Estimate for new garage, advice needed

[Codyboy]

When I built my house in Indiana, my bank wouldn't let me act as GC. I had to pay a guy like 10% to put everything under his business even though I did almost all the GC work. He did have a list of subs for me to access and he came by about once a month to make the bank happy with the progress. Being my first house, he was actually a little helpful. But I wouldn't need him a second time.

We did about the same thing through Owner Builder Network.
They will assist you with the paper work and are basically named the GC for the loan purposes.

They do have a extensive list of vetted contractors from the slab, framers, plumbers (all the trades) and provide that to you.

You are responsible for calling and getting bids and you're not bound to just use their list, it is just a tool.
You also setup the inspections and request your own draws from the bank.
Whether it saved much money idk really but it was an experience for sure.
That was 20 years ago when I was 40. Not sure I'd do it again.

 

[firebirdparts]

I don't need to work, but for $45000 I would be excited to put some tin on a building. That's not even a big building.

 

[1/4atatime]

I don't need to work, but for $45000 I would be excited to put some tin on a building. That's not even a big building.

Lol same I'm not a roofer but for 45k I'll figure it out

 

[racecougar]

No joke. I'd turn it into a nice vacation. Fly out there, do the work, make BANK, take a week to see the Catskills, and fly home.

 

[pembol]

I would agree that this sounds high, even for the Catskills. But without knowing the specifics it is really hard to judge. From the specs this sounds like it is going to be a very well built and nice garage with higher end construction. Secondly if this is the same GC and subs that are building what I presume to be a nice house to go along with this garage - in which case they may be more skilled/expensive subs than would typically work on a garage, which adds to the cost, but may end in a nicer product. We built the same size detached garage using the same GC and architect that did our house - without any utilities or interior finish, we were at around $110K, also in a VHCOL area. The builder did use more affordable framers for the garage, but it was generally built to the same quality as the house, which was close to $600 sq/ft.

I think the key thing would be to get some more bids, even if you end up going with your house contractor, you will know what the range is.

 

[ericm]

A couple years ago I got a quote for something over $600k for a 1640sq ft shop (basic, stick framed, insulated and finished) here in California. I'd had the GC do work for me before so I know he was honest. He worked hard to get as good a price as he could. It's a high cost of living area. It's also somewhat remote, which adds more cost and reduces the number of subs willing to work there. He said a lot of subs raised their quotes when they found out the location. The county's requirements resulted in an expensive pier and beam foundation, a huge paved fire truck turnaround, and a large runoff handling system. Paving alone would have been over $100k and was mandatory.


I don't know the area the OP's in but if it's something like that, his bid may be a good one for the area. How the contractor got to the end number with surcharges and $4k door openings kinda doesn't matter if that's the going rate.

Best bet would be to get some other quotes. Having a design for them to quote off of is essential, so you're not quoting radically different buildings. Yea I know other people already said that.

 

[My Old Tools]

High end garage with luxury detailing like standing seam metal roof, $4000 entry door, $6000 french door. Price doesn't seem that high for that type of finishing. Most houses don't spend that much for a couple of doors.

 

[LOW1]

This is the only one. We are working with the same guy to build a house in addition to this, which is A LOT. I hate to go with someone else but I feel like I am getting a little bit fleeced with this

Get another estimate and show it to your contractor.

I suspect your house is your contractor’s steak dinner and he is hoping the garage will be a very nice dessert.

 

[CraigStu]

Has a deal been signed on the house? If not, all the questions about the garage would make me really doubtful about the house.

 

[Beemer]

Okay, newbie here. I realize prices have soared since Covid, and I should brace for sticker shock. I received an estimate for a garage (mainly to be used as a woodshop) I will detail below, nothing super special here. It is a 40x24, plans are attached here. Thoughts and advice would help. I have a friend who will install a larger air-to-air heating colling unit, so add on another $8k to the below price. Here is what the contractor outlined:


TOTAL: $213,223

Four times what our construction loan was for our 2000 sq.ft. house and we had $5000 left over.
On another note, your number is only just over twice what we recently saw a new Ford Brono list price on the dealer's lot last week. That puts it in a different perspective.

I worked in the building design industry for a lifetime and the prices, especially change orders, makes a person lose perspective on the value of money.

 

[SCMO]

TOTAL: $213,223

Quite possibly the most ridiculous out of reality quote I have seen on this site.

 

[gmcgeo]

Get more quotes, even for your area. This seems higher then it should be

 

[bcsaltchucker]

doing a 24x34 garage here in BC. No doubt if I tendered it out I'd get 200k cdn quotes and 150k if I was lucky. More hoops to jump through with $5k just for geotech engeering. Just had the excavation completed last week, i budgeted 14k it came to 19k cdn (included lifting driveway, dropping it down to the new grade and laying new gravel driveway 100ft long though. My overall garage budget is about $70k cdn doing everything myself, but I will likely be paying out more to contract the slab (I will form and pour footings and stemwalls myself). 2x6 walls, insulated slab, screw down metal roof. For electrical I had budgeted $6k for new 200A service, but have decided to just use a 3.6KWHr Ecoflow battery-solar system I already own, so the $70k is with just basic wiring run into the battery. Yes the fancy garage doors are pricey now, so I will probably get the basic ones from big box store. I have to do some more extensive drainage work too, more than the average new house would need. Since it is being built to the same code as a house, maybe it could become a dwelling or bardnominium in the distant future. Maybe I will run over my budget by 10k. On the permit they wanted a price so I guesstimated 85k. (this is 73 cent canadian dollars)

 

[Youngandfree]

Yes prices have gone cray, but not that crazy. I'd keep shopping. Also the allowance for doors seems low.

$4000 for an entry door seems low?

 

[manwithtools]

$4000 for an entry door seems low?

No, total allowance for all doors combined seems low.

 

[akpolaris]

This is the only one. We are working with the same guy to build a house in addition to this, which is A LOT. I hate to go with someone else but I feel like I am getting a little bit fleeced with this

You are building a house in addition to a $200 K garage with the same builder. That a lot of work for 1 builder. I think i would start to scrutinize the specs on the house. Did you shop the cost of the house with any other contractor? It would seem that the garage and house would share resources during this construction phase, making the garage cost cheaper. I would consider talking to another contractor for the garage but it might sour the house build if he isn't complete. Or find a contractor that allows you put some "sweat equity" into the garage. There is a lot of stuff that you and do. If you can live without the finished product