So we bought a house...and it comes with this....

[TDWendt]

Well actually we should close with in The next few weeks, but I'm stoked, 5 bedroom 1 bath on 2.5 acres. Not thrilled about 1 bath but I'll deal for a few years. This will be my wife and I's first home we own

I'm excited more about this.....

3 bay garage/shop with office. Needs alot of work but it's huge inside. From what I gathered from the realtor and research it used to be a(or the)local automotive shop in the little town, and when it closed up shop the owner of the house we are buying bought it and the land so it's now the garage for the house.

 

[TDWendt]

Once we can get moved I will get more pics from the inside, and I'll have plenty of questions about how to improve it. I guess I could use this thread as a build type of sheet to show updates and bounce ideas around.


My first question is how do I go about changing the doors to open straight up to almost the ceiling and then go horizontal? Right now they are like a normal garage door, and only go up as high as the door opening and then curve horizontal, I want a twin post lift in one of the bays so I will need the space

Pic of bay #3 farthest from the office to show ceiling height and door track

 

[Twisted Sid]

NICE!
If there is a bathroom in the shop, problem solved... for you.

 

[olytdi]

That's awesome! Nice house and score on the shop.

Was there any disclosure or investigation with regard to ground pollution or uhder ground tanks being it was an auto repair place? This sort of thing can haunt you down the road. Just something to consider before the deal is done.

 

[Cyberbear]

Congratulations on your new home and large workshop/garage. Once things settle down I'd suggest a long awning or eyebrow roof to cover the garage door openings, along with plenty of interior lighting if not already in place.
The house looks great, and an extra bathroom for the master suite can be nice. When was the place built ??

 

[TDWendt]

Kitchen. In house obviously lol

Wood burner

Garage office
Crappy picture I know but I was in hurry and didn't get a good shot

Also have a wood burning fireplace in living room so between the wood burning oven and the fire place it should help keep heating bill down (new forced air furnace installed in 2010) as well

 

[TDWendt]

NICE!<br />
If there is a bathroom in the shop, problem solved... for you.


Unfortunately no bathroom but it does have 2 chimneys so I'm able to set up the shop and office for different heat sources if I chose too.

 

[TDWendt]

Not that anyone could find on pollution or under ground tanks

 

[nicksnothereman]

Ooooh 1 bath...brutal not necessarily just the toilet situation but the shower too. I'm neurotic about number 2 situations can't do it in public knowing how nasty people are. You ever been in a stall and see stuff on the wall...yeah that's what people do in public imagine what they do in private. Family but still.

 

[TDWendt]

Congratulations on your new home and large workshop/garage. Once things settle down I'd suggest a long awning or eyebrow roof to cover the garage door openings, along with plenty of interior lighting if not already in place.
The house looks great, and an extra bathroom for the master suite can be nice. When was the place built ??

Thank you. I'll consider the awning or eyebrow over top the doors.
House was built in 1910.

Due to having a fha mortgage the property had to be up to code before we close, so the electrical(in house and garage) was redone and brought up to code, was knob and tube wiring,,,, scary
Also the foundation for the house and plumbing was brought up to code also.

 

[TDWendt]

So with the electrical update lighting should be no issue(I'm pretty sure the lights in the garage are staying) but I plan on re doing it anyways

 

[TDWendt]

This is taken half way down the back yard. .....

 

[Wood'nMetal]

Great looking place! What the heck is the big tower looming in the background behind the garage?

 

[TDWendt]

That's the grain elevators or our neighbors lol between us and the elevators is a set of railroad track and on the other side of our property is a empty field then the volunteer fire dept.

 

[Wood'nMetal]

Really like the house, just has great appeal and really warm features! (Can you tell I'm a Realtor?!). What's the history of the shop...has it ever been a business? Sometimes the history of these old properties really add to the charm!

Are you going to join the volunteer fire department?

 

[Stinger]

To make to doors open higher you just need to re-route the tracks so they go straight up the wall and turn at the ceiling rather than turning at the top of the opening.

 

[jb3]

Awesome!
How is the property layout, how close is the garage to the house?
Also, since it was separate, does the garage power have its own line from the street?

 

[Streetbu]

Awesome! Looks like you'll need a big mower for that lawn!

 

[littleponderosa]

excellent purchase. lotsa room, cool house and a garage.
is that a lift beam hanging near the top of the garage?
Bill

 

[wornoutoldman]

Awesome property! Has enough space for a moto-x or dirt oval track too!

 

[NUTTSGT]

Nice looking place for a first home, congrats.

The garage, I'd guess it probably has a standing seam metal roof? If it does, get a fresh coat on it next Spring, that should be good to go for a few years. That way you can figure how you want to progress.

As far as the underground tanks is concerned, go to the state fire marshal's web page and look up BUSTR. If there was a tank registered, it will be listed. If there is a tank and was never registered, I'd make it disappear quietly.

Get your O/H doors fixed, upgrade the electricity and then start insulating. It'll be a work in progress but the place has great potential. Do as much as you can, learn on the garage before you do stuff to the house. The more you can do yourself, the more you can do with your money.

 

[gregtwojeeps]

Wow, I love the front view of the house, lovely place.

Just my age showing but the garage would overwhelm me as to the amount of work it needs and I would run from it.

Seriously though, it looks like fire damage in one of the garage pics. Before getting to "inspired" and spending coins on fun things, be sure the building is safe for you and your family to be in. Good luck and congratulations .

 

[mikec35]

I'd love to have that shop. So much potential, plus it has a nostalgic feel. If the long picture of the yard is from the shop then you are gonna need a golf cart to traverse back and forth! I would definitely make sure there are no epa isssues - underground tanks-, if so and you try to resell down the road the next buyers might be tough to find....

