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Build multiple times?

BigE

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The thread about a shop as an investment got me thinking of a related issue. Would you build a shop if you knew you were going to move? Say your job will require you to move on a regular basis, every couple of years. Would you build a shop at each place you moved?
 
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omr

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I suspect it would be much more cost effective to buy a place that already has one.
 

Kevin54

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If I knew I was going to move every couple of years, I'd look for a house with a garage and take up a hobby that didn't require having a big shop or garage. That day comes when you finally settle down and quit moving.
 

my58

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I would get myself 2 transfer bodies and build my workshop inside of them. I would make them able to seperate down the center. Each time I had to move I would just seperate and relocate them to the new house and then reassemble them inside the new garage.

Not sure how I would deal with the 4 post lift, but I believe were there is a will there is a way! :D
 

mmack66

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I would think it would get old, and expensive, building a new shop every two years.

But, if I knew for sure that I would be moving that often, I would likely be renting a house, and not sure if it would be smart to build one in the first place.
 
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BigE

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Maybe not as frequently as every 2 years. Say every 6 years. Or rather say 7 times during your career.
 

mikeyr

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every 6 years, YES I woud build. That is a long time to be without a decent shop. It wont be cheap and you likely will lose money with each move but worth it in the end and I would do it.
 

Shipfittin

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Sounds like a problem posed to many members of the Armed Forces.

I would probably try to move somewhere that already had a building/garage to use as a shop. And try to make all of my tools mobile, so I can easily go from one location to another without huge headaches.
 

Super Sport

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I would either buy a place with a shop already built, or I would look into renting garage/shop space nearby.

To rebuild so often would require either a lot of time, money, or both. I can't see how somebody would find it reasonable to do so.
 

HSpencer

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Everything can be portable like the contractors with their work trailers. Get something like a 16' trailer, and fit it up for your bench, tool boxes, air compressors, and parts bins. If you look (google contractor trailers (images), you will find some really neat shops built into trailers, complete with lighting, heat/air, etc. Yes, you would need to downsize your stuff, and Yes, your working on vehicles outside, and Yes, life would be different from having a dedicated equipped inside shop. But think about the contractors, and how they actually "bring the shop to the job" instead of vice versa. Some of these trailers even have sinks and microwaves like RV's do. For me, I like working outside even though I do have a full shop. What I am liking as I get older is the idea of downsizing everything. Ask yourself how much junk you keep around that never gets used? I was once storing junk in a garage, and letting my new car sit out in the weather. That was really dumb on my part. Now if your running a neighborhood garage, or your building project cars every day, this would not be a good solution. But for the mobile guy who is going to be relocating "often" and the new place would allow for parking a trailer of say 16 feet, it is a good solution. LOL, why not just sell your house and buy a Winnebeago to live in and trailer to keep your workshop in? If you get tired of where you are, just pick up and leave!
 

Kevin54

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Honestly I wouldn't be surprised to find some people who do travel a lot might use storage units as work shops.

I see a lot of Storage Lockers being used as a shop. One about 10 minutes from me has rented two, side by side and works on his race car in there.

I still don't know if I would build one if I was going to move in six years. A lot would depend on the location,the house, amount of property. You may be able to recoup your money, but that's a gamble. Although, if you move in six, that would give you a solid five of enjoyment.
 

Toomanytools?

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Depends on your needs if you can live with a 24x24 work space, it would not be so bad. If you need a 40x72 with 3 garage doors radiant floor heat, windows , sheetrock so on and so on it would get expensive. Also what would you use the shop for actual projects our storage for a bunch of stuff that gets used only once a year. Then again if your Richie Rich it might not matter.
 

Steevo

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It takes me more than two years to finish a shop.
Mine was started in March, 2009 and isn't finished yet.
I couldn't deal with relocating that often, and would have to completely re-order my life to have no "stuff" or "shop" or "projects"
 
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Az Scooter

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I had a job opportunity like this once. My plan was to travel in a motor home with a raised roof 24 foot trailer. That way I could at least get a car somewhat off the ground, and could put the car inside of the trailer when it was time to move. I could have a majority of the tools in the front, and storage over the car. I did a lot of thinking to arrive at what for me was a workable solution.
One thing that was also a possibility was something like a race car trailer, and have the tail gate be ramps, instead of solid. The only problem was, finding a place to park it when it was time to move to the next location.
 

justanengineer

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Depends on your definition of "build" and "shop." If your definitions mean you move into an existing 2, 3, or 4 car garage, then yes and I expect to do so every few years. Thats the reason the Bport, the benches, everything is on a skid. I can empty/move my garage in <1 day, but Im also well practiced at doing so. To me, the 1500 lb Bport is an easy 5 minute load, 5 minute unload.

