Critizise my building ideas.

[Olafur]

It looks very practical. Unfortunately, in the US anyway, that translates to ugly. If I were you I would try to break up the design some to make it look less like a shed from the outside. While a single guy might not give two shits about what the outside looks like, a young family who might buy it is likely to include a young woman and not too many of them are going to be too excited about living in an industrial shed regardless of how nice the inside looks.

I think you correct, many wouldn't like the idea of living in such building. Obviously I am trying to keep the cost down, it may be lack of imagination or design skills on my behalf - to make this place more appealing will increase cost. I don't think it's worth it to do so. It's likely when I have to sell this place - It will be because of health issues or old age. I would rather use the money now for tools and toys to enjoy while I can.

Thanks!

 

[nmk_61802]

FYI, I'd put a mandoor between the garage and shop areas. I would not want to have to walk outside in the winter to get from one space to the next. You'd be surprised how that little inconvenience can keep you from wanting to go out to your shop.

 

[jack stand]

You only get one life. Build it for you, not the next A hole.
Come time to sell, that's what hammers and crowbars are for, it called renovation, and chances are that unless you build a "house" with the stupid living room and dining room that might get used 2-3 times a year with the proper number of bathrooms, bedrooms, closets and pantries... .
There will be someone out there that's looking for exactly what you built. Maybe not as many as looking for a regular house, but there's a guy out there, somewhere.
One man's ugly (or lack of conformity) is another man's dream and a guy not looking for someone else's approval of normalcy.

 

[Olafur]

You only get one life. Build it for you, not the next A hole.
Come time to sell, that's what hammers and crowbars are for, it called renovation, and chances are that unless you build a "house" with the stupid living room and dining room that might get used 2-3 times a year with the proper number of bathrooms, bedrooms, closets and pantries... .
There will be someone out there that's looking for exactly what you built. Maybe not as many as looking for a regular house, but there's a guy out there, somewhere.
One man's ugly (or lack of conformity) is another man's dream and a guy not looking for someone else's approval of normalcy.

Thanks, I am prone to overthinking projects.
I hope I can take your advice to heart. It's a good one.

 

[Olafur]

I got price estimate for the building back in 2019, and another recently. Material cost is up more than 50%

Local economy is on fire, shortages of tradesmen, real estate prices rising fast only in past few months, central bank raising interest rates and so on. At the same time economic outlook doesn't look good for Europe or the U.S, so perhaps material cost will go down a bit in real terms. Strange times.

My building cost estimate has reached uncomfortable level, so I am not moving forward with this for the time being. Perhaps I will get back to the drawing board and cut it down in size, or just wait a year and see how things develop.

 

[rayra]

Maybe figure a way to make the design expandable over time, with additions. Design with the whole structure in mind, provide utilities to support the expansions.
But that might be a false economy, once you get other trades involved, it doesn't cost much more to get a larger volume enclosed / built.

 

[My Old Tools]

I don't see a problem with it at all. Having said that - in the US then I would likely be unable to execute that plan due to zoning ordinances and building codes. Not sure what that's like in Iceland but you might want to look into that before you get too far along with the planning.

I did exactly that in east Texas. It's very doable in many parts of the US.

 

[My Old Tools]

Now that you mention it - I have to add sink in the garage section and also a big one in the shop. There is a small bathroom in the shop.

As for reselling: I am trying to design the apartment to be comfortable for small family. It's 143m² or tad over 1500 sq/ft combined. That's overkill for me, since I am single, but I think it makes sense if I need to sell it. I think I can finish this building for less money than similar apartment/condo costs in nearby town, only few miles away, and I bet many car guys would be interested.

Thanks!

Mine was 1140 Sf apartment, 2 bedroom, one bath, kitchen, living room, office nook. Sold for about 3 times what I had in it after 10 years.