Selling a house with a 2-post lift

[DynamicVapor]

So I just installed a 2-post lift in the garage.

I'll take a picture as soon as I clean up the garage as it was just installed today.

I was just wondering, in the future if I do intend to sell the house do you think leaving it would effect the house value positively or negatively?

Has anyone on this board ever sold a house with a 2-post lift in it?

Or has anyone on this board ever bought a house with a 2-post lift in it?

What are your thoughts?

 

[wyo george]

I doubt it would change the value, but it may make it an easier sell!

 

[MagicMarker]

I don't have a lift in my garage....yet, but a two post will either attract or distract a buyer. Said buyers will either see it as a benefit or a negative. You won't know until you sell.

Kind of like when we were shopping for a house. Some people think a pool is a great benefit, but I see it as a liability and more work. So a pool actually devalued the property in my eyes.

 

[tcianci]

If you don't want to take the lift with you, advertise it on CL or something. You may find that it will be universally viewed as a detractor from the value of the house.

 

[wnstwolf]

I am in the selling position right now. Husbands love it and the barn around it wives not so much. So far general economy is killing my sales plans not the lift.

 

[zkling]

How big is your garage? Attached or stand alone?

I could see it going both ways depending on whom you sell it to. I could also see it being a huge liability if some ambitious, yet not to savvy DIY guy bought the house, said let me try out the lift and then ended up getting hurt. Sad yes, but people these days.

 

[DynamicVapor]

How big is your garage? Attached or stand alone?

I could see it going both ways depending on whom you sell it to. I could also see it being a huge liability if some ambitious, yet not to savvy DIY guy bought the house, said let me try out the lift and then ended up getting hurt. Sad yes, but people these days.

It's an attached garage. No rooms above the house (has it's own roof) but it is attached to the wall of the house. Able to park two cars in it but i only park one I never tried to put two cars in there but my neighbour across from me usually parks two. It's a single large door. Less than a foot of clearance between the cars and they are almost touching the walls. The lift is in the center.

 

[zkling]

It's an attached garage. No rooms above the house (has it's own roof) but it is attached to the wall of the house. Able to park two cars in it but i only park one I never tried to put two cars in there but my neighbour across from me usually parks two. Less than a foot of clearance between the cars and they are almost touching the walls. The lift is in the center.

What is the garage ceiling height? For the AVERAGE home owner I could see it being a turnoff in an attached garage with a single door like that. Especially since it is in the center.

 

[DynamicVapor]

What is the garage ceiling height? For the AVERAGE home owner I could see it being a turnoff in an attached garage with a single door like that. Especially since it is in the center.

I think it was close to 10'

 

[zkling]

I think it was close to 10'

What lift did you put in?

 

[DynamicVapor]

What lift did you put in?

http://directlift.ca/hr8000.htm

 

[brass89]

Here on gj I could see a lift being a bonus, but I think as for the average homeowner it could be seen as 'in the way'. Most people don't work on their own vehicles anymore. Half the time seems like the average person is lucky to know which end of the gas nozzle to put in the car and that's only if it's color coded lol. Ok, that might have been an exaggeration.. The problem with most any 'upgrade' unless it's structural of some sort (increasing longevity of the house) is it has little to no value to the buyer. Things like a fresh coat of paint inside the house may make it more appealing, but custom stuff is likely to get ripped out and replaced anyway. Colors changed, tile, countertops changed, that sort of thing. A lift would be something similar. More of a personal perk unless you happened to find the right buyer looking for a lift. As others said, if you weren't going to take it with you there may be more value selling it off separately rather than leaving it installed and hoping to benefit from increased home value down the road.

 

[xyster101]

The lift is in the center.

As in the center of the garage?

As others have said, I would see it as a deterrent. Even buying a house with a lift, I would wonder about safety. How old is it, hoses in good shape, leaks, maintenance done to it, etc. Everything has a life expenctancey.

If your space is designed for 2 cars, but you do something like stick a lift in the center so there is no way to put 2 cars in, that is a huge turn off.

Personally I like working in my garage, but I like having my $50k worth of cars inside a protected space more then having $4k worth of **** protected in my garage.

 

[Architorture]

You just took a 2 car garage and made it useless in the eyes of the vast majority of buyers....if you sell just plan on taking it with you, selling it separately or making it very clear that it can and will be removed if the buyer wishes.

Don't expect it to add value...or at least not the value you would have with a useable 2 car garage.

 

[DynamicVapor]

As in the center of the garage?

As others have said, I would see it as a deterrent. Even buying a house with a lift, I would wonder about safety. How old is it, hoses in good shape, leaks, maintenance done to it, etc. Everything has a life expenctancey.

If your space is designed for 2 cars, but you do something like stick a lift in the center so there is no way to put 2 cars in, that is a huge turn off.

