Is garage lust dead?

[John in OH]

The high schools don't help this situation.

My youngest son was following a college prep curriculum in HS and had plenty of credits to graduate. But, as a senior, (2004) he wanted to take some vocational mechanic classes for fun. School said, nope can't do it. They refused to allow him to take the classes. We tried to argue the point but it was wasted effort.

So, there he was willing and interested, but shut out by some vague school policy. Needless to say, he has pretty much lost interest and his truck now goes to the dealer for all work.

 

[paredown]

The high schools don't help this situation.

My youngest son was following a college prep curriculum in HS and had plenty of credits to graduate. But, as a senior, (2004) he wanted to take some vocational mechanic classes for fun. School said, nope can't do it. They refused to allow him to take the classes. We tried to argue the point but it was wasted effort.

So, there he was willing and interested, but shut out by some vague school policy. Needless to say, he has pretty much lost interest and his truck now goes to the dealer for all work.

Met a guy from the NYC school system while we were demolishing a house and selling off the parts--the kind of thing that attracts the DIY crowd.

He was telling me that virtually all the shops in the NYC school system are used as storage spaces now--they can't afford the insurance for the district to run shop classes, or afford the teachers to staff them. Given that it is likely that kids have had less exposure at home than ever before, the teachers (& union) wanted to have more supervision to prevent accidents. The answer was to shutter them. And while you may think that in an urban setting this is not a big deal, but schools like Brooklyn Tech had a huge influence in raising a generation of kids, some of whom are the stalwards in the trades to this day.

 

[andyvh1959]

May be relevant to this thread. Mike Rowe has for years now discussing technical classes and training need to be part of classes offered for the trades; electrician, welders, fabricators, plumbers, masons, construction, etc. He proposes, as other economic leaders have proposed, to have a college degree is good, but to also have a trade to reply on or go back to will always be needed (at least so far).

However, since the growth of computers, technology and college degrees, most high schools and a lot of tech schools focused only on computer science and computer labs. All the tech-ed classes I recall back in 1975 probably don't exist anymore. Perhaps an adjustment in schooling is needed, or coming?

 

[John in OH]

Starting to drift off topic somewhat, but ....

When the oil shale boom hit SE Ohio about 8-10 years ago local folks in the area, which had a fairly high unemployment, were all excited about the incoming new jobs!

Turns out the drilling and pipeline companies brought in their own labor from TX, LA, OK, etc. All these jobs, now filled by outside labor, really upset the locals and their politicians. When questioned, the companies said the local labor market was unable to provide qualified welders, operating engineers, technicians, etc. due to insufficient vo-ed training. Added was the fact that far too many couldn't pass the drug tests.

Of course, the companies were right. The local vo-ed schools had dumped most of their craft labor classes in favor of service-related skills training.

Things have changed considerably since then as the oil companies have partnered with the local schools to reintroduce classes that are targeted to the oil and pipeline industry. But a lot of the "early money" went to out-of-state workers.

 

[Vintage Veloce]

There is a factor that hasn't been mentioned yet...

Some of the problem is that the *Realtors* want the house to be easy to sell. If they convince you the garage has no value, it will be easier to sell the house to someone who doesn't care about the garage!

Many don't understand the for the vast majority of realtors, selling homes is a volume business. They don't really care about getting you the best price, they want to close the deal.

Imagine they sell a home for $500,000: your realtor splits the commission after the company fee is deducted, so they probably make around 2%. That would be $10000. If you reduce the sale price to $450,000, the realtor makes $9000. Now, remember, the realtor makes nothing unless the house is sold, and they have to sell a lot of homes to make a living. So to be a successful realtor, it becomes a volume business. They would rather have $9000 now than work to sell the house for a couple more months.

The realtor doesn't really work for you, they work for themselves. The cheaper you price the home, the more easily the home sells and the more homes they sell.

(This same thing is the reason why the realtors suggest you fix stuff, paint, redo the landscaping, etc before you sell. They make the home easier to sell, but they won't raise the price for that! Don't believe me, as a realtor about a house they have been trying to sell... suggest they raise the price $10k and paint it. Lol.)

 

[yeldogt]

Just look around. When I was in my 20's (1980's) I was typically one of the youngest guys at most auctions .. at the various car and woodworking clubs. My older bother and I got into Triumphs (TR4's mostly). My college roommate was into Chevells. Sadly -- I'm still one of the younger people when I go to things today. I was never into car shows all that much ... but ... did go occasionally to the big ones.

Has anybody gone to a car show recently? -- the owners are all old. Car and woodworking clubs -- we have more death notices. I did take a woodworking class over the winter and the younger people there were women .. one guy.

