Downsizing dilemma

[Greg85mcss]

Hey all, I posted asking for advice probably about a year ago & got some great responses. Well, we've been in the house about a year and a half. The excitement has settled down & after uncovering issues while freshening we have come to the decision that this will be a starter house.
Point is that I've decided not to invest the money for the garage I really want. I do need something though & am planning a budget build. What I'm thinking about is ordering a 18x20 metal prefab or possibly the same size carport & build walls. Main use will be storing & working on my 85 monte carlo, keeping tools in one place instead of squeezed in the shed with household storage. I'm not worried about the width but I'm a little hesitant about the 20' length. This is a pretty cookie cutter size & I would have to custom order to add a couple feet. Does anyone have any opinions on how much of an issue this could be? We have the money saved for the big garage & I don't mind dropping another $500 or so but would rather have some savings left over than spend it on something that won't get much use.


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[ssdave]

Since this is a "starter" house, research what will add the highest proportion of value in your area, versus what you invest.

If your house is in a neighborhood/price class that normally has garages, a garage may add as much, or even more than what you put into it, as long as you build what is typical in your neighborhood. Any more than that "typical garage", and you not get back out of it what you put in. Garages and shops are typically a loss on investment, not a gain.

Any less than what is considered a normal or typical garage, and you will get essentially no value out of it on resale either. So, there's a fine line to balance near to get value on resale.

With your plans to upgrade sooner or later, I'd build what makes financial sense from a house value/resale standpoint, and meets a minimum of your needs.

 

[Greg85mcss]

That's what I'm trying to do. I'm in a somewhat rural area & have to build in a specific place due to septic & property line setbacks. I don't know but I honestly wouldn't think it will raise the property value much. I think it would be a good selling point though. I was planning on a high ceiling 30x20 & that would have blocked the view from the back patio. Anything wider would limit the possibility of a future addition. I just hate the thought of building it & not having enough room.


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[langss]

Since this is a "starter" house, research what will add the highest proportion of value in your area, versus what you invest.

If your house is in a neighborhood/price class that normally has garages, a garage may add as much, or even more than what you put into it, as long as you build what is typical in your neighborhood. Any more than that "typical garage", and you not get back out of it what you put in. Garages and shops are typically a loss on investment, not a gain.

Any less than what is considered a normal or typical garage, and you will get essentially no value out of it on resale either. So, there's a fine line to balance near to get value on resale.

With your plans to upgrade sooner or later, I'd build what makes financial sense from a house value/resale standpoint, and meets a minimum of your needs.

This is what I was planning before another house presented itself. I was going to add a 20X30 garage/hobby/whatever room finished on the inside with a regular garage door at the long end, and a side entry door up near the house. There would have been a Breezway between the existing garage and the new one and depending on what it ultimately would have cost, I could have gone another 10ft to the alley behind the house. It would have been within the Guidelines you laid out because the house nextdoor did the same thing except they went two story and its all living space. Its kind of overbuilt right now for the area, but in time it will probably be a money maker.

 

[rvieceli]

Alternatives might be to look for space you can rent close by. Then keep looking for that house that better fits your needs.

If you are currently in the area you like, you could also look for some vacant property that would work for a future build. Plan for the house but build the shop first.

 

[finn]

My opinion is that a cheap tin carport will lower your potential resale value.

They are an eyesore.

 

[bczygan]

How much longer do you intend to be where you are?

Does the house have any garage at present?

Bill

 

[APEowner]

To answer you question. I think you'll find the length, or lack there of, frustrating and it'll be worth spending more to get something longer.

To add my unsolicited input the whole idea sounds like a recipe for reduced property values and a disassembled '85 Monte Carlo. This may not be the right time in your life for a project car. I may be reading too much into this and be totally off base but...

 

[Greg85mcss]

Bczygan
We're thinking about another 5 years but nothing set in stone. There is no current garage.
Apeowner
I thought about that & many houses in the neighborhood have similar setups. A bunch have multiple **** shacks too. The car was a one owner garage kept weekend toy until about 5 years ago. It's solid & has 84k original miles. What I plan on is a new engine that I already have assembled, exhaust, weather stripping, rear & it will eventually need a trans to support the power. Nothing that would keep it out of commission more than a few days.
Appreciate the responses so far.


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[bczygan]

Bczygan
We're thinking about another 5 years but nothing set in stone. There is no current garage.
Apeowner
I thought about that & many houses in the neighborhood have similar setups. A bunch have multiple **** shacks too. The car was a one owner garage kept weekend toy until about 5 years ago. It's solid & has 84k original miles. What I plan on is a new engine that I already have assembled, exhaust, weather stripping, rear & it will eventually need a trans to support the power. Nothing that would keep it out of commission more than a few days.
Appreciate the responses so far.


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Based on your answer, I would try for something just sized for the neighborhood. Don't overbuild. Added space can be added with temporary structure that can be taken with you.

So I would build a normal framed garage, sized like others in the area, so you can recoup the cost when you sell.

But I would add onto it, an inexpensive metal structure, that gives the needed additional space. Here's how.

Build a garage.

The front wall gets a beam from one side to the other, so the entire front wall can be eliminated. Leave that wall open for now, but install the footings that will be needed later.

In front of that garage, pour a slab that will be the driveway/parking area for in front of the garage. Try to make it just a floating slab without footings based on the lightweight metal structure.

On that slab, erect a metal building, as you proposed, but connected to the stick built garage, making the entire space as large as you needed. Install a suitably sized garage door on the front for access.

You now have a hybrid building, with the front being lightweight metal on a floating slab, and the and the rear portion being traditional construction.

When time comes to sell, remove the metal building for re-erection at your new place. Fill in the front wall of the stick built garage and move the garage door to that wall.

Understand?

A less expensive option is to just build a standard garage, which will increase the property value, and try to get by with it until you move.

Bill

 

[taumac]

My two cents on this would be to build something that looks appropriate for the house and fits into the neighborhood. If this is just a starter home and plan on moving in five years then I would put some stuff in storage and wait until you get the new home and spend your money there.