Anyone ever regret getting a shop?

[Spoon33]

I know that seem like an odd question, but I have gotten a few quotes lately and I am having a hard time pulling the trigger on a shop that will primarily be used as storage currently. Looking at getting a 24x40 insulated shop. The price for the shop is about 25K and then connecting the current driveway to the shop pad is about 7K making the totally 32K.

So a little background about why I am hesitant spending that much money. The wife and I have twin boys that just turned 3 so there isn't a lot of down time.

The main reason I wanted to get a shop is to store my bass boat in it which is currently in a storage unit a few miles away. Also, my riding lawnmower (1 acre lot) and a few other miscelanous items.

I also never use tools or build anything, so like I said as of right now, I think this will mainly be storage due to my limited time and knowledge of tool use. So like I said, anyone ever regret building a shop or do you think I might regret it?

This is in Oklahoma City btw

Thanks.

 

[MagKarl]

Try to be realistic about your wants and needs. I would regret spending more than I needed to.

 

[Grizzly Guy]

You sound like a very young person to me.I understand that now you don't have the time to get the full use of the garage but it will be that much more expensive to build in the future.That was a very big mistake on my part.

Once you build a garage,you'll find that there will be projects that will get started and put aside for whatever reason and will be worked on at your leisure.Hope this helps.

 

[LXCam]

Hum, if you haven't the need for a full fledged building how about just a heavy duty three sided rv awning. Just winter rise your toys and call it good. You should be able to do that for under 11-12 based on your concrete quote.

 

[53Sparky]

Why are you even on this forum?

Truthfully, if you think you aren't going to use it as a shop, you can still benefit from having the storage space. My uncle wasn't much of a tool guy but he had a wicked shop/outbbuilding which we used to play in as kids. It held all their bikes, RV, watersport stuff, camping gear, etc and it was super organized. Plus, they could still park in their regular garage.

The person who buys your property from you down the road will appreciate the building and use it for their own purposes.

I say go for it!

It's more than just numbers. If your storage space is $250/mo for the boat, you'll have a pretty slow ROI.

Best of luck!

Sparky.

 

[Kevin54]

It sounds like a good time to start using and learning the use of tools. Seriously though, no one I have ever known has ever regretted having a shop or a garage. For one, it is a place to keep your vehicles out of the weather. Even if you don't use tools, you still clean vehicles. This will give you a place to do it. And you can always make it a non working shop. It can be a place to have the guys over, have a few brews, and shoot a few games of pool.

 

[Spoon33]

Well unfortunately we have a HOA that requires a minimum of 500sq ft with a max of 1250.

We can't have any car ports/ storage sheds etc. Must be a shop with a concrete pad with at least 30% of the exterior bricked on all 4 sides.

Yes, my wife and I are in our early 30's with full time jobs.

 

[Voi]

Looking at getting a 24x40 insulated shop. The price for the shop is about 25K and then connecting the current driveway to the shop pad is about 7K making the totally 32K.

The wife and I have twin boys that just turned 3 so there isn't a lot of down time.

The main reason I wanted to get a shop is to store my bass boat in it which is currently in a storage unit a few miles away.

This is in Oklahoma City btw.

A few thoughts.

25k for a 24x40 insulated doesn't sound bad but might not add that in resale down the road. Does that include a slab?

My boys turn 7 & 8 this summer but when they were around the age of your kids they loved our 25x40. Even with a dividing wall they rode bikes, played hockey, drove remote controlled vehicles, etc. They're outgrowing that now but they shoot their suction cup bow and arrows out there and still play hockey with the neighbor kid now and then.

Not sure of your climate but would heated storage in your area be the difference between winterizing and not winterizing your boat?

In my area we get a lot of early storms and below freezing temps but we also get a lot of warm days up until the lakes freeze over. Those with heated boat storage spend a lot more days on the water than those who have to winterize early to be on the safe side.

 

[egnorant]

A space like this is what you make it. I would bet good tools that that you will have a small air compressor and some car care stuff. If you spend an afternoon doing the spring tune-up on the mower or greasing the boat trailer or changing a tail light, this space will evolve into small work shop.

As the boys grow up it will be a place to park and charge their power wheels, bicycles, play the cello...whatever!

Regret it? Not unless you just fill it with **** and let it sit.

Bruce

 

[Spoon33]

Yes VOi that price includes the slab too.

 

[finn]

There are better places to spend/ invest $32K if you have no interest in owning or working in a shop.

You're describing a storage building, which is probably better rented. No up front investment, no taxes, and no maintenance.

 

[ItsNemo]

Plan ahead a bit and even if it's just a storage building make sure there's at least a decent electrical supply and water if you can. Plan ahead for a lift (ie make it tall enough inside and make the concrete good enough) too. I think what you'll regret most is not building it as a workshop when you start using it more and more down the road.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Only when someone says, "How cute! A girl with a shop! So, you have like screwdrivers and everything, just like my husband?".

