Renting a garage?

[ScurvyPete]

I'll be graduating college this May, but I'm trying to stay ahead of it and start lining up some possible places to live. My girlfriend and I are moving in together, and I told her that my only requirement (above the common sense stuff like the house being somewhat nice and not in the complete ghetto) was that the place have a garage. This kinda limits us to houses, but everything I'm seeing is way more house than we need, and of course a little too pricey.

I was wondering if any of you on here currently rent or have experience with renting out a garage space. I know when I was a kid (probably 11 or 12), we lived in a neighborhood of rental duplexes while our current house was being built. One of my friend's dad lived in the neighborhood, and he rented a garage space in town to house and work on his mud racing truck.
I'm curious how to go about finding such spaces- did you just drive around, talk to a realtor, go through a website? How much do you pay for such a space? Is it a commercial space converted over to garage duty?

If something like this is feasible, it could really open up my options as far as places I would consider acceptable to live.

 

[930dreamer]

Check into a local business park, they rent spaces out. Not sure how much garage your looking for?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I have rented a 20'x20' garage for $200.00 for a while, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. The same garage size is going for 250 to 300 now. Look in the newspaper, kijiji or craigslist. Also put up ads.
Good luck.

Richard

 

[HIVOLTJ]

I currently rent a 28'x36' two stall detached garage. It's a sweetheart of a deal. I used to rent the house in front of it + the garage for an extra $100 a month. When we bought our house and moved out the landlord let me keep the garage at $100 a month.

 

[Pluribus]

Don't know what gets listed on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) there, but here in Western WA, it's pretty limited. That said, in the past I found an inexpensive house on the MLS to rent with a huge garage plus carport. It's extremely rare though, as rentals aren't something that Realtors typically deal with around here...may be a regional thing. Seems the place where you see the most rentals listed around here is Craigslist. You may have some other local rental classified publication where you live that isn't available here. Definitely keep your eyes open while driving around for "for rent" signs, but I wouldn't drive around specifically just to look for signs. Spread the word among friends, family, acquaintances, etc. Enlist others to help.

If you do end up renting a garage in a different place from where you live, keep in mind that it's going to be a big security (theft/vandalism) risk, not to mention a PITA. Factor that in when you compare costs of renting that way vs. a place that has a garage. Bottom line is to pursue all avenues and be open to options. Good luck!

 

[fitz11]

How big of a garage do you want? Around here there are lots of apartments and duplexes with 2 car garages for rent. I bet if you look hard enough you can find something with a garage. I rent an apartment with a single car garage and it's amazing what you can do with that small of a space.

 

[johnny]

I currently rent a tight single car attached garage on LI NY for 100.00 per month (that's cheap) Saturday I will be looking at a 1 1/2 detached garage for 200.00 that I will offer 150.00 for.

 

[strtcar]

Back about 10yrs ago a buddy and I rented a 2 car garage for $125/month, both stored are hot rods in it before we owned our own homes. They are hard to find, check craigslist.

 

[e-tek]

We have several rental properties and I tried to buy ones with garages - both for extra rental income....and to store some of my own rides. I had rented them to the tenants for $50/month/stall....until I ended up needing all of them! Now I'm out $150 a month.

Hopefully though. you try your best to buy your own place ASAP. If your gf is not wife material, make sure to buy it on your own and make her a renter - in contract.

 

[cparcell]

I rented a garage that was large to house my race cars and hated it, no modifying or changing to fit your needs, after you calculate the cost of having a rental apartment and bills with it then adding garage and bills for it your in a amazing house. For example before I bought my new house I payed 800 a month for a house, 200 for wlectric, 50 for water, then 450 for garage 100 for electric and 25 for water. That's a lot of dough to buy or rent a big house instead.

 

[NUTTSGT]

This house that you are moving in together, are you buying or renting it ? If you're buying find one with a garage already or has the room to build one. The same goes for renting one, try to find a rental with a garage.

If that doesn't work, talk to your insurance agent. First, you already have auto insurance and then you'll need either homeowners or renters insurance. Try to get them in the same place so you get a discount. Ask your agent if he knows anybody that has a garage to rent, he might even have one of his own. These are the guys that sell insurance to landlords (good ones) and usually have good contacts. It's not going to hurt to ask.

