Is garage lust dead?

[octanefam]

I will tell you in the Puget Sound area in Washington State garage lust is still happening. Any house with a detached garage sells with a couple days and will have multiple offers.

 

[MetalBuildingFun]

We had to decide if building our garage was going to be a benefit or not, and decided it did not matter anyway because we are building it for our use. We are in hot humid south texas, we like to wood work, and hubby works on cars. We currently do not have the space to do these things here so a new garage was important for us.

We are in town as well and I do know that people will see this garage often when they go to the local fast food joints so it will have free advertising for as long as we own it. When we bought the house and had a new roof installed I had people come by telling me they saw it from the fast food joint and wanted to know what it was, lol. So, I do believe that it will be a big selling point for us when we do decide to sell. We had a 39' RV in the place the garage is being built now and also had people come by wanting to buy it, when we had a reasonable offer we took it. All houses in our neighborhood are small with 1 car garages so I really think we did good by deciding to take the plunge and build. We are on a cul-de-sac so it is 16' wide by 30' long because it is the only way to make it work back there.

But in the end, it is your choice to decide whether it is important enough for you to have a shop or not, we want to do improvements to our house and our current garage really just doesn't provide what we need to do that.

 

[Parrothead]

Are the Zillow 'estimates' very accurate at all?

Zillow accurate? No, not even close.

They’ve admitted to being off as much as 10%, in either direction. Answer this question...when was the last time Zillow was in your home to make your estimate?

 

[Ilikeike]

Scary and unfortunately true..........


Maybe rethink ( I know thats (rethinking) never done ) but the high density and virus are bad combo.

Holly **** ........California allows outdoor grills..........think for the harm to the environment!!!!!!

Right !?!

 

[Ilikeike]

Your post got me thinking.

I’ve lived in my house for 8+ years, and used the yard for enjoyment less than 5 times. Ever. Wow!

Unless it was for mowing, weeding, fertilizing, planting, trimming, edging or pruning, I just plain don’t go out there. I have a small wooded lot with a decent sized deck and a grill, but I never use the yard. There’s space for ********/horseshoes/quarters but we never do. Kind of amazing now that I think about it.

So in essence, I’m paying (and a good deal of paying) to work. On something I don’t really use. Ever. Why?

*most HOA’s don’t allow boats or RV’s.

I understand not using your extra space enough to justify it,or even if someone wasn't healthy enough to use it,
but do you really want to be close enough to your neighbor to hear them pass gas ?

I'd rather tend the yard a bit to have some space between neighbors.

 

[Parrothead]

It's just a matter of percentages. If car guys who want a big separate shop only number say 3% of the population, then most of the houses it will not be an amenity or increase value. The Hoosier Anderson Hall example you show is a planned unit development where they mix uses and styles. The piece you show is rear garage on an alley to promote porch socialization. But a couple blocks away is a cul-de-sac where all 8 of the owners can eventually build/expand a garage on their lot. Rounding up percentages maybe 1 car guy lives there and will choose to build one. I think I can already tell which house is his by the driveway size.

It’s completely a matter of percentages, and those same percentages drive value. I’d say given my knowledge of the situation, your 3% is optimistic, but for the sake of this discussion, let’s go with it. Anderson Hall is a planned development by Estridge, and everything in the community is well above the median home price in Indiana. Interestingly enough the patio areas are on the sides of the houses, not by the rear driveways. Additionally the single family homes on the cul-de-sac’s can’t have any outbuildings as they are prohibited by the HOA. That may or may not include sheds, can’t remember. I know boats and RV’s are prohibited.

 

[didit]

I've never lived anywhere with a HOA. I don't think that would ever sit right with me. Paying someone to tell you what you are allowed and what you are not allowed to do? Cookie cutter dictated perfection designed to keep guys like me from messing up the ambiance with a hubcap nailed to the tree. Nothing to do with the subject at hand, just thinking out loud. OK carry on.

 

[joyridin]

Zillow accurate? No, not even close.

They’ve admitted to being off as much as 10%, in either direction. Answer this question...when was the last time Zillow was in your home to make your estimate?