 

[EricP]

Not being into shop based hobbies, e.g. woodworking, car restoring, welding, etc. etc., it seems like you are about to embark on an expensive place to let junk pile up. You may love your bassboat but when those twins hit the age to play sports, in just a few short years, you might not have time to fish like you've had in the past and the boat could very likely end up sold. Obviously I don't know you or your particular situation but I have seen many bass fisherman, hunters, golfers, etc. give up or severely curtail their hobbies to spend time at the field or court watching their kids. This might not apply at all but safe money would be let it stay in storage a few more years to see where your kids interest take you. From personal experience when your child says "I want to play travel ball" your weekends become theirs and you wouldn't want it any other way.

Just a few thoughts from someone with no insight into your particular situation...

 

[OCD]

Build it, storage is always good!! It might get you into doing projects with the kids!!

Or, man cave/doghouse hideout!!

 

[Spoon33]

EricP that is one of my main concerns. I took the boat out twice last year and went deer/duck hunting 1 time each. I imagine my limited free time I have now will be limited to almost nothing the older the kids get.

However as others have pointed out, the price won't get cheaper over time and having a shop might allow myself and my boys to learn how to work/fix more things that could prove beneficial to us in the future.

 

[OldracerJones]

Not for a second. Mine was a dream to build, get a few cars, etc. it is the center of our world now with an office, full bathroom, two cars one frame off restore one muscle car for shows, our house storage, etc. The money was well spent and has only increased in value to my family.

 

[383]

Hopefully your kids will want to fish like mine, instead of playing ball.

I hate to have anything set outside, I keep my boat in my un-insulated building. I do still have to winterize it, but it stays clean and the sun isn't cooking it every day. If it's only for storage, maybe you could save some $$ by not insulating it. My attached garage is insulated if I need to work on something when its cold out.

I can't speak for you, but I would hate to be without my building.

 

[Voi]

383, is that a Native Ultimate there on the left end of the kayak rack?

 

[sberry]

Build to the legal limit if you do it.

 

[OCD]

However as others have pointed out, the price won't get cheaper over time and having a shop might allow myself and my boys to learn how to work/fix more things that could prove beneficial to us in the future.

Now you are talking!! This place will give you incentive to get the wrenches turning...

 

[NUTTSGT]

EricP that is one of my main concerns. I took the boat out twice last year and went deer/duck hunting 1 time each. I imagine my limited free time I have now will be limited to almost nothing the older the kids get.

However as others have pointed out, the price won't get cheaper over time and having a shop might allow myself and my boys to learn how to work/fix more things that could prove beneficial to us in the future.

If you build it now, you will always have it later.

The boys are young now and you can easily run coax/cat5e out there while it's being built. Fix a corner up and let the boys play out there or watch Cartoon Network while you are working. Give it time and they will get interested in what you are doing instead of watching TV or playing.

Do you know what's better than raising good kids ? Raising good kids that want to spend time with their parents.

 

[R6 Racer]

If you build it now, you will always have it later.

The boys are young now and you can easily run coax/cat5e out there while it's being built. Fix a corner up and let the boys play out there or watch Cartoon Network while you are working. Give it time and they will get interested in what you are doing instead of watching TV or playing.

Do you know what's better than raising good kids ? Raising good kids that want to spend time with their parents.

Great advice! Especially that last part.

IMO. Go for it, but use a lot of forethought.
I mean, spend your money on the things that can't be added on or up graded easily later on.
Get "shop appropriate" concrete (hardness, thickness & levelness for a lift or floor anchors). Build it with "shop appropriate" height. (12 foot minimum) Run a "shop appropriate" electrical service to it. (200amp. IMO) These are things that can't easily be changed later.
Don't insulate or finish the inside right away. It can be done at a later date or not at all. See what happens in the future.
Run ALL the services out to the building but only hook up the basics right away. Electrical, 1 switch, 4 lights & 2 receptacles. Leave everything else & see...
Try to use that type of pre planning. It might make it easier on your wallet & your stress level.

Can you not connect the 2 ("connecting the current driveway to the shop pad is about 7K ") using anything other that concrete?
Connect them by dropping 2 rows of cheep patio stones down (the 24" x 30" concrete ones) for the wheels of a vehicle to run on for now. The hoa should be happy with how that could look & you might save 6.9K

Bottom line...
It'll be worth it. Just do it smart.

Steve

 

[Catadj78]

I regret not getting one bigger

 

[pmiranda]

Since you're talking about building on-site, allowing you to move stuff back home from the storage unit, I think that's a big value. With young kids and both of you working, time will be very short for many years and you might get more chance to play with the stuff that's currently stuck in storage.

 

[mrzip]

If I were in your shoes I would pull the trigger and build it. You will not regret it.