 

[cparcell]

I had a huge issue with getting renters insurance for my rented garage, useless listed as a business no one wants to insure a building with 100k plus valuables inside without residents on the property

 

[BD1]

Trade girlfriend in for one with MONEY .

 

[CamaroDoc]

I use a large mini storage unit as a shop. It is a 25'x40' with 16' ceilings and has two bay doors and 24/7 access. It was designed to house a motor home and a large boat. It also has electric service in the form of a single plug-in outlet and two overhead light bulbs (300w each) on a single switch. It costs me $175 a month and the electric is free. That's what I started with. Now here is where I got creative:

1. Lighting: I removed their two 300w light bulbs and replaced them with a screw-in outlet adapter. I then hung 4' fluorescent shop lights from the rafters and strung them all with common household extension cords. I have probably a dozen or so hanging from the ceiling channels. One flick of the switch and it's daylight in there.

2. Power: Having only a single outlet was a hassle so I got one of those 6 outlet adapters that plugs in and the center screw actually attaches it to the outlet so it can't come out. I placed a small table right there and have a mini fridge, microwave, and a stereo that stay plugged in all the time(3 outlets used). I then took a long heavy gauge extension cord and spliced in a few outlet boxes and strung it around the perimeter of the shop. I clamped the boxes to the upright channels with hardware clamps used for suspending plumbing from a ceiling so I didn't have to drill any holes. ( BIG NO NO! ) That leaves me with two open outlets on the main box to use as necessary for whatever. Compressor, drill, grinder, etc. (I always plug my small compressor into the main outlet or use the one outside the unit next door and just run a hose in the door. Much quieter. Just don't try to run every high-load item you have at the same time.

3. Storage: Even with 1000sf, floor space is at a premium. I sell Camaro Parts so I needed LOTS of storage. I built a free standing loft in the back half of the unit. I started with 9 concrete block columns, 10 blocks high. Each column has 2 pipes dropped through the open centers to keep them from ever buckling. On top of these I built 3 beams out of (4) 2x12's each, bolted together. Since I can't drill any holes in the building structure, I used J-bolts to secure the two outer beams to the steel uprights inside the unit for stability. Believe me, They WON"T move... I then used 2x8's on 16" centers for the floor joists, just like building a second story in a house. I used lots of deck building hardware and screwed it all together with deck screws. That way I can take it all down and take it with me if I ever build my own shop. On top of the floor joists I used 3/4" tongue and groove plywood, staggering the ends of the sheets in a brick pattern to help stabilize the center of the floor and the center row of columns, again using deck screws. I then installed a staircase for easy access. I now have rows of steel shelving upstairs for all my parts.

4. More lighting: After the loft was installed I had a nice "cave" atmosphere going in the back of the shop. I had to install more shop lights under the loft. I hung some from the sides of the beams and some recessed up between the overhead floor joists so they didn't hang down and get in the way. (lots of "s" hooks and cup hooks) These lights are zoned by the use of switched power strips that I can turn off when they are not needed. Again, Gotta watch the total power draw. I have never popped a breaker in 8 years and I don't want to...lol.

5. Security: There are security cameras all over this complex and I even have one that looks straight into my unit when the doors are open. I asked about them and they said they are even on a battery backup that will power them for 2 days without power. I thought that was a BIG plus... And of course use a good heavy duty lock. The old Master lock off your gym locker won't cut it... lol.

Here is an old pic with all the lights on. Excuse the mess, I was cleaning and reorganizing at the time.

Some of the shelving going up...

 

[cparcell]

holy ****, does the owner of the storage lot know about this. Im sure that his insurance company would drop him in a heartbeat for something like this. Smart use of a system on your behalf. But having having the owner/manager show up one day and moving you to the curb would be my largest fear. If i was a storage shack owner i would not allow this as the risk of fire, accident, rise in bills, coding that stop the production of products inside etc has violation of lease and safety code written all over it.