My house insurance appears to be tied to the Zillow estimate

 

[yeldogt]

It’s completely a matter of percentages, and those same percentages drive value. I’d say given my knowledge of the situation, your 3% is optimistic, but for the sake of this discussion, let’s go with it. Anderson Hall is a planned development by Estridge, and everything in the community is well above the median home price in Indiana. Interestingly enough the patio areas are on the sides of the houses, not by the rear driveways. Additionally the single family homes on the cul-de-sac’s can’t have any outbuildings as they are prohibited by the HOA. That may or may not include sheds, can’t remember. I know boats and RV’s are prohibited.

I can't look at that .... my head hurts !

 

[DFB]

Boy I'm sure glad I don't live where some of you guys do


Those subdivision layouts reminds me exactly WHY I left southern Maine/Portland area When my neighbor split up his property and had a half dz MCmansions contract built abutting my farm was the last straw for me...

He said I did you guys a favor I said how he says you now have frontage on town approved road

Hey what do they say

Oh ya when in Rome...do as the Romans do

 

[Lassen Forge]

When we sold it and bought the new place I immediately started construction of an even larger shop and my realtor, who is also a friend of ours, mentioned that I was making a real estate mistake for resale value.

My biggest beef with "agents", as they're looking not at what's best for you, but hoping they can get you into a place, then get you to flip it through them to keep the income coming in. I've seen VERY few who care about what YOUR wants and needs are... they're more worried about making your new house a perpetual and increasing source of income.

They WANT you to flip every few years. They hate people like me who bought the place not to flip but to live in, to most of them that's a horrendous waste of a chance to make them money.

My house insurance appears to be tied to the Zillow estimate

Zillow is one of the tools insurers use, along with comps and whatonot. Our place we have an agreed valuation, as there's a lot more structure here than Zillow or comps account for, including an historic smithy that was here long after the settlers left and the previous owners bought. To them - it's zero value (ergo the agreed valuation), to us it's one of the main reasons why we bought the place.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

I race cars, have a 26' enclosed trailer, and a motorhome. So I need a place to work on the race cars and park all the "stuff".

I (over) built the 1000sf race shop in 2014/2015 with in floor hydonic heat, 10' ceiling, lots of wiring, dump station for the M/H, toilet room, hot and cold running water, three garage doors, etc. Spent probably just over $100K. I got what I wanted and I like it.

In December of 2019 we decided to refinance to take advantage of low interest rates. I've been in the mortgage biz since 1980 so I know the drill. I spent extra time showing the appraiser the shop and gave him a list of the amenities and features.

When the appraisal came in there were no recent sale comps with a detached shop, that didn't surprise me. He did find nine recent sales that were comparable. His adjustments were fair and reasonable. Good appraisal.

BUT, BUT, BUT ... he gave my only a $25,000 bump for the shop; and he know what I spent. I appealed the appraisal. He acknowledged the shop was first class, well thought out, well built. But he just couldn't see the market would value a shop at what I was expecting.

Granted the appraiser isn't a couple where the wife fell in love with the updated house, nice yard, neighborhood, and schools ... and the husband who is into cars and boats was speechless as he went through the shop.

I realize I wasn't going to get dollar for dollar back ... but I was expecting to do better than 25 cents on a dollar.

 

[Parrothead]

My biggest beef with "agents", as they're looking not at what's best for you, but hoping they can get you into a place, then get you to flip it through them to keep the income coming in. I've seen VERY few who care about what YOUR wants and needs are... they're more worried about making your new house a perpetual and increasing source of income.

They WANT you to flip every few years. They hate people like me who bought the place not to flip but to live in, to most of them that's a horrendous waste of a chance to make them money.

I hear you about bad agents. I fired my first two! The third was serviceable.

That said, the average homeowner lives in their house around 7 years, and the agents I know that are the best in the business (nationally) don’t necessarily care if you move, but they want your referrals. That’s how they get and grow their business. There are a lot more good agents than bad, and most of them want to do what’s best for you.

 

[Teach]

One (or both) of my sons want to buy my house when they graduate college and are a year or two into their jobs. They are unusual- 12 year-old-twin boys who have wanted to own our home forever.

I think it is a combination of them having had a great upbringing here, and that our home is unique- a 1790 historic landmark with a very large garage- lift, second floor, woodworking shop in the rear, etc.

