and a commercial 40x60 shop that I lease about 2 miles away. I can't even have a shed at my house. I would NOT do it again. The lease price is enough for 3-4 nice car payments every month...

(A note about HOAs and value: My house is on a "small" lot and it's worth about 50% more than I paid 10 years ago. I credit the HOA with keeping the neighborhood looking good. I think it is a necessary evil when you live that close to other people)

 

[BigE]

Easy. !fiance. Then buy whatever you want.

 

[LSU]

I'm going to answer the OP's initial question and not give martial advice.

Martial advice is best reserved for those shows some of the posters watch on daytime TV but never talk about ("The View", "Oprah", "Dr. Phil").

1. I live in a neighborhood with a strong HOA. Don't always agree with what the HOA does and why they do it but my property values have remained strong through the years. We don't have rusted cars parked on front lawns, the streets are well maintained and we don't have anyone doing anything really stupid next door to me.

2. I have a garage off site of my house. It is located about a mile away. I've got the usualy concerns about it being far away (theft, distance, etc.).

3. Would I want my off site garage (with my welding machine, grinder, air impact wrench in the garage at my house. Yes.

3A. Would I want my neighbor to have a shop like mine at his house - no.

I like my neighbor just fine but sometimes on a Sunday morning I don't want to hear the arcing of welder or the noise of an impact wrench. I also don't want to see a car up on a lift that has been sitting there for a month (I have one of these at my shop).

4. In an ideal world, I'd have a huge shop that I could ride to on my 4 wheeler from my house. There would be a nice paved pathway I could ride on but there would also be a whole bunch of open land that I would ride the 4 wheeler on if the weather was nice.

The shop would be stocked with all American COO tools (lots of Snap On beause from what I read on this site, none of my tools are worthy of even being moved to my ideal shop.

The shop would have wireless internet, cable TV, and a cleaning person who would follow me around and put all my stuff away.

The cleaning person would not speak to me unless I spoke to him or her. This cleaning person would be able to teach me all the tricks of the trade that I think I know but really don't. I'd like to know how to tune a carb better and I'd also like to know how to turn metal on the lathe I'd like to buy.

The cleaning person would also make sure that at the end of each day my ideal shop would look like Jack Olsen's shop looks in all his photos.

In the ideal world, the view from my shop would be overlooking the Rocky Mountains and there would be a lake fed stream out back with Brown trout swimming in it. It would also have a moat with a drawbridge so when I wanted to be alone, I could raise the bridge and no one would come bother me but it would also have a couple of Lazy Boys in it with a good view of the Jumbotron TV so I could sit with my son and watch the ball games.

5. If I win the Powerball this Wednesday, I'll post pics of my new shop as soon as I'm done with the tax lawyers to figure out how to keep the millions I'm counting on winning. I'm also going to hire Jack to come help me make my shop look really pretty like his does. For you Snap On dealers who are on the Board, I'll PM you as soon as the check clears. You might not be in my area but for what I'm going to spend, it will be worth it to drive over.

BUT . . . until the Powerball check clears . . .

I'm going to keep living with the HOA because while I love my shop, I love not living next to someone else's shop. Not saying it is a bad thing to live next to a shop, it is just not what I choose. I cringe when I pay my HOA dues each year but at the same time like it when I pull into the hood and the grass is cut, the flowers look nice and my property value has doubled in the time I've owned the house. HOA's have a place for some folks and others they do not.

 

[crazytrain]

I agree with others about buying or renting a shop away from home, its just not a good idea unless you are going to work out of it full time as a business. You will not only have the mortgage and insurance on the house but also the mortgage or rent on a shop and insurance on a shop plus upkeep maintenance expenses for both. You once you have kids shop time will drop off and you will still be paying for a shop you don't get to use. Money will get tighter after kids (those little bastards are expensive, I know I have 3) and what will be the first thing to get cut...SHOP FUNDS. Then what do you do with everything in the shop once you decide to give it up. Also not being able to see the shop 24/7 means security issues.

