To move or not to move????

[Strouty]

I am looking at moving to a new shop that is larger and more money. I currently have a 30' deep by 60' wide with 12' 6" ceilings. There are two doors on on the last two thirds of one end, they are both 12' wide by 10' 6" tall. It has about an acre of land to use with it. I drive 30 minutes one way to get to it from my house. The shop I am considering is 22 minutes from my house, has minimal outside storage but it is 82' deep by 30' wide with 18' 6" ceilings. It has one door on the end that is 16' wide by 14' tall. The larger shop has running water and a bathroom, my current shop has no water and a porta potty. I am in a residential area currently, the other shop is more industrial. I feel like the larger shop is better long term, but I have to lay out some serious money to move and fix the floor in the new shop. My current shop needs a roof but I don't have to move. I am looking at lease purchase agreements with both landlords. The current shop is all set, I just have to sign. What would you do?

 

[pop pop]

Move.

 

[BD1]

First I would evaluate your work load. Is there gonna be enough work to hold you over with additional expense ? Do you have employees ? How much more for the utilities ? Do you need the extra Height ? Maybe cost more to heat. What about power updates or requirements ?
Nice being able to work as early and late as possible . Shorter drive is always nicer.

 

[aqr81]

I don't have enough info to give an educated opinion so I'll just think out-loud...

Is the current shop meeting your need or do you really NEED a bigger shop? It sounds like the current location has more land which in my mind means addition or remodel is always possible. Do you need an 18 foot ceiling height? That will cost a bundle to heat and provide good air flow. The door on the larger shop seems too large to me, but I don't really know what your use is for the shop. The cost of moving and dealing with the floor sounds like it could be substantial. You should realistically compare that to the cost of fixing the roof and making any improvements to the existing shop that would be needed and useful to you. Water may be easily run out to the current shop and putting in a small septic system for a bathroom and utility sink could be done for a reasonable price as well. I would suggest you make a list of pros and cons on each location and develop some good estimates on capital outlay to make it work for you. Good luck with your decision.

Larry

 

[Strouty]

First I would evaluate your work load. Is there gonna be enough work to hold you over with additional expense ? Do you have employees ? How much more for the utilities ? Do you need the extra Height ? Maybe cost more to heat. What about power updates or requirements ?
Nice being able to work as early and late as possible . Shorter drive is always nicer.

I have no employees, I have no real work, I am a tinkerer with too much stuff and am also worried about moving into a bigger space. The best part of moving I can see would be that the stock room I currently have could be organized as I am moving. Also I could build a second story over the stockroom so I would have my office above it and not waste space. I have to wait and see what the new landlord offers for a deal. I would like the shorter commute even if it is only 20 minutes a day.

 

[volvo]

...
Move on your terms now...What happens when you get zoned/kicked/complained out of where you are currenty?

 

[Strouty]

I don't have enough info to give an educated opinion so I'll just think out-loud...

Is the current shop meeting your need or do you really NEED a bigger shop? It sounds like the current location has more land which in my mind means addition or remodel is always possible. Do you need an 18 foot ceiling height? That will cost a bundle to heat and provide good air flow. The door on the larger shop seems too large to me, but I don't really know what your use is for the shop. The cost of moving and dealing with the floor sounds like it could be substantial. You should realistically compare that to the cost of fixing the roof and making any improvements to the existing shop that would be needed and useful to you. Water may be easily run out to the current shop and putting in a small septic system for a bathroom and utility sink could be done for a reasonable price as well. I would suggest you make a list of pros and cons on each location and develop some good estimates on capital outlay to make it work for you. Good luck with your decision.

Larry

I am working on my list right now. I feel like it always help to get constructive criticism or advice form the members of GJ! Current shop doors are too small to fit one of my trucks inside, ceiling height would be awesome for second level, not so much for Maine winters. The repairs at the current shop are as follows:

roof
overhead doors
well
septic

The larger shop has a concrete floor that is livable, but I have to add concrete for my heavy car lift, and it also has some raised areas where equipment used to be. It is also big enough to install a jib crane in the front, so I would have to add concrete for that as well. After I figure all that I figured I would do the extra concrete and level the floor. It is about 3" to make it work. The rest of the shop is usable now, just not spectacular. The electrical will need to be updated to 200 amp circuit. Other than that it is move in ready for me.

The costs kind of equalize out. If I own the current shop, I could also put a house on the lot and live in it. The other would be a commercial condo type deal with a designated area outside to be mine.

 

[Strouty]

...
Move on your terms now...What happens when you get zoned/kicked/complained out of where you are currenty?

It is grandfathered since 1972 it was and is considered a commercial building. They even tax it at the higher commercial rates. If I put a house on it, then it would be a home occupation.

 

[trackwelder]

I would move!!!!!!!!!! A crapper,water,and more space.....get packing.

 

[Strouty]

I still need to find out the agreement that the landlord at the new larger place is offering. I would like to move, except of course the moving part.

 

[cams1021]

The process of moving *****. But, moving into a better deal is great. I went from 1000 ft to 1200 ft to 2000 ft and kept the same rent payment. My current place is a 15 minute drive and I wouldn't want to travel much further than that. I am going to try to buy a place while interest rates are staying low

 

[larry_g]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=149642

Read the above thread; It sounds like you need to get things under control in the small shop before you gain more room and end up with just a bigger mess. Three years ago I moved from a 30x36 to a 36x48 and have no more room to function even though the building is 50% bigger. If your messy and unorganized, like me, the extra room is going to be of no use.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Strouty]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=149642

Read the above thread; It sounds like you need to get things under control in the small shop before you gain more room and end up with just a bigger mess. Three years ago I moved from a 30x36 to a 36x48 and have no more room to function even though the building is 50% bigger. If your messy and unorganized, like me, the extra room is going to be of no use.

lg
no neat sig line

That is my other thread, I am in limbo now and have to wait to hear back from landlord number two. Filling up a larger space is definitely a fear I have, others have voiced this in my real life too. I am pretty convinced that I am not lying to myself when I say it would be a good move and I can get more organized, but I am a pretty good liar!

The way I have looked at the larger space is not so much more room for projects, but enough room to use the current storage equipment that I have. 18' 6" ceilings would make for a great pallet rack wall. In my current 12' 6" ceilings, it is difficult to stack much without disassembling things.

 

[BD1]

Well, I'm for having house and shop on same lot. Do you have a house and garage now ? Are you married ? How stable is your current money making job ? I see your profile states a tower worker ? What's that ? How secure is that job as far as keeping you working? Is there property for sale that has shop and house ? Would you want to state your age ? Just curious .
On a positive side, if you move, make sure all shelving, tables, carts, storage racks are in place . As you relocate, you will be organizing as you move in.