 

[My Old Tools]

Tough call. For me the tools came first. I have always done my own work. I wouldn't build a big building just to store stuff. Sell the boat and buy another one when the kids are old enough to fish, if they are interested.

 

[EricP]

EricP that is one of my main concerns. I took the boat out twice last year and went deer/duck hunting 1 time each. I imagine my limited free time I have now will be limited to almost nothing the older the kids get.

However as others have pointed out, the price won't get cheaper over time and having a shop might allow myself and my boys to learn how to work/fix more things that could prove beneficial to us in the future.

Do you think this house will be your last one? How many years until you move? If there is a move down the road I'd be concerned about losing money on a shop. Not saying you will but it would be good to talk to some people in your particular area about the value of a detached building and if it helps resale in terms of dollars or days on the market.

I certainly understand the bulk of the posts that say "do it you won't regret it" because I too built a shop and have zero regrets. In my case we did not build the shop on the same property where our house is nor ever will be. It is about 10 minutes away in the county on a quiet road. My wife and I intend to move and expect covenant restrictions would prohibit me from building the shop I wanted. So I waited a number of years and built the exact shop to meet my needs for many years and when I'm done with it I can sell it as commercial property as it is not located on the same lot as my house.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Coopduc]

Forget the shop. It will make your house harder to sell in the future and it won't increase your home value by anything near what it cost to build. Buy a good quality boat cover for a few hundred bucks and store the boat outside in a storage lot for $50/ month.

 

[1949 caddyman]

How long is the boat & trailer? If all you need is boat & mower parking build a 20x26 for 520 sq ft. Cost should be lower.

 

[Spoon33]

The wife and I just built our house last year in this newer developing neighborhood so hopefully we stay here for another 20+ years.

Not sure the length of my current truck/boat combo but everything I've read says build as big as you can which is why I'm trying to go with the 40 deep.

 

[Blazinzuk]

Storage is always nice. I have a couple friends in your situation. No interest in working on stuff but they have hobbies that require storage of things. Boats or 4 wheelers or bikes, kayaks etc.

I have given them all advice on building a shop, which is what they call it, I call it a storage shed.

None of them have regretted it.

When you factor in everything financially it makes more sense to just rent a storage space. But it is nice having your stuff with you.

Your asking on garage journal. If most of us had the means we would basically have very attractively built warehouses on several acres and the HOA would require you to have a minimum amount of shop equipment

 

[Marcm157]

I just finished my 28 x 34 and I am 54 years old. My only regret is that it took me till this age to get to build something I've always dreamed of owning... Oh yeah and that it couldn't be bigger!

 

[matt_i]

Despite the pool of "sunk income" into the rental-storage place, I think I'd ride it out a little longer and see what happens. Kids can mean school district changes which mean moves/relocations. Jobs can even do that. I moved to 4 states between 25 and 40 due to jobs. I would hate to build a nice shop and then move, as you just built it for someone else. Also, as you say, you are not sure how much time the boat can even occupy now in the world of kids. The nice thing about the rental lot is you can then decide its time to sell the boat and not have a structure that you paid for, doing nothing. Or, conversely, you can decide the kids love to go out with Dad to the lake, and you want to pursue the building. I think more time will clarify things.

 

[383]

383, is that a Native Ultimate there on the left end of the kayak rack?

I wish.......it's an ascend FS12T.

 

[Voi]

I wish.......it's an ascend FS12T.

Cool. And what's the red and black one next to it?

I picked up a Native Ultimate 14.5 and a Jackson Mini Tripper off of Craigslist late last fall. Looking forward to using them this summer.

 

[RUSTY REAREND]

I got a 20x30x 11walls steel building last summer less than a year with a concrete slab 4" all for under 10 grand and I love it I did the electric myself which was pretty easy. EAGLE STEEL BUILDINGS

 

[jd_1138]

Even if used for storage, you're probably ahead of the game dropping $25k on a "storage building", because if you pay for storage somewhere else, it's going to be $200/month or so which means the garage would've paid for itself in 10 years. Plus you have your stuff right there -- easy to get to. Your boat, landscaping stuff, overflow, etc.. Time is your biggest asset, so saving time is important. Plus if you later develop some interests in woodworking, mechanics, etc., you will have a space for it.

And it will increase property value.

 

[countryroad82]

I've only regretted building my shop never, Bwahahaha!

 

[ChevyEFI]

In OKC, you might find a shop useful for being able to do things out of the weather.

At some point, you will probably build something with lumber for the boys, and maybe their siblings.

You might find the pad a good place to prep or wash the boat.

If you're struggling to find it to be a justified cost, don't do it; the ROI isn't worth it.

While I don't favor HOA neighborhoods, yours may be minimal and more within reason than some. Or, you might find in a few years your preferences in housing have matured.