Personally I like working in my garage, but I like having my $50k worth of cars inside a protected space more then having $4k worth of **** protected in my garage.

haha, yeah it looks like it's designed only for one car plus lots of storage.

some people just squeeze their two cars in, i'm sure they ding their own cars a lot.

Not looking to sell just theorizing if I would keep it there when selling or bring it with me.

 

[rsanter]

When selling the house I would list that the lift is not included but offer it for separate sale for a nominal fee. Say 30 to 50% of what you paid.
If the buyer buys it great
If they negotiate to include it with their offer price...great
If not then sell it or take it with you

Bob

 

[ford33]

I would sell it prior to showing the house. Some people have a difficult time seeing a room in a different paint color much less seeing a garage with a strange machine in the middle of it. This will detract from the value of the house.

 

[Syberia]

I almost bought one. The lift passed the wife test, but the rest of the property didn't (too rocky, not enough usable land for animals).

That said, it was in a separate shed. If it prevented me from parking two cars in the garage, I would look less favorably on it. If I could park two cars and still have the lift, I would approve.

 

[Interex]

Think of it like a pool, but with the the chance that it will not only add $0 value to the home, but could potentially detract buyers all together. The vast majority of home buyers these days are just looking for something they can raise their family in. Turning wrenches for fun is a dying hobby and a lift would likely see little to no use for a home owner unless they happen to be mechanically inclined.

I agree with everyone else that has said you'd be better off selling the left on CL rather than trying to use it to attract home buyers.

 

[Uncle Dave]

Hate to say it but it could be a liability issue. Dave

 

[Architorture]

When selling the house I would list that the lift is not included but offer it for separate sale for a nominal fee. Say 30 to 50% of what you paid.
If the buyer buys it great
If they negotiate to include it with their offer price...great
If not then sell it or take it with you

Bob

be careful with this approach. when we bought our current house the previous owner had not lived in it regularly for a few years, but still had tons of stuff that they were going to have to move from PA to storage in florida.

he offered to sell us several items "for much less than he paid for them"- exercise equipment, gun safe, bar stools, dining room table set, a couch, large ice maker, extra refrigerator, a cadillac and a few other heavy and/or awkward items to load and move. we didn't want to buy any of it, but i said if he was going to have trouble moving it he was welcome to leave it behind.

after closing we head over to the house and to our surprise just about all of it was there...no cadillac though.

 

[Tweeker]

I have had to remove any slides and dives from pools(for sellers) or they could not be insured so I would say liability for sale.

 

[DIC]

I wouldn't try to sell it with a lift, Like some others said its kinda like having a pool. The biggest majority of the people don't work on there own cars anymore and probably wouldn't want it taking up room in the garage.

 

[kaffine]

I know a few people that bought houses with lifts. Normally it was the shop they were interested in not the lift itself. One guy bought the house due to the shop for woodworking he didn't care about the lift. Granted he has found the lift useful for a loading/unloading dock. It was a 4 post lift and he turned it into a platform never puts his truck on it though.

I would either plan to take it with me or sell it on craigslist. If I was in a hurry I might list the house with the lift still in it noting it will be removed if not wanted. If it was in a shop instead of a garage I would consider trying to sell it with the house but not in an attached garage. I don't think it would add value though so if you want the most money sell it before hand.

 

[Parrothead]

If you don't want to take the lift with you, advertise it on CL or something. You may find that it will be universally viewed as a detractor from the value of the house.

I think this is pretty much spot on. I know a lot of people and other than myself, only 1 other person would want to deal with a lift.

 

[cnttxmdc]

Just let me know when you're ready to move, and I'll come haul it off for you for free so that it won't detract from the rest of the house.

 

[Jvvmusme]

Advertise the house in Garage Journal !!

 

[Tronyadorable]

Unless it's a "couple" who lives an "alternative lifestyle" no real man would have an issue with a Kool_ass lift in the garage.
How much ?

 

[billspit]

I would sell it prior to showing the house. Some people have a difficult time seeing a room in a different paint color much less seeing a garage with a strange machine in the middle of it. This will detract from the value of the house.

Exactly.

 

[Casey69]

Think of it like a pool, but with the the chance that it will not only add $0 value to the home, but could potentially detract buyers all together. The vast majority of home buyers these days are just looking for something they can raise their family in. Turning wrenches for fun is a dying hobby and a lift would likely see little to no use for a home owner unless they happen to be mechanically inclined.

I agree with everyone else that has said you'd be better off selling the left on CL rather than trying to use it to attract home buyers.

my thoughts too. very few are going to be enticed by a lift in the garage & i'd guess most would look at it as a negative; something that's in the way, difficult to remove, & potentially dangerous with kids around.

sell it on CL so you can make some money & make your house easier to sell.

my $0.02.