Everybody is old ... I was also one of the younger people at my golf club for years .... we have really worked to get and keep younger members.

 

[yeldogt]

There is a factor that hasn't been mentioned yet...

Some of the problem is that the *Realtors* want the house to be easy to sell. If they convince you the garage has no value, it will be easier to sell the house to someone who doesn't care about the garage!

Many don't understand the for the vast majority of realtors, selling homes is a volume business. They don't really care about getting you the best price, they want to close the deal.

Imagine they sell a home for $500,000: your realtor splits the commission after the company fee is deducted, so they probably make around 2%. That would be $10000. If you reduce the sale price to $450,000, the realtor makes $9000. Now, remember, the realtor makes nothing unless the house is sold, and they have to sell a lot of homes to make a living. So to be a successful realtor, it becomes a volume business. They would rather have $9000 now than work to sell the house for a couple more months.

The realtor doesn't really work for you, they work for themselves. The cheaper you price the home, the more easily the home sells and the more homes they sell.

(This same thing is the reason why the realtors suggest you fix stuff, paint, redo the landscaping, etc before you sell. They make the home easier to sell, but they won't raise the price for that! Don't believe me, as a realtor about a house they have been trying to sell... suggest they raise the price $10k and paint it. Lol.)

There is some of that -- yes. It's always been a problem .. uneducated and unwilling. But .. value is what peopel are willing to spend.

I have built quite a few vacation houses -- most are unique .. and I'm extreemly carefull and cautious about location. I pay for good design ... may not be for everybody ... but all you need are a few. The key there is having knowledable RE agents. I put the word out I'm ready to move on ... I have even had offers asking if I want to sell. Same on the other side ... I tell the agent what I'm looking for.

The house sells the property ... middle class house with high end garage is not a formula for sucess.

 

[TheJudge]

I guess it all stems from ones fascinations in your childhood, and or what kind of upbringing you had/people you surround yourself with. From my childhood, watching my father start from a simple 2 bay garage, to the 40x40 shop we have in a 40x100 pole barn, and being part of helping him set it up drives me to want to participate, and some day when I have land of my own, build my own shop for my hobbies.

Sent from my LM-G710VM using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[wawaw]

There is also an old saying about selling houses. "their is someone for every house" .

 

[John in OH]

Just look around. When I was in my 20's (1980's) I was typically one of the youngest guys at most auctions .. at the various car and woodworking clubs. My older bother and I got into Triumphs (TR4's mostly). My college roommate was into Chevells. Sadly -- I'm still one of the younger people when I go to things today. I was never into car shows all that much ... but ... did go occasionally to the big ones.

Has anybody gone to a car show recently? -- the owners are all old. Car and woodworking clubs -- we have more death noctices. I did take a woodworking class over the winter and the younger people there were women .. one guy.

Everybody is old ... I was also one of the younger people at my golf club for years .... we have really worked to get and keep younger members.

This observation is also true for antique tractor clubs ... nearly all the guys at the tractor shows are old geezers like myself.

Of course, part of this is economics. When you are young you are working hard to get your life started, pay for a house, pay for a car, raise kids, get ahead at work etc., etc. Time and money are usually both tight.

Once the kids leave the nest or you retire, there is lot more free time and, if lucky, more money to devote to hobbies and traveling to shows.

 

[zkdiesel]

This observation is also true for antique tractor clubs ... nearly all the guys at the tractor shows are old geezers like myself.

Of course, part of this is economics. When you are young you are working hard to get your life started, pay for a house, pay for a car, raise kids, get ahead at work etc., etc. Time and money are usually both tight.

Once the kids leave the nest or you retire, there is lot more free time and, if lucky, more money to devote to hobbies and traveling to shows.

Find this very true. At 35 I have way more expendable income then I have time to use it.....can’t take trips or vast projects on. Everything is customer work and business building. Next shop I’m gonna pay someone to build for
Me as I’m too busy working In my current one raking in that big $$!

 

[yeldogt]

This observation is also true for antique tractor clubs ... nearly all the guys at the tractor shows are old geezers like myself.

Of course, part of this is economics. When you are young you are working hard to get your life started, pay for a house, pay for a car, raise kids, get ahead at work etc., etc. Time and money are usually both tight.

Once the kids leave the nest or you retire, there is lot more free time and, if lucky, more money to devote to hobbies and traveling to shows.

IMO -- you don't wake up at 50 and get into tractors. Now -- I'm not saying it has never happened .... or some guy working in finance buys a house in the country and falls in love with plowing.

..... in general there is a need or interest that is passed down. The car aspect has changed because modern cars are so reliable -- in every respect. And the way thing are put together -- it's replace vs fix. That's not always a bad thing