I personally would stay away from an HOA because I don't want someone telling me what I can and can't do to my property. My Dad lived in a house with an HOA and he built a small 4x8 x 4 feet tall enclosure painted to match the house for his garbage cans and firewood under his deck. looked better than the garbage cans just sitting under the deck or blowing around. HOA had a problem with it because his house was different than the others so he had to get rid of it. Screw that, I make the mortgage payment I want to be able to hide my garbage cans if I want to. I have read many other storied o here and other sites to make me not want to have to deal with it. Dealing with local government for permits, building codes and such is hard enough with out fighting with an HOA too.

You need to sit down and talk to your Fiance about what you want in a house. It has to be a compromise, something you can both be happy with. She wants a big nice house, You want a big nice shop. Don't give in and settle for something you won't be happy with, you have to live with it too. I settled and It *****! I wanted a house with a big yard and a garage, Wife wanted a nice big house. So we found a house that we liked but has a very small yard and no garage. It's been 10 years and right now I can't afford to move so I'm stuck in a small 10x 12 shed to work in and no room to build a garage. This was suppose to be our first house where we planed to only stay for 5-6 years then move up. But life happened and we are kind of stuck here for a while. It's not worth the sacrifice to spend that much money on something you are both not happy with. Good luck in which ever way you decide to go.

 

[tegguy]

Unfortunately finding a non HOA house in a reasonable distance to where she (and probably I will) work. Right now it's a 45 minute drive from where she lives to her work and a little longer in traffic.

Ideally we would buy land and just build a house but I really don't know if that's a route I want to go due to time and frustration.

I really don't know what to do to keep her happy and keep myself happy.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I wouldn't settle for the HOA house. If she is set on a home in an HOA, she may just need a dose of reality and an understanding that life isn't all about keeping up with the Joneses.

If you have to finish school first (what about her finishing school/job ?) that gives you plenty of time to look around. Don't rush into your first home purchase.

 

[tegguy]

She already has her masters degree and a good job. I should be done in May. We both currently own homes and plan to sell both cause neither would work (mine is too far away and hers is a town house)

I'm 26 (spent 6 years in the military before school) and she's 28

The problem is you have to go so far to get out of an HOA

 

[djjsr]

She has her criteria for a house and you have yours. Somewhere in the middle is what's best for both of you.

She wants a certain type of house and you want a location that allows a bigger garage. It's pretty simple.

Make lists and negotiate. If she's not willing to budge, you're in for a tough future. If you accept her stubbornness and cave, you are whipped already.

 

[NUTTSGT]

If you both already have homes, hopefully you can profit enough from both that maybe you can make a great investment and build your first and last home together as a married couple. If you can plan everything out, it may be to your advantage. First of all, you need to sit down and decide what you both want and work it together into one plan.

 

[tegguy]

If you both already have homes, hopefully you can profit enough from both that maybe you can make a great investment and build your first and last home together as a married couple. If you can plan everything out, it may be to your advantage. First of all, you need to sit down and decide what you both want and work it together into one plan.

Unfortunately with the way the housing market is I think well be lucky to break even after closing costs

 

[BTG]

I'd prefer to have my shop at the house, but it just isn't in the cards for me right now either. My dad and I share a shop space in the back of his powder coating business. Its a pretty good deal for both of us as we have a lot of space (about 2,000 sf.) for our hot rods and shop equipment. Being at the coating shop, we have a 30hp compressor, 3 ph power, multiple media blasters, paint booths, etc at our disposal as well. Since he is paying the lease for the overall space, I do pay him a monthly rent to help offset the cost. Its pretty reasonable, and much less if I tried to put all this together myself.

The downside is that it is 15 minutes away, and even though I don't have kids, its still a pain to run over there to work during the week. I typically go there one night a week and a day or so on the weekends. I'd like for it to be more, but it just doesn't work out.

I really don't have space for all my stuff at my house. I have no HOA, but a smallish garage and too many cars and tools. Our plan is to move/build in about 5-10 years and that will be around the time Dad will be retiring and selling/handing off the business. I'll move all the equipment at that time and have more time to play I hope...