 

[Von Psycho]

It would be good if the doors could go straight up and hug the wall in case you wanted to add a floor up top for storage/whatever.

 

[TDWendt]

Really like the house, just has great appeal and really warm features! (Can you tell I'm a Realtor?!). What's the history of the shop...has it ever been a business? Sometimes the history of these old properties really add to the charm!

Are you going to join the volunteer fire department?

It was a shop/gas station at one point from what we know. No idea on the name of it or time period of operation but I would like to find out.

My wife said therealtor for the other party, told her that there was tanks underground but they were removed when the shop land was bought years ago.

 

[TDWendt]

Awesome!
How is the property layout, how close is the garage to the house?
Also, since it was separate, does the garage power have its own line from the street?

It's a very irregular lot, almost a weird shaped triangle.
If I can get an above picture off the Web with it out lined I'll post it.

I don't believe it has its own line from the street but I could be wrong it very well could, and I just missed it. The garage is I'd say 50 to 70 ft diagonal to the front of the house (yes the garage is closer to the road lol)

*Edit* we just drove past the house and yes the garage has a seperate line coming in From the street..what's the benifits of this?

 

[TDWendt]

Nice looking place for a first home, congrats.

The garage, I'd guess it probably has a standing seam metal roof? If it does, get a fresh coat on it next Spring, that should be good to go for a few years. That way you can figure how you want to progress.

As far as the underground tanks is concerned, go to the state fire marshal's web page and look up BUSTR. If there was a tank registered, it will be listed. If there is a tank and was never registered, I'd make it disappear quietly.

Get your O/H doors fixed, upgrade the electricity and then start insulating. It'll be a work in progress but the place has great potential. Do as much as you can, learn on the garage before you do stuff to the house. The more you can do yourself, the more you can do with your money.

Correct it is a metal roof, it is in need of replacement so that will happen come spring. Can't imagine it is too expensive vs a shingled roof. It slants from the front to the rear of the building.

 

[TDWendt]

More random pics my wife had on her phone. Like I said it needs alot of work but I'm looking forward to re doing it

 

[Jarhead0408]

Congrats man. Looks pretty nice!

 

[ishiboo]

It's a very irregular lot, almost a weird shaped triangle.
If I can get an above picture off the Web with it out lined I'll post it.

Cool place!

That is a very odd lot. What's weirder is not the triangle, but the fact it then gets bigger at the end?

 

[ishiboo]

BTW, my lot is odd too... it's an old farm with a shared driveway so the lot line was split down the driveway. Which makes it interesting.

 

[TDWendt]

More randoms

This shows the condition of the concrete floor [emoji26]

House fire place in living room

Cellar entrance that is sealed off ( will get proper doors for It to make it useable again

 

[Jon Jacobs]

I'd love to have that shop. So much potential, plus it has a nostalgic feel. If the long picture of the yard is from the shop then you are gonna need a golf cart to traverse back and forth! I would definitely make sure there are no epa isssues - underground tanks-, if so and you try to resell down the road the next buyers might be tough to find....

I really like your car. Ive seen images of it before. Very cool. Im doing one just like it with a shell I purchased from Virginia. Any tips you would have would be greatly appreciated. ( sorry to hi jack this thread )

 

[CNGsaves]

Nice big garage with potential . . . but you've got some work ahead of you !

Start with SAFETY first like other GJer's have said . . .
a) Ensure beyond a doubt that buried gas station tanks are gone, gone, gone
(also that PRIOR OWNER is responsible for all future costs related to tanks . .
. . get that in Writing)
b) Do you have well water . . any water test for contamination??
c) Electrical everywhere needs reviewed for safety

Then start game plan for updating garage. I'd recommend having one large garage door like 16' x 8' - - no use spending money on new garage doors and end up with little ones. Agree with tracks that hug ceiling.

Good luck planning out changes . . . depending on what pops up on CL in your area, you could start hawking for free cabinets, work bench, materials, etc.

 

[cheechi]

Definitely looking forward to seeing the progress on this one.

Congrats and also yes I'm a little jealous. But in a positive way.

 

[TDWendt]

Cool place!

That is a very odd lot. What's weirder is not the triangle, but the fact it then gets bigger at the end?

Hahaha how did you find it? Stalker...lol I didn't even give a location hehhehe

 

[Zeke]

I'm glad you're young, rich and handsome because by the time you get that place into shape you're gonna be old, poor and bent over.

Just kidding, I like the looks of the place. But that IS a lot of work to do. Keep us updated when you get in.

 

[BobRae]

How often do trains come down that line? Like the '67 Fastback!

 

[TDWendt]

How often do trains come down that line? Like the '67 Fastback!

No clue but I have lived by trains all my life so they don't bug me.

I also like that stang!

 

[TDWendt]

Nice big garage with potential . . . but you've got some work ahead of you !

Start with SAFETY first like other GJer's have said . . .
a) Ensure beyond a doubt that buried gas station tanks are gone, gone, gone
(also that PRIOR OWNER is responsible for all future costs related to tanks . .
. . get that in Writing)
b) Do you have well water . . any water test for contamination??
c) Electrical everywhere needs reviewed for safety

Then start game plan for updating garage. I'd recommend having one large garage door like 16' x 8' - - no use spending money on new garage doors and end up with little ones. Agree with tracks that hug ceiling.

Good luck planning out changes . . . depending on what pops up on CL in your area, you could start hawking for free cabinets, work bench, materials, etc.

YES Safety is always first in my book

We will have city water
Electrical is updated to code