If you don't make at least one bay high enough for a lift with a vehicle on it (about 12 ft minimum) you are really shooting yourself in the foot. Even if you don't think you will ever have a lift, you may change your mind later, or be forced for whatever reason, to sell and move.
Either make the building tall enough, or put in trusses that will give you the room. Height is a good thing. If you don't have A/C it will give you a place for the heat to rise to.
Charles
My shop is complete. So, the point is moot now. But, I will explain.
I prefer not having one. The decision was not based on cost at all. Even if there had been no extra cost, I still would have made the same decision. I've never had a lift in my own garage or shop nor have I wanted one. I have worked on a lot of cars through the years doing a lot of stuff and never have I said to myself that "I wished I had a lift for that".
Early in my career, I worked at a company (for about 10 years) that owned a resort with a gas station that had lifts. I had the privilege to use it at any time I wanted (after hours but any time during the off-season). I did use it quite a bit for the 69 Camaro I had at the time. I also worked on company cars, friend's cars and even my boss's car in there too. So, it's not like I don't know what I'm missing. I didn't use it because of the lift but rather because it was a convenient place to work on the car as I didn't own a house during the time.
For me, there are no advantages to a lift over large high-quality jack stands. I prefer working on my back versus overhead. Plus I have the big advantage of not having a lift take up space when I'm not using it or having it in the way of what I need to do when the car is on it.
From my perspective, having a lift in a home shop is way overrated. I can sure see it if a person needs the storage for an extra car but for ease of changing the oil, I think a pit is more convenient than a lift. I did give a pit thought, but decided against that too. Again, a good floor jack and jackstands are just too easy to use and put away when you are done.
So, I won't change my mind later. And as far as selling someday being a factor, it's not at all. I built exactly what I wanted. Heck, a buyer is just as likely to make my shop into a guest house or something else. Nothing I'm doing with this house, property and workshop has been done with resale a consideration. My wife and I retired here and this is it until, god forbid, we have to go to a nursing home.