 

[hh76]

I wouldn't do it unless you have large chunks of free time to spend there. I find that most of my shop time comes in short chunks where I find a 30-45min of free time. If my shop were more than 50ft away, I might not be able to use it in those instances. I also do a lot of quick, random trips out there to check on an idea, I definately wouldn't be able to do this.

 

[Shopshirt Mofo]

If you're both selling your homes to fund the new home it should be a 50/50 proposition. My wife and I looked and looked and looked. We finally found a home that we both love...don't rush and don't settle.

I'm an Anti-HOA guy. They are only a money making scheme for the builder/developer and you will have issues with the Jack-Assery that is associated with the HOA. Examples: I received a notice that my grass was too long and that they would hire someone to mow my lawn and put a lien against my home for the cost of maintenance. Really?! I had landscaping in my yard and no Grass. Turns out they did their annual cruise through the neighborhood and saw one or two yards that needed to be cut and sent the notice to everyone on the block. On trash day received a notice from the HOA that my trash cans were out...guess what they have to be out on Trash Day! Received an apology for that one. Again they sent a letter to everyone in the entire neighborhood for that one. Neighbor moved into the house across from me the previous owner always had a shed in the backyard. He received a letter that he had put the shed up illegally and would need to send them a letter asking permission to have the shed that was already there when he moved in.

If you must live in the People's Repoublic of Suburbia where everything and everyone is exactly the same, find a neighborhood that has 3 car garages. Because I guarantee you that you will not be able to park in your driveway. That is the only way you will be able to have a shop.

 

[dropd80s]

I have to agree, when you have no other option a remote shop is doable (as a young single childless guy anyway). But, after having my shop 15 min away for the last 7 or 8 years, I can't tell you how excited I am about getting moved into my new shop thats three times the size and 100' away from my new house!

 

[Need4racin]

was this orlando florida or so? I remember your old thread.

 

[Falcon67]

Integrate the shop into the house layout with some reduced footprint, or look for an HOA type property on very large lots. Lots of that here in Texas - HOAs with barns, etc. Horsey types ($$$$$$) usually.

 

[Lippyp]

I've rented garage space before, even when it was pretty damn close it was a PITA as I couldn't leave my tools at that one so lugging everything into the car etc just puts you off after a while, same with the barn we rented, because of security issues I didn't leave tools there and it was a good 20 minute drive and it got old real quick. Its probably not so bad IF you know its secure and can leave all your gear there but its not the same as slobbing out to the garage here in 30 seconds to do a half hour out there.

 

[Lurker]

Thieves like shops that aren't near homes.


Find a home with some land and no HOA.

What he said...

 

[1jjpop]

I bought a double garage, they tore down the house & owner wanted to sell the lot with existing garage on the back of lot. 3 blocks from my house, I also have my garden there.park my car trailer. The garage needed a roof , I put new roof on. insulated walls & ceiling. wired, new insulated doors, painted outside , I did all of the work myself - good place to work & hang out. The neighbors think it looks good. And they keep a eye on the property when I 'm not there.All works out fine....

 

[HillsME]

My shop is 8 miles from my house. I like it that way. I get up early and love to hit the road!
I can make all the noise I want anytime I want. If things get a little messy around the building WHO CARES? I can park my vehicles outside and no one complains.

My wife likes living in a nice clean neighborhood and frankly so do I. In nice weather it is a nice walk or a nicer motorbike ride.

I wouldn't change a thing. (Well maybe a bigger shop)

 

[tegguy]

was this orlando florida or so? I remember your old thread.

Yeah this is the orlando area. Specifically she wants to stay in Seminole County.

 

[tegguy]

If you're both selling your homes to fund the new home it should be a 50/50 proposition. My wife and I looked and looked and looked. We finally found a home that we both love...don't rush and don't settle.

I'm an Anti-HOA guy. They are only a money making scheme for the builder/developer and you will have issues with the Jack-Assery that is associated with the HOA. Examples: I received a notice that my grass was too long and that they would hire someone to mow my lawn and put a lien against my home for the cost of maintenance. Really?! I had landscaping in my yard and no Grass. Turns out they did their annual cruise through the neighborhood and saw one or two yards that needed to be cut and sent the notice to everyone on the block. On trash day received a notice from the HOA that my trash cans were out...guess what they have to be out on Trash Day! Received an apology for that one. Again they sent a letter to everyone in the entire neighborhood for that one. Neighbor moved into the house across from me the previous owner always had a shed in the backyard. He received a letter that he had put the shed up illegally and would need to send them a letter asking permission to have the shed that was already there when he moved in.

