cretin
Well-known member
Hey guys,
I'm new here, and also am new to having my own garage. I closed on my own place on Thursday, so now comes the task of making it my own.
First, just a little bit of back story. Up till now, all my active projects have been occupying the garage at my parents house, with the exception of one car having a stint at my work for a while, but it had to come back when we moved shops and there wasn't room for it.
After filling my parents garage to the brim with my automotive obsession, I was presented with the opportunity to purchase a dream car I thought I'd never be able to afford from a friend. Only problem was that I had neither the money or the space for the car at the time. My friend said he would hold the car for me till I had both. Well, how can you turn that down?
I pulled the cash together after a few months. The issue that remained was the amount of available space. Luckily for me, my grandfather who lives just down the street from my parents is just as supportive of my automotive habit as my parents. I was able to store the car there. The deal was struck and another car and more parts were distributed between the two houses.
Time goes by as it tends to do, I hadn't made the process on the active projects I had hoped to. As well as grandpa was doing, it was time that at 95, it was tough for him to be living alone in a large house. The decision was made for grandpa to move to my recently retired uncles retirement home at Possum Kingdom Lake in Texas. A very fitting place for him to spend the remainder of his days on this earth. As much as this was the right decision for my grandfather, it posed an issue for me. But no matter, doing the right thing for my grandfather in his twilight years is a no brainer. A portable garage was purchased, and everything stored at grandpa's was absorbed into the already saturated parents garage and driveway.
This led to the search for a shop space in which to do all my automotive work. I am lucky enough to work at a job that I love every day, but unfortunately that's currently only making me rich in life, and not quite as much in the wallet. On top of that, I'm in Los Angeles, which isn't the most budget friendly area. My plan was to find a shop with ample room for my projects and equipment, with an office I could turn into my living area. As a single guy, I don't require much in living space. After months of fruitless searching, and the expression of my concern of having to move again for any reason to my father, he suggested the option of purchasing a house. I was open to it, but skeptical I could find something that fit my automotive needs. Buying a shop here for personal reasons was out of the question as prices are astronomical. So, buying a home was quickly becoming my only option.
So, that search began. That search was almost equally as difficult as finding an affordable shop to rent. Anything in my budget range that was close to work was a full tear down, but still wasn't cheap. Eventually, I finally found a place that was great, and checked every one of my boxes, except commute time. I was doubling my commute, although half of what I was adding was canyon driving which is infinitely better than southern California freeway traffic. Freeway time is about the same, but then the canyon is added to that, which is extra driving I can deal with.
Anyway, here are the photos of the place finally, I have a few questions already which I'll ask tomorrow as this post took longer to write than expected. But, I look forward to the wisdom here to help me out on this new venture.
I'm new here, and also am new to having my own garage. I closed on my own place on Thursday, so now comes the task of making it my own.
First, just a little bit of back story. Up till now, all my active projects have been occupying the garage at my parents house, with the exception of one car having a stint at my work for a while, but it had to come back when we moved shops and there wasn't room for it.
After filling my parents garage to the brim with my automotive obsession, I was presented with the opportunity to purchase a dream car I thought I'd never be able to afford from a friend. Only problem was that I had neither the money or the space for the car at the time. My friend said he would hold the car for me till I had both. Well, how can you turn that down?
I pulled the cash together after a few months. The issue that remained was the amount of available space. Luckily for me, my grandfather who lives just down the street from my parents is just as supportive of my automotive habit as my parents. I was able to store the car there. The deal was struck and another car and more parts were distributed between the two houses.
Time goes by as it tends to do, I hadn't made the process on the active projects I had hoped to. As well as grandpa was doing, it was time that at 95, it was tough for him to be living alone in a large house. The decision was made for grandpa to move to my recently retired uncles retirement home at Possum Kingdom Lake in Texas. A very fitting place for him to spend the remainder of his days on this earth. As much as this was the right decision for my grandfather, it posed an issue for me. But no matter, doing the right thing for my grandfather in his twilight years is a no brainer. A portable garage was purchased, and everything stored at grandpa's was absorbed into the already saturated parents garage and driveway.
This led to the search for a shop space in which to do all my automotive work. I am lucky enough to work at a job that I love every day, but unfortunately that's currently only making me rich in life, and not quite as much in the wallet. On top of that, I'm in Los Angeles, which isn't the most budget friendly area. My plan was to find a shop with ample room for my projects and equipment, with an office I could turn into my living area. As a single guy, I don't require much in living space. After months of fruitless searching, and the expression of my concern of having to move again for any reason to my father, he suggested the option of purchasing a house. I was open to it, but skeptical I could find something that fit my automotive needs. Buying a shop here for personal reasons was out of the question as prices are astronomical. So, buying a home was quickly becoming my only option.
So, that search began. That search was almost equally as difficult as finding an affordable shop to rent. Anything in my budget range that was close to work was a full tear down, but still wasn't cheap. Eventually, I finally found a place that was great, and checked every one of my boxes, except commute time. I was doubling my commute, although half of what I was adding was canyon driving which is infinitely better than southern California freeway traffic. Freeway time is about the same, but then the canyon is added to that, which is extra driving I can deal with.
Anyway, here are the photos of the place finally, I have a few questions already which I'll ask tomorrow as this post took longer to write than expected. But, I look forward to the wisdom here to help me out on this new venture.
