wanting to make changes

[NES]

I would like to buy a house. I've seen a lot of houses that have both a living room and family room. A lot of them have the living room behind the garage.

Would there be any way to get rid of the living room behind the garage? This way I can expand the garage to where the living room use to be at. How would I go about making the rest of the floor sturdy? It would be wonderful it would give me at least 12' more depth to the garage. I would like to get a boat and put in the garage. preferably a 20 to 22' long boat.

 

[astroracer]

Really? You don't have a house so why are you worried about a living room behind the garage? Buy a house and worry about it IF it applies...
Mark

 

[Pen & Wrench]

I'd run the ideas past a builder and maybe a real estate agent and get their input. You can do anything, but you may want to do things that preserve the marketability of the home, so it appeals to a broad range of potential buyers in case you ever want to sell it. If you never sell the home you may not care what effect your changes may have on the market value of the property. On the other hand, there may be other ways to accomplish what you want, and maximize the value of the property, so that if you ever sell it, you will be able to get your investment back. Builders and real estate agents should be able to help you find the best solution all around.

 

[tinmanwpk]

Build.

By the way, I admire your style.

 

[jgbnm]

You would significantly reduce the value of the house. Living space is valued at a much higher level. If you stay there a long time, it's less of a big deal, but keep that in mind. May affect marketability as well.

May be better to find a place with a bigger garage or an easy way to expand the garage.

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[kd3pc]

NES

Given enough time and money, you can redo any house to any space you desire. And redo floors, subfloors and concrete.

Engineering and permits are almost always, dependent on a specific house/structure - but it can be done.

YMMV

 

[rburke65]

A dozer would make short work of that living room! But I'd suggest first you buy a house then worry about that. Or look for a home that has a larger garage. Good luck in your search and let us know what you find.

 

[matt_i]

If its all on a slab then all you have to worry about is bearing walls and plumbing piercing the slab.

That said, its my opinion it hurts your investment. I would find somewhere you can build a separate building, or better yet, up your price point just a bit and maybe you will find what you need already built. The 2nd owner always gets the better deal.

 

[James-W]

Is there a basement under the living room? If not, then where do the heat/cooling ducts run? Is there a carpeted wood floor in the living room?

If you buy the house you can certainly make changes to it as you see fit, but I have to wonder why you would want to purposely lower the number of square feet feet of living space. I understand that you want a larger garage, but cutting down on your living space would seem to be counter productive. Most people do just the opposite, they use the garage for more living space, or for a weight room, or a kid's playroom, things of that nature. But it is your house, you can do with it as you wish. Just keep in mind that should you decide to move, everything you do to the house, or don't do to it, can and usually will affect the marketability and the selling price of the property.

 

[DIC]

It would be easier to find a house that has a big enough garage or a garage that could be added on to.

 

[AZ Pete]

If its all on a slab then all you have to worry about is bearing walls and plumbing piercing the slab.

That said, its my opinion it hurts your investment. I would find somewhere you can build a separate building, or better yet, up your price point just a bit and maybe you will find what you need already built. The 2nd owner always gets the better deal.

Slab for the living room would likely be above the grade of the garage slab.


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[padroo]

I would look for a house that came real close to meeting my requirements without such heavy modification.

Tell your realtor exactly what you want and let them beat the bushes for you, it's what they get paid for.
If they can't find it find another realtor.