If you must live in the People's Repoublic of Suburbia where everything and everyone is exactly the same, find a neighborhood that has 3 car garages. Because I guarantee you that you will not be able to park in your driveway. That is the only way you will be able to have a shop.

I'm hoping this will come in the end but right now it doesn't look very promising. Unfortunately a 3 car garage is no where big enough

 

[cyamaha2007]

You could find a large ranch home with a walk out. Cut some holes for garage doors in the basment wall. Fire rock the basement. Bam 2500sqft shop. Thats what my friend did after the divorce. We got a permit to add on to the house. We added another 36x36 section. Made it the same height as the rest of the house but with no 1st story floor joist. This left him with a 16ft tall area for lifts. From the street you couldnt tell its not just a regular house. When i build another house ill be going this route. This way the shop is close to home utilitys are on site 1 roof to maintain 1 building to maintain and the Temp stays reasonable all year inside. In his situation it cost him around 15grand to do the addition and get the basement ready for shop use.

 

[bczygan]

To every response you've given a reason why it won't work.

Time to grow a pair and make it happen.

Hire a buyers broker to scour the market and find a non HOA property with a big enough piece of land to at least allow for the shop you want, if it doesn't already have it). Have them look at Ag zoned land and look for land that has 3 phase power available. Of course you could look at the county zoning maps and go look at the listings in the RE office. Draw circles on a map from your work place to narrow it down. You can also do like a realtor and go out and make offers to people, on their properties. Just have a RE lawyer handy to draw up a contract. Somewhere the property exists. Find it.

 

[Mickey O]

Integrate the shop into the house layout with some reduced footprint, or look for an HOA type property on very large lots. Lots of that here in Texas - HOAs with barns, etc. Horsey types ($$$$$$) usually.

We have that all over the place out here, love it.

Here's a google map view of a few of the barns that are in the sub division and there are a pile of large places nearby that are in the school district, that's what you need to find.

 

[tegguy]

We have that all over the place out here, love it.

Here's a google map view of a few of the barns that are in the sub division and there are a pile of large places nearby that are in the school district, that's what you need to find.

Ya I've been trying to find those I guess they are probably sought after now a days

 

[Mickey O]

Ya I've been trying to find those I guess they are probably sought after now a days

Dime a dozen out this way and prices have never been lower, guy just bought the one pictured below (which is across the road from my subdivision) for next to nothing, even has it's own private street, and there are two more in the next few blocks, same street, for sale, and it's supposedly the best school district in the state (or so I'm told).

You just need to find the right area.

 

[930dreamer]

I've leased half of a 2400 sqft shop ten miles from my house for five years. I thinks it's great, the property owner has a total of four buildings on the property. The largest is his 8000 sqft cabinet shop, the property is about five acres with a dirt track. I have use of the cabinet shop, forklift and even plugged into the real three phase power to test a larger compressor.

hThe Sheriff dept is down the street and they come by and leave a card on the door when they make the rounds. I can work anytime and have room to sand blast outside if need be. I split the shop with a friend and life at the shop is good.

 

[tegguy]

Dime a dozen out this way and prices have never been lower, guy just bought the one pictured below (which is across the road from my subdivision) for next to nothing, even has it's own private street, and there are two more in the next few blocks, same street, for sale, and it's supposedly the best school district in the state (or so I'm told).

You just need to find the right area.

I wish I could find something like that.

 

[tegguy]

I've leased half of a 2400 sqft shop ten miles from my house for five years. I thinks it's great, the property owner has a total of four buildings on the property. The largest is his 8000 sqft cabinet shop, the property is about five acres with a dirt track.

The Sheriff dept is down the street and they come by and leave a card on the door when they make the rounds. I can work anytime and have room to sand blast outside if need be. I split the shop with a friend and life at the shop is good.

How much does this cost you?