 

[venturesomerite]

To the OP:

I rented a 3 car garage next to a rental House (that I did not rent) for about a year and a half. Had a huge driveway (could fit about 10 cars if you wanted to, not that I ever did).
Upstairs tenant was super nice single dad, helped him fix his car on a few occasions, and lent him tools now and again. Downstairs was a super sweet guy, burden of the state who used to come hang out in the garage with me, even had his own chair and all!

No problems for a year, then a new downstairs tenant moves in. State found the guy cheaper housing.

I had a ongoing problem with the downstairs tenant constantly parking in front of the bays (only way in or out) so I couldn't get **** in or out.

One day she called the town (she was a spiteful *****) and told them I was running an illegal garage or something in there, which I was not. It was purely personal storage for my tools. Once and a while fix something, but I was never loud, always very curtious, and kept the door shut whenever I did anything that did make noise.

But never the less I got evicted over it, and had to move. Even if I put up a fight I would have lost because any sane person would have looked at all the tools I had in there and presumed the same thing.

Now I rent a 1000 sq ft commercial condo (looks basically like the camaro garage above) except it is zoned for light manufacturing so I can do whatever and not be bothered. Rent is double what I paid for the other garage, but I wouldn't trade back ever. I was really worried if I could afford it, but now it's no big deal. In hind sight, she did me a really big favor, as inconvenient as it was.


My advice for any rented garage, ESPECIALLY if you do not live in the house it belongs to, don't get too well settled like I did. You never know. Also, be on REALLY good terms with the people who do live there. They can make or break it for you. Landlords make more off the house tenants than a garage renter, who do you think they are going to keep when there is a discrepancy? Then there are the people who are just a holes, like this lady, so you never know, and you can't help it when it happens.

I use a large mini storage unit as a shop. It is a 25'x40' with 16' ceilings and has two bay doors and 24/7 access. It was designed to house a motor home and a large boat. It also has electric service in the form of a single plug-in outlet and two overhead light bulbs (300w each) on a single switch. It costs me $175 a month and the electric is free. That's what I started with. Now here is where I got creative:

Clever, but for what it's worth, don't go advertizing it.

 

[ned911]

I'm looking for the same thing. Would prefer someplace where I could install a 2 post lift. Found 1 place but they were adamant about not having anything plugged in when you weren't in the space. Which is not helpful when you would like trickle chargers on your batteries.

My problem is we are moving from a rental house with a huge 3 car too a smaller house that we own which only has a small 2 car garage.

 

[venturesomerite]

I found my place on craigslist under for either commercial or rental, i looked at both so many times I don't remember.

I found the general area I ended up going with a shop in and drove around, looking for butler buildings, and stopped and knocked on some doors to find out if there were vacancies or who to talk to about renting.

Words I searched were - shop, work shop, workshop, garage, commercial condo, warehouse and the like.


Don't take any place that says commercial storage or the like, you'll run into a problem sooner or later.

Area is also important, I cut the rent in half by getting a place a county over. I used to live in Fairfield county CT, and a comparable space in New Haven County CT is like half the cost. So it was worth the extra drive, especially because I ended up moving to the town that the shop was in, so even better!

 

[ez-duzit]

OP--Find a house with a garage. Many garage rentals won't let you work in them. And if you have to drive to your garage, you won't use it as much as if it were handy.

 

[CamaroDoc]

holy ****, does the owner of the storage lot know about this. Im sure that his insurance company would drop him in a heartbeat for something like this. Smart use of a system on your behalf. But having having the owner/manager show up one day and moving you to the curb would be my largest fear. If i was a storage shack owner i would not allow this as the risk of fire, accident, rise in bills, coding that stop the production of products inside etc has violation of lease and safety code written all over it.

Actually he has been inside several times and has no problem with it. He actually likes the fact that I am out there at all hours for added security. His only concern was that I wasn't drilling holes in the walls. Like I said, I have had this unit for over 8 years. He and his wife just drive by and wave to me...

 

[coma13]

Actually he has been inside several times and has no problem with it. He actually likes the fact that I am out there at all hours for added security. His only concern was that I wasn't drilling holes in the walls. Like I said, I have had this unit for over 8 years. He and his wife just drive by and wave to me...

You scored on that setup! Where are you located?

 

[CamaroDoc]

N.E. Oklahoma. Yeah it's not too bad. I still miss my old shop, though. No running water or restroom.