Am I crazy? Workshop Expansion Worth the $$$

[Fav Onefour]

Is there a space in the house to install an elevator to the 2nd floor bedrooms? Everything makes more sense the longer you can plan on staying there.

Anything is possible. The house doesn't have a dedicated rough in so there would be substantial framing work. We looked at the idea and have a couple spaces in mind. I sure don't want to do that unless it's the only option. We have a couple friends that bought homes with elevators. The both say the elevators don't get used much because of efficiency. One couple stores cleaning supplies in the elevator and just moves it to the floor they're cleaning.

I will add that while looking at houses, anything we've considered has been narrowed down to single level. Those are tough to find in the city. Mid century ramblers are the main option and they're tight. The big homes with big spaces and big doorways have corresponding big prices.

Honestly, if we found a great house in a great spot, I wouldn't even consider doing this addition. It's a tough search if we want one that's ready. Homes around here with features we currently have and single level start around $250.00 clankers per sq. ft. I sure as heck don't want to spend that kind of money and still need to make it right. I'm not sure why, but I simply don't want a white kitchen and wide open floor plan. Ruling out those basic features and having space for a good multi function workshop creates a pretty narrow shopping list. Ironically, the narrower list seems to have higher per sq. ft. costs. Price tags on homes that check off those options get into $300.00 plus range pretty easily. Two local homes that check all the boxes are over $400.00 per sq. ft. I can't even find decent comps with those properties.
We looked at land too. Oh boy.

 

[Fav Onefour]

Sounds like you have tried the variance thing once. I still might try again with the variance since it would be adding to the side and not the front...that my be plausible for them.

My wife didn't really want rural life till we moved. Now she wouldn't want to go back to living in town...
Got space, got a yard, dog & grandkids have room to run outside and you're not looking right into a neighbor's window (vice versa).. think i might try to have another talk with her, a walk thru of a layout at the farm, if that's where you would build..

It's definitely worth pursuing the idea on a variance. That option would change the discussion. As they say, it never hurts to ask.

I am 100% in agreement with the fact that there is no appeal to having homes right next door.

I'm still working on her with the rural option. When we moved into this home it was the first time in her life that she had lived in a single family home with a yard. She seems to be getting comfortable with the idea of private living. It wasn't right away but now she has completely embraced the part of having a home with private space around. We have planted arborvitaes and built fences that are covered with climbing hydrangea, honeysuckle, and wisteria. The yard is our own space without too much of the neighbors siding. Driving is still a big factor for her with the idea of rural living. She simply doesn't like to spend time in the car if it's not necessary. I kinda get it because I hate city driving myself. When I drive in the country, the view is scenery to me and I love it. She doesn't have that part.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Get her some time on the farm...portable table top grill, couple of easy chairs and make her a nice supper on the grill...sitting outside in a nice peaceful environment might have an effect on her...especially seeing the sunset in the evening.

 

[Skellyii]

Around here they are STUPUD money. Like 400k for an 800-1000 sq ft "garage". And you can't work in it

Kinda surprised at those numbers, but I've heard that a lot of things are more expensive in your neck of the woods.

Around here you can get a 800sq ft for typically a little less than $200K. I'm leasing a 1300 sqft They've offered to sell it to me for about $300K.

And at the local CC's that I'm familiar with, you can work on whatever you want in them. There might be a hoity-toity complex with restrictions around here, but I haven't come across it yet.

 

[Skellyii]

Get her some time on the farm...portable table top grill, couple of easy chairs and make her a nice supper on the grill...sitting outside in a nice peaceful environment might have an effect on her...especially seeing the sunset in the evening.

If see doesn't like to drive, that's going to be a major hurdle to overcome.

Just out of curiosity, how close are you guys to retirement?
If it's not that many years away, you can just wait and build/modify on your current acreage.
After she retires, I assume she's going to be doing less driving so she'd be more flexible on location??

If retirement is still 10-20 years away, good luck!

 

[Sumboodie]

Kinda surprised at those numbers, but I've heard that a lot of things are more expensive in your neck of the woods.

Around here you can get a 800sq ft for typically a little less than $200K. I'm leasing a 1300 sqft They've offered to sell it to me for about $300K.

And at the local CC's that I'm familiar with, you can work on whatever you want in them. There might be a hoity-toity complex with restrictions around here, but I haven't come across it yet.

300k for 1300ft is still crazy money.

I paid that for that sized shop plus 5 acres.

 

[NUTTSGT]

If see doesn't like to drive, that's going to be a major hurdle to overcome.

Just out of curiosity, how close are you guys to retirement?
If it's not that many years away, you can just wait and build/modify on your current acreage.
After she retires, I assume she's going to be doing less driving so she'd be more flexible on location??

If retirement is still 10-20 years away, good luck!

True. However, if she realizes how peaceful it out in the country, she may fully realize the drive is worth it...its up to the OP to make that attempt and open her eyes.

 

[Fav Onefour]

If see doesn't like to drive, that's going to be a major hurdle to overcome.

Just out of curiosity, how close are you guys to retirement?
If it's not that many years away, you can just wait and build/modify on your current acreage.
After she retires, I assume she's going to be doing less driving so she'd be more flexible on location??

If retirement is still 10-20 years away, good luck!