I should probably mention, the reason we would sell to one of the boys is to move into a reproduction antique home one mile up the street that my in-laws built, and we will inherit half of at some point.

I am incredibly grateful that my boys (and my wife, for that matter) appreciate the same things I do. They are very much into the old car hobby, and either would be thrilled to own the home they are growing up in...and I suspect would build their own large garage if they didn't end up with mine.

Having said all of that, I see in my students that very few are interested in using their hands for much more than texting. People are just generally less interested in doing manual labor for themselves...but they are missing out on the pride and satisfaction that comes from it.

 

[dr_clyde]

One (or both) of my sons want to buy my house when they graduate college and are a year or two into their jobs. They are unusual- 12 year-old-twin boys who have wanted to own our home forever.

I think it is a combination of them having had a great upbringing here, and that our home is unique- a 1790 historic landmark with a very large garage- lift, second floor, woodworking shop in the rear, etc.

I am incredibly grateful that my boys (and my wife, for that matter) appreciate the same things I do. They are very much into the old car hobby, and either would be thrilled to own the home they are growing up in...and I suspect would build their own large garage if they didn't end up with mine.

Having said all of that, I see in my students that very few are interested in using their hands for much more than texting. People are just generally less interested in doing manual labor for themselves...but they are missing out on the pride and satisfaction that comes from it.

In my experience, pride and satisfaction comes from a job well done, good craftsmanship or quality work. Not from ignorant labor.

A trench dug from a backhoe is just as good as one dug with a shovel. Except one took minutes and one took hours. I know I’d rather pay a good backhoe operator and be done in an hour vs slaving in the hot sun for a whole day for the same result.

Manual labor for the sake of manual labor isn’t really all it’s cracked up to be.

 

[Teach]

In my experience, pride and satisfaction comes from a job well done, good craftsmanship or quality work. Not from ignorant labor.

A trench dug from a backhoe is just as good as one dug with a shovel. Except one took minutes and one took hours. I know I’d rather pay a good backhoe operator and be done in an hour vs slaving in the hot sun for a whole day for the same result.

Manual labor for the sake of manual labor isn’t really all it’s cracked up to be.

Manual labor may not have been the best word choice, and ignorant labor wasn't my word choice at all. I just meant actually doing something that requires work, and that you can look at afterward and take satisfaction from. I could pay others to maintain my home and yard, but I get satisfaction from doing it myself.

 

[threeputt]

My workshop is MY WORKSHOP, and it is of no concern to me or my spouse whether we (or she) ever recover any of the cost of building it, operating it, or maintaining it, or what the next owner might store inside it. They can raise pigs in there, grow pot in there, keep their umpteen dozen children in there, I really don't care. The value of it is in my time of using it.

It has surely been a blessing now that we are sheltered at home, and our only time apart is when I am in the shop. Curiously, I get far fewer drop-in visits from the dear wife these days . . .

I consider the cost to have been an investment in my sanity, and in the health of my marriage, as both are better off when I have space to do my thing, and she has time alone in the (her) house.

I look forward to going to my shop everyday. I sure don't do it for the money. Like you I keep working at the shop everyday to keep my sanity.

The shop is only four miles from my house. I got a business phone because it came bundled with internet. Same with my home phone. When I get home at night I look and dang if I didn't call my wife 4 times or more. We both like it this way. Almost like when I used to work out of the shop for a living.

My 44 year old son can't do anything in the shop so after we are gone I am sure it will be a junk storage for them. For now its my daily hangout.

I am always busy with something unlike others my age who are bored to death. How do I know that. Well they stop in to see what I am doing a lot. I tell them to just move on.

 

[threeputt]

For probably most of us here, the garage is also a refuge, a place to hang out. Maybe I'm sick but I like tunes on the shop stereo and just looking at my cycles and rummaging ideas in my head. The garage is my hobby zone, happy zone, therapy in a way. If that all adds to my sanity then it has great value to me. Maybe its a regional thing too, because around here in east central Wisconsin extra garages and out buildings are very common on homes in the $150,000 and up range. Housing costs here are not bad really. Though I am still floored that a common new house around here these days is in the $250,000 range, like this: https://www.trulia.com/p/wi/kaukaun...auna-wi-54130--2054558091?mid=28#lil-mediaTab

I have always felt if I ever moved to another state it would be NE Arizona or SW Colorado. Well, forget that, the house costs are friggin ridiculous!! At my age (62) I will not accept a new mortgage, so anything I'd buy would have to be cash. In a small town similar to east central Wisconsin a damned mobile home on a tiny lot with no driveway or garage (looks more like a meth house) is selling for $165,000. This past year I did a lot of work in Louisville MS, nice little town halfway between Jackson and Memphis. House costs down there are very reasonable, but I could not stand the heat.

