What Do You Use Your Garage For?
- Thread starter glentre
- Start date
Storage, parking the garage queen, light car maintenance or detailing, tool storage, rarely woodworking/painting if the basement shop is too much of a hassle or if I need better ventilation than the basement provides.
I can see people paying to have the garage spruced up on a new house so it doesn’t look like a garage even if they don’t do a lot of hands on work. At the very least, good light, painted walls, more electrical and good organization (possibly cabinets so you can close the doors). And sure, the will love the look of a finished floor, until they see the price tag. That’s the rub, on a new house, the budget goes to interior finishing, furniture, outdoor areas and landscaping. The garage is at the very bottom of the list of priorities, and often not an item that can get folded into the mortgage (cash out of pocket is a tough sell). I think around $3k, you’ll get some interest, over $5k it shrinks fast and over $10k you better make friends with builders and real estate agents that can refer those few clients. And the person that does do real work in the garage often takes a different view. For $10k, I can buy [fill in the blank]. I’ll do what I can myself and use the money saved for tools/parts/stuff. So your friend should consider whether he can build a business around the lower end of the market. The higher end jobs will be few and doing that alone won’t pay the bills. Also consider whether there will be other new developments you can cater to in the future. You’ll need a plan to get new work. Once you do a garage, you’re unlikely to get more business from that client.
I can see people paying to have the garage spruced up on a new house so it doesn’t look like a garage even if they don’t do a lot of hands on work. At the very least, good light, painted walls, more electrical and good organization (possibly cabinets so you can close the doors). And sure, the will love the look of a finished floor, until they see the price tag. That’s the rub, on a new house, the budget goes to interior finishing, furniture, outdoor areas and landscaping. The garage is at the very bottom of the list of priorities, and often not an item that can get folded into the mortgage (cash out of pocket is a tough sell). I think around $3k, you’ll get some interest, over $5k it shrinks fast and over $10k you better make friends with builders and real estate agents that can refer those few clients. And the person that does do real work in the garage often takes a different view. For $10k, I can buy [fill in the blank]. I’ll do what I can myself and use the money saved for tools/parts/stuff. So your friend should consider whether he can build a business around the lower end of the market. The higher end jobs will be few and doing that alone won’t pay the bills. Also consider whether there will be other new developments you can cater to in the future. You’ll need a plan to get new work. Once you do a garage, you’re unlikely to get more business from that client.
kaymccampbell
Well-known member
You asked for it. Vehicle repair, including paint n bodywork. Light machining. Metal forming/stamping, tin bending/rolling. Welding. Woodworking/turning/scrollsawing,etc. Stained glass work. Pottery. Electronics repair. Laundry. Dog grooming. The only two vehicles that live in the garage, on a semi regular basis, are the bike n the Dingo, cause they're easy to steal, and I've actually caught people fondling them when they didn't think I was home.
Fueler
Well-known member
I think this is a decent starting point for the designer garage idea. That could go 2 or 3 ways. It could morph to a DIY space, man cave or show off my car space.
I am not considering spaces that would become "shops". That seems beyond the scope of the concept and generally becomes a whole nother monster.
For the occasional DIY or DIY wannabes.
I would add that standard stuff should include proper insulation, led lights, heat and AC, plenty of outlets plus 220 welder outlets at the back and by the door.
These things can be done cheaper at the outset versus later as most of us have learned.
In a perfect world I would make them a little taller, wider and deeper than the off the shelf garages I often see accompanying new home builds. They are always too small and they always look like an afterthought.
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Brent T
Well-known member
This is exactly my situation. I've built a lot of shelving in the house closets to avoid the garage turning into a storage area.
Steveodle
Well-known member
In garage #1
ark cars,store STUFF we gathered thru our lives.
#2: building a Burt Rutan twin engine aircraft,(3500 hrs.) In
#3: all machine tools and welding, storage in mezzanine.
Finishing #3 now, final touches, rearranging the machine tools.
Can't get the 27' hovercraft inside any garage, tarped between the garages.