 

[ripperd]

I would sell it prior to showing the house. Some people have a difficult time seeing a room in a different paint color much less seeing a garage with a strange machine in the middle of it. This will detract from the value of the house.

Agreed.

It would be different if it was in a detached shop. But the lift in an attached 2 car garage it is going to be a detractor to 95% of typical homebuyers. I do all my own car work and even I wouldn't want a lift in my attached 20x30.

 

[C2 Turbo]

Not sure what the big deal is but you are not selling the house right now, are you?

This is your house and you put the lift in 'coz you wanted one, so enjoy your stay.

The install is reversible (right?) so leave it upto the buyer if they want the house with the lift or without, in which case you can always take it with you.

It would b a liability/inconvenience, if you were to leave the lift there for the buyer to take care of it.

At this time, quit worrying about it.

 

[zkdiesel]

Not sure what the big deal is but you are not selling the house right now, are you?

This is your house and you put the lift in 'coz you wanted one, so enjoy your stay.

The install is reversible (right?) so leave it upto the buyer if they want the house with the lift or without, in which case you can always take it with you.

It would b a liability/inconvenience, if you were to leave the lift there for the buyer to take care of it.

At this time, quit worrying about it.

winner!

 

[nes999]

I could see potential buyers worrying about the strength of the concrete of there was a lift in the garage. On the other hand they might be worried about the holes in the concrete if you remove the lift.

 

[C2 Turbo]

I could see potential buyers worrying about the strength of the concrete of there was a lift in the garage. On the other hand they might be worried about the holes in the concrete if you remove the lift.

Holes can be filled and the seller would have to agree on getting that repaired before handing over the keys.

 

[jb3]

be careful with this approach. when we bought our current house the previous owner had not lived in it regularly for a few years, but still had tons of stuff that they were going to have to move from PA to storage in florida.

he offered to sell us several items "for much less than he paid for them"- exercise equipment, gun safe, bar stools, dining room table set, a couch, large ice maker, extra refrigerator, a cadillac and a few other heavy and/or awkward items to load and move. we didn't want to buy any of it, but i said if he was going to have trouble moving it he was welcome to leave it behind.

after closing we head over to the house and to our surprise just about all of it was there...no cadillac though.

X2.

We did the same thing in the opposite. seller had items in the garage and property he was going to have to move and wanted to know if he could leave items. We wrote that into the contract as ok. Items we assumed he meant were vintage lawn tractors, mowers, snow blowers, ect. At least 8 pieces of yard equipment. Stuff he actually left was scrap metal and broken furniture, including items he clearly brought over and dumped. All vintage useful stuff gone, sellers trash added.

 

[chicken89]

for my house, previous owner had a lift, but instead of leaving it, he took it and cut the bolt level with the ground... now I'm thinking that I cannot put a lift in garage because the floor already has the holes drilled and I wont' be able to use the same area to put up a lift

 

[Rod N]

The woman make the buying decision and she probably won't even go in the garage.

Put a price on it in the listing (people don't see any value if it's free) and have it as an option if people want it.

The house I have now the seller said they would throw in the casket size 20 year old freezer in the basement. I don't think so!

 

[workhurts]

I'm a bit in the same boat in terms of thinking about future value cept I'm in a 3 car and it's a 4 post lift so it's a bit more 'portable'.

I don't think it adds any value at all. If someone wants a lift, they can go buy one.

I'm 90% leaning towards selling it prior to listing (when it's time to list in a few years). If the move is local, I'm moving the lift. If the move is another town, I'm selling the lift and keeping the rolling jack (this is assuming I have the space).

Whatever you can do to make an area look larger and more spacious. Plus, if you ever sold the lift with the house you'd want them to sign a million disclaimers. Once you sell it to someone else, by the time they disassemble it, move it and put it back together I'd wager all liability is on them now.

Sell it or move it before you show the place. Especially with a 2 car garage. There's like 1/200 (just a guess) that might .. just might utilize it. At least with a 4 post they could use it as storage ... with a 2 post not so much.

 

[James E]

IMO, it would either be viewed as a negative or neutral but definitely NOT as a positive. Here's my thinking:

1. Most people would not care about it so it would just be this big piece of heavy machinery that takes up space and will have to be hauled away.

2. If somebody knew what it was and actually wanted one, it still probably wouldn't be enough of a benefit to make them want that house over another one and that person would probably know that whatever house they buy, they could add one for a relatively low amount of money (relative to the cost of the house, that is).

So, even in the best case, I see this as a feature that doesn't add value that is equivalent to your cost. I would suggest that you sell it prior to putting the house on the market and recoup what you can from that sale, then fill in the holes and sell the house.

Just my two cents.