Nope, staying in Wisconsin until I am part of the dirt here.

I am 10 years older than you and live in the deep south. Wouldn't have it any other way. Things here are cheap compared to other parts of the US but I like it that way. Except for the four years I served in the military I have lived here all my life and will die here.

You couldn't pay me to live where you are. My wife is from the UP of Michigan and after 50 years here in the south she feels the same as me. Way too cold for her and I wouldn't even think about it.. My wife's family feels the same as you do. No way would they ever move south.

I guess its all what we get used to. My wife adapted great 50 years ago. She is now a southern girl even though she still has a little northern accent . I do like your summers better than ours though

 

[redidbull]

There is one guy that lives up the street from me who built a garage and he has some older cars he works on. Other than him I don't think I have ever seen anyone working on a car in my whole neighborhood. Jim

 

[paredown]

Good thread...

Covid19 has probably put the spike in any chance of me starting in on my dream garage. Not likely that I will get much seasonal construction work this year--and my wife has only just been saved by a new temporary job.

Realistically too I probably don't have all that many years left of being able to get-er-done--or to do the finishing required to complete the kind of garage that I have sketched out (and that would fit the aesthetics of the modern house we're in--to riff on a point made somewhere above).

So it will be the holding pattern for now--and I will continue to use the original one car as my "shop" to finish the house. Good thing you can put everything on wheels--but by god it is slow!

 

[engineer2]

There is one guy that lives up the street from me who built a garage and he has some older cars he works on. Other than him I don't think I have ever seen anyone working on a car in my whole neighborhood.

Same here. 900 home subdivision and you can count the car guys on one hand. Doesn't help that most of the garages are 19.5 x 19.5.

 

[GirchyGirchy]

My wife feels the same way I do - DDs stay in the garage, so it was a must when we bought a house. It's a decent sized 2-car...obviously would like a much larger one, but it's better than nothing.

 

[DelayedZ]

We're moving in the next few years and have been discussing garages. I want a separate shop. I do feel like a minority though. When we moved back from Vegas to NJ, the realtor looked at me like I had two heads when I told him I wanted a big garage or a separate shop. I ended up settling for something. Not this time, I'm getting what I want and being happy.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[slackdaddy1]

BING, Bing, Bing!! And the winner is,,

Newer cars are nearly impossible to work on. 10 year old cars are nearly impossible to work on. 20 year old cars are a royal pain in the *** to work on.
30 year old cars are now classics and bring major money.
40 year old cars are museum pieces for the rich and famous.

And all these newer cars (0-20 years old),, require an endless collection of specialized tools.
We didn't have or need a set of Long, medium and short, flex head ratcheting box ends to work on a car.

My 1st car when I was 16 was a 1970 390/4spd Javelin. (1980, paid $350, 70k miles, spotless)
I had a basic craftsman socket set and beam torque wrench, a bottle jack and other odds and ends. as a 16 year old I rebuilt the engine a few times, swaped trans, etc, etc.

The problem is "who can work on todays cars?" Most people just take them to a repair shop/dealer. And, to buy old cars today...who has the money?

 

[Scud67]

"BING, Bing, Bing!! And the winner is,,

Newer cars are nearly impossible to work on. 10 year old cars are nearly impossible to work on. 20 year old cars are a royal pain in the *** to work on.
30 year old cars are now classics and bring major money.
40 year old cars are museum pieces for the rich and famous.

And all these newer cars (0-20 years old),, require an endless collection of specialized tools."

I still work on all of my cars - from 70's all the way to my 2017 Super Duty. I don't need any "specialized tools" to work on them. It's all in what you know, want to know, or even care to know - or what you want to do as opposed to paying someone else to do.