On paper we are retired. In reality . . . I don't think that will ever really happen. We both like to keep busy. We are slowing down and less willing to do everything DIY on the big projects.

Our biggest constraints on doing something is the property size and how much it costs. A bigger chunk of flat ground would change things in both areas.

I don't know if she'll ever get past the driving thing. She grew up in a city and never really drove much. When we met, she probably drove less than 5,000 miles per year. It's funny how little a car means in her world. If it runs and does the job that's enough to keep her happy. It is a very practical approach and it's cheap to maintain. Her little civic is 14 years old with about 135k miles. I've tried to convince her that a new car would be just fine but she doesn't see a reason. The annual costs on that thing are low as low can be, so there's that part to appreciate.

 

[Fav Onefour]

True. However, if she realizes how peaceful it out in the country, she may fully realize the drive is worth it...its up to the OP to make that attempt and open her eyes.

I'm trying.
It's mainly a mindset for her. Kinda like the saying you don't know if you don't try. She simply has not had the experience of living away from city life. When we visit her family in the city, we still walk nearly everywhere. They don't use their cars.

It's an odd mix with the two of us. I had never lived in a big metro area growing up. It was hard to get over the idea of dealing with crowded places and so dang many people close by. I've done it now and I know the difference.

Twenty miles out would be a whole different world than where we're currently located. In my world that was a trip to town. We did that drive for everything we needed. It doesn't seem far. Heck, we still drive farm equipment over 40 miles between some fields.

 

[MovingAlong]

I'm trying.

Setup a "vacation" in the country, should be some rural AirBnB's around.

One late evening around the last of the glowing coals, finishing the last of the Smore's, just before heading inside to bed - say "Can you imagine living like this every day?"

 

[Stuart in MN]

300k for 1300ft is still crazy money.

I paid that for that sized shop plus 5 acres.

You've made several posts that said basically the same thing every time. As others have said it depends on location. Things may be cheap where you are, but they aren't cheap in many other parts of the country. Especially if you're paying someone else to do the work - many people can't DIY a house expansion, or they don't have the time, or they may have physical limitations.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Setup a "vacation" in the country, should be some rural AirBnB's late evening around the last of the glowing coals, finishing the last of the Smore's, just before heading inside to bed - say "Can you imagine living like this every day?"

Not if she's slapping mosquitoes, or dodging snakes in the grass, or the lovely smell of cow manure is wafting in from the neighbors.

 

[Fav Onefour]

Setup a "vacation" in the country, should be some rural AirBnB's around.

One late evening around the last of the glowing coals, finishing the last of the Smore's, just before heading inside to bed - say "Can you imagine living like this every day?"

My siblings all have cabins up north. She does enjoy the hanging out and lake time. In fact, she is open to the idea but doesn't want to be way up north.
We've looked at a few lake properties close to our house. Those numbers aren't pretty. Postage stamp lots are already seven figures without the goodies I'd like. It's harder to expand footprints close to water as well.

Not if she's slapping mosquitoes, or dodging snakes in the grass, or the lovely smell of cow manure is wafting in from the neighbors.

The mosquito thing is ironic. We are currently near a number of wetlands. The helicopters do pellet drops on a regular basis and it seems to work. We are able to hang around outside at home without slathering up with bug juice. We wear bug perfume when we go to the cabins.
We'd have to get quite a ways out to smell livestock. There aren't many farms left around the metro with enough animals. The nearest farms are pretty small. We're not far from the tree line and I'd probably aim for something with mature trees. Those areas tend to have poor soils for farming. I think we'd be get by on the manure topic.

 

[MovingAlong]

Not if she's slapping mosquitoes, or dodging snakes in the grass, or the lovely smell of cow manure is wafting in from the neighbors.

Don't oversell it..

 

[NUTTSGT]

Not if she's slapping mosquitoes, or dodging snakes in the grass, or the lovely smell of cow manure is wafting in from the neighbors.

We have many hog barns around us. I tell the wife its the smell of pre-bacon.

 

[PoorUB]

The costs of buying and selling are a factor.

We got rid of a property last year doing FSBO just because. It was a bunch of work and still cost us over 24k for the buyer's agent. I look at those costs as something that has to have enough value to make the move. I can only imagine how much we'd have to recoup if we sold the house and bought another one we liked.

Perhaps I am confused, but why, as a FSBO would you pay the buyers agent? Unless you thought it was still a good deal? I would tell the buyer that they brought the agent into the deal, they can pay them.
I sold my dad's house FSBO and split the closing cost with the buyer, plus neither had a real estate agent and just an I had an attorney to deal wit the paper. It was just a few hundred dollars.

I dealt with a second property in similar fashion.

 

[Fav Onefour]

Perhaps I am confused, but why, as a FSBO would you pay the buyers agent? Unless you thought it was still a good deal? I would tell the buyer that they brought the agent into the deal, they can pay them.
I sold my dad's house FSBO and split the closing cost with the buyer, plus neither had a real estate agent and just an I had an attorney to deal wit the paper. It was just a few hundred dollars.

I dealt with a second property in similar fashion.

Maybe my wording was a little gray.
We listed as accepting a buyer with an agent. The buyer had an agent. Those dollars came off the deal.

Sure, it would have been great if someone walked in without an agent. I'm not sure how many deals work out that way in our area. It is rare to even see properties listed without a realtor.