Otherwise, no.
 

kbs2244

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I today’s economy, if I couldn’t find a place with a building already there, I would find a place to rent.

It would be inconvenient, but inconvenience is something you are already used to.

Save your money for your retirement play house.
 

bobemmerich

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No. I would either:
1) look for a garage or space to rent locally
2) buy a house with at least a 2 car garage so I can work
3) just deal without one until I could actually settle down
I dont think the investment would be worth it if I knew i had to move every few years or so.
 

Jack Olsen

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I would not want to spend the time and aggravation building something for less than 10 years of tenancy. I think building a shop is a twice-in-a-lifetime thing at the absolute most. Once is better.
 

tailpipe

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A garage on the property will bring it to the top of the list when you go to resell and you may even make money on it sea cans can me used also then taken with you as for a hoist it doesn't have to be inside there are many portable ones that are already on wheels
 

2mJps

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If you use your shop alot life is to short to be with out one. I have to make a decision on what to do about a shop. I own a house in town and my dad has a farm 5 miles from me. I have my tools in 2 trailers and work in his barn. I would like a shop at my house but some day i will own a part of the farm that has no buildings on it. I hate to build at my house and then later build on the farm. I had a shop and spent every spare second in it then moved 25 miles from the farm and had no shop for 4 years. If i didnt have a place to work and was going to be their 2 years i would build not my dream shop but a shop of some kind.
 

kwb

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I would not want to spend the time and aggravation building something for less than 10 years of tenancy. I think building a shop is a twice-in-a-lifetime thing at the absolute most. Once is better.

Twice is better - there are a ton of lessons learned in going from dirt to a shop.

Honestly if you are going to be chasing a career all over the country that will have moves every few yrs (I know a lot of people that do the same) you are going to be spending a lot of time working and a 3-car garage on the house is about all a standard relocation package will get you moved without a bunch of out of pocket costs.
 

BDT/NWMN

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Simple answer is absolutely not.... Maybe a basic John Q Homeowner two car garage (only if one is lacking)......... but not a decked out ""SHOP"" with heated floor, welder plugs fully insulated and finished interior, insulated door ,high ceilings, abundant lighting etc......
 

dave4512

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Sounds like a problem posed to many members of the Armed Forces.

I would probably try to move somewhere that already had a building/garage to use as a shop. And try to make all of my tools mobile, so I can easily go from one location to another without huge headaches.

Yes this is a huge problem for us. We rent a house where ever we go so I just try to find a place with a garage and or a barn, the wife is a cowgirl. Another problem is the weight we are allowed I am a SGT and am allowed 10000 pounds of household goods total. As yall know with tools this adds up quick and It includes my motorycyle. When we retire I will definately be building a nice shop.
 

omr

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Yes this is a huge problem for us. We rent a house where ever we go so I just try to find a place with a garage and or a barn, the wife is a cowgirl. Another problem is the weight we are allowed I am a SGT and am allowed 10000 pounds of household goods total. As yall know with tools this adds up quick and It includes my motorycyle. When we retire I will definately be building a nice shop.
What? You can only own 1000 pounds of stuff or they will only move 1000 pounds of stuff for you?
 

mikegt4

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The thread about a shop as an investment got me thinking of a related issue. Would you build a shop if you knew you were going to move? Say your job will require you to move on a regular basis, every couple of years. Would you build a shop at each place you moved?

That sounds like the company that I work for. They require TOTAL dedication to the company (24/7/365) and moving from assignment to assignment (even internationally) every couple of years is the norm. There are very few people that have hobbies outside of golf and anything "hands on" in a shop is unheard of. Corporate relocation services usually require employees to relocate into upscale areas so that they can more easily resell the property when you move on to the next assignment and of course that means no shop/garage. Few of my fellow employees can even change their own light bulbs, everything is outsourced (they don't even know what a screwdriver or hammer is for). Such is life in an international company.

Finding a new home with a garage/shop every few years would be a tuff nut to crack, even a place where a shop could be built would be challenging. I would think that about 3 years between moves would be the break even point for building a shop.

For me, I have a 1200 sq. ft. shop on 5 acres out in the country and I am retiring from corporate life in 21 days! (but I am not counting) Most of my fellow employees can not imagine retiring and have nothing else in life outside of their career.

Sorry about straying a bit off topic.
 
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