I am not doing the roof on my house, because I would rather pay a pro to do so. Yard work, I do myself. Anything to do with fixing, repairing, or maintaining mechanical things I do myself because I can (and I also enjoy it).

My shop is for me - no one else. It will certainly take a specific buyer when we sell, but I am willing to wait to find that person (or persons) when the time comes. And when it does, I will be looking for a "retirement" property with a nice large shop for me to tinker until the end.....

 

[sayoda]

Garage lust isn't dead.... I'm in the middle of adding a bay on just to work on my cars.

Yes the newer cars need more tools to work on than the older stuff.. but isn't collecting tools half the fun???

 

[NYBODYMAN]

As far as wrenching on cars in one's garage, I think it's a matter of being different times. I just turned 40. When I was 16 in 1996 and got my license, my first car was an '85 Olds Delta 88 that I gor for free. I tinkered with it and learned to adjust things etc. Today's cars are virtually maintenance free. My 2016 Durango need 1 oil change a year. Spark plugs are 100k+. Lifetime fluids, etc. Younger generations don't need to know how to maintain a vehicle. I also believe the idea of "being a car guy" is a lot different then it used to be. Again, I tinkered and eventually it became my profession for over a decade. I've heard younger guys tell me they are car guys nowadays and they may know information they read online, but cant turn a wrench to save their lives. I can't speak for other garage activities.

 

[Jumpman-Z]

I don't think it's dead, as I know plenty of guys that either have would love to have their own shop. Unfortunately there's just so many that don't care for that sort of thing. When I finally build a separate garage for working on bigger projects and having more storage space, I realize that it'll only be a fractional return on my investment, and it's something that I'm primarily doing for my personal enjoyment.

 

[Ak Jim]

I went for years with a two car garage. It's about 20x28. Heated with a floor drain and utility sink. I had a couple of cars I would rent space to keep them in the winter. Doing any projects required moving the cars outside. I also had other cars outside. It was ok but not great. We had kind of looked around for houses with big garages or shops. They were far between and really most of the shops sucked. I finally told the wife in the fall of 2015 were either going to move next summer or build something. We live at the end of a short deadend road with a 1 acre lot, we also purchased the vacant lot behind our house so we had a nice setting. Decided on adding on. Well as the planning process went the addition kept getting bigger and bigger. Started as a third stall. Then I thought well I can make it be deep enough for two cars. But that wasn't big enough. I finally thought ok this is what I'd like to build but how can I sell this place if we move? I ended up designing basically an attached 1300 sqft apartment. It has its own garage door, man door and power meter. It has a full bath with closet set up for a washer and dryer. I have the place fully plumbed and wired for a full kitchen. There are 8 windows. The only thing I didn't do is build any of the interior walls, except for the bathroom. The place is finished as nice as a house. I say it's a house that I keep cars in. I still have the original two car. That's where we keep the cars we drive all of the time. I walk from the house into the old garage and open a door into the new garage. It's great. I don't know how I ever survive with out the space. When it comes time to move will we get our money's worth out of it? I'm not sure. But the place could be used as a MIL apartment, a dance studio, a childcare, a wood shop, or a garage.

 

[YeahPete]

Im a millenial and I appreciate a good shop, but seems in this economy people dont appreciate that stuff. If the economy turns for the worse, people will get back into DIY.

 

[PhantomEB]

As much there are people that don’t do ****, there are still lots out there that appreciate a decent shop. I stayed within my means built what I wanted, every week that goes by now there’s another selling feature added to the place....my buddies love coming over and seeing what I been up to and add that to their place or at least in the back of their minds.

Like one buddy says don’t price yourself out of the market, I replied I did most of this ****, some with help and it’s all for me, not for someone else!

Now with all this **** going on, even she is happy that we have this little piece of paradise that lots of people wish they had!

 

[rerod]

So what I'm reading is I should build a regular house and install a lift outside because the next guy probably wont want a car lift in his house?

I knew not everyone would want my tall dream garage, but it sounds like I would be throwing money away..

I should just build a cookie cutter 3 bedroom walkout like everyone one else..

Or will "cookie cutter 3 bedroom walkout's" even be popular in the future?

 

[egdede]

My 1st car when I was 16 was a 1970 390/4spd Javelin. (1980, paid $350, 70k miles, spotless)
I had a basic craftsman socket set and beam torque wrench, a bottle jack and other odds and ends. as a 16 year old I rebuilt the engine a few times, swaped trans, etc, etc.

Damn, at age 18, the first rebuild I was involved with was a bear. Specifically, a friend rebuilt a SBC in my garage. We needed many of my dad's tools (starting with his engine stand.) Took weeks....Lasted years....

 

[Varty Yo]

The only reason we even looked at our house is because i was doing drive by looks and notice the 8ft door on the garage. I called my wife right there and said set up a viewing! The online pics were awful of the house but in person it was beautiful 1928 home. The garage isnt a monster but i can fit my landcruiser and lifted duramax in it if needed at teh same time but its tight haha. Never had a garage before so im loving it after 8 years. Just with is was built off a slab not footings as it needs to be raised 6" for sure.

 

[fatjay]

When I moved in, my neighbor had a cub cadet hydrostat mower vs my cub cadet stick. But I had a 3 year old ford excursion diesel to his little whatever he had. We are friendly though. Shortly there-after he gets the newest expedition as the excursion is no longer made. Then I bought the 2008 Jaguar XKR, out of lust. Shortly there after he buys the dodge hellcat. Couple years later I buy the kubota b8200 with MMM. a year later he buys the cub cadet zero turn 60". A year after that i buy the kubota zd21 diesel 60". Then he builds a 22'x36' garage. So now I'm building a 24'x44' garage. I hear rumors he's starting a "from scratch" ford model A. When I'm done with the garage, I'll build a shelby GT, or just buy a lamborghini gallardo.

Friendly neighborhood rivalry is alive and well here.

 

[Showkey]

BING, Bing, Bing!! And the winner is,,

Newer cars are nearly impossible to work on............

Winner ????????

No think we have too many losers that make excuses, refuse to learn, can’t read.

So they make excuses........won’t or can’t install a water heater, add an outlet, fix the HVAC, replace the brakes, change the oil, operate a chain saw, own a table saw, weld a bracket, tape drywall, build a shed, wash the car, cut the lawn, fix the toaster, replace bath faucet etc etc

So maybe their garage/shop has a sofa and big screen

This is the GJ .....Stop whining and go fix or build something

 

[slackdaddy1]

I said "Nearly"

we are building jeeps, in the garage I designed and built, all while living in the house I designed and built.

Winner ????????

No think we have too many losers that make excuses, refuse to learn, can’t read.

So they make excuses........won’t or can’t install a water heater, add an outlet, fix the HVAC, replace the brakes, change the oil, operate a chain saw, own a table saw, weld a bracket, tape drywall, build a shed, wash the car, cut the lawn, fix the toaster, replace bath faucet etc etc

So maybe their garage/shop has a sofa and big screen

This is the GJ .....Stop whining and go fix or build something

 

[DeltaWye]

Meh, I'd love a house with a shop but around here a small house without a shop is about a million dollars. In fact, I've come to accept that I'll probably never own a house in my lifetime because I made the mistake of not buying one when I was in high school when they were last affordable. I'm not getting any younger and I'm getting to the point I think I will sell most of my material possessions and just pay people to do everything for me. The time I spent learning how to do things will never pay off even I were to live to be 200.

 

[bctexas]

I retired the end of 2016, and we lived in a subdivision house where we had raised two boys (both computer nerds with no mechanical skills or interest). With them grown and gone, it was time for the house and shop we both wanted.

You've heard of a starter home? We built our ender home on 2 1/2 acres outside city limits. The house is 2150sf plus a garage for the daily drivers. My wife got exactly what she wanted in the house and property, and I got exactly what I wanted in the 2000sf shop.

With any luck, they will carry us out of here feet first. At which point the value of this place matters to us not a bit. That will be our kids' problem....

 

[John in OH]

Real estate sales people will tell you that the ROI on a detached garage/shop is near zero.

Most of the neighbors around me in eastern VA, rural area, are in their 30-50 age range and don't have any garage AT ALL. Cars and "stuff" just sits out in the rain or, at best, in a pre-fab garden shed. Even the newer houses built within the last 3 years have no garage at all.