If you do nothing right,you'll do nothing wrong!
ark cars,store STUFF we gathered thru our lives.#2: building a Burt Rutan twin engine aircraft,(3500 hrs.) In
#3: all machine tools and welding, storage in mezzanine.
Finishing #3 now, final touches, rearranging the machine tools.
Can't get the 27' hovercraft inside any garage, tarped between the garages.
If you do nothing right,you'll do nothing wrong!
anythingyoucanimagine
Well-known member
glentre, bad idea. Don't do it. Ikea mastered this concept long before your buddy did.
This. Exactly this. That's why the ikea or lego concept --bolt store-bought cabinets (or make them) together and do what you want.
glentre you are flirting with a lot of issues with considering this... If you want to do high end stuff that market will be very thin. If you do entry level (first time homebuyers), often times an unfinished garage is better as it'll be assessed lower. Anything in between will be hard too. It just won't work.
Personally I wouldn't pay a premium to have someone build out a "custom garage" for me. No way. I'm either going to go to Harbor Freight/Walmart and buy shelving or I'm going to build it myself --or I'm going to write a check to the same high end builder that's building the rest of my house/garage.
Great idea, wayyyyyyy to niche.
This. Exactly this. That's why the ikea or lego concept --bolt store-bought cabinets (or make them) together and do what you want.
glentre you are flirting with a lot of issues with considering this... If you want to do high end stuff that market will be very thin. If you do entry level (first time homebuyers), often times an unfinished garage is better as it'll be assessed lower. Anything in between will be hard too. It just won't work.
Personally I wouldn't pay a premium to have someone build out a "custom garage" for me. No way. I'm either going to go to Harbor Freight/Walmart and buy shelving or I'm going to build it myself --or I'm going to write a check to the same high end builder that's building the rest of my house/garage.
Great idea, wayyyyyyy to niche.
Jeff Ivers
Well-known member
After being on this forum for years, I think most on here are the DIY type. My garage is for storing daily drivers. My shop is for storing projects, doing carpentry and mechanical and fabrication projects - it is not ever going to have high end purchased cabinets and stuff due to the continual dust, dirt and grime. As someone else mentioned your most profitable market (though perhaps limited) is high-end bling installations for those wanting to create a showcase for their vehicles and collections.
jmiller_2308
Well-known member
I'm of the camp that if you are handy you would build your own space to suit your needs. That said, I also know there are a lot of people that lack imagination or are either too busy or too overwhelmed to build out their space.
I think your friend could be successful if he has the ability to get into his client's heads to come up with designs and creative uses for the space. I know I've harvested a lot of ideas from GJ that I put to use in my space and I suspect that if your friend could do similar harvesting for his clients they would pay well for it.
He may consider both a design and a build portion to his business. Sit down with his clients over a number of sessions to work out what is important to them and how their desires could be achieved and present what he comes up with as the design phase. He would have to charge for the design phase but could allow clients to put that charge as a down payment for the build phase should the decide to go through with the build.
Turn key solutions could also result in a significant sticker shock to the client. Your friend could talk clients through ways to make the build more affordable by doing it in steps or by providing the client enough help that they can do the bulk of the work or even show that the client may be able to use things such as Craigslist to purchase portions of the build.
I do think that he has a business model that should work but that it will take a long time to grow. I suspect that to be successful he will need to build a client base that provides referrals that will become the bulk of his customers.
I think your friend could be successful if he has the ability to get into his client's heads to come up with designs and creative uses for the space. I know I've harvested a lot of ideas from GJ that I put to use in my space and I suspect that if your friend could do similar harvesting for his clients they would pay well for it.
He may consider both a design and a build portion to his business. Sit down with his clients over a number of sessions to work out what is important to them and how their desires could be achieved and present what he comes up with as the design phase. He would have to charge for the design phase but could allow clients to put that charge as a down payment for the build phase should the decide to go through with the build.
Turn key solutions could also result in a significant sticker shock to the client. Your friend could talk clients through ways to make the build more affordable by doing it in steps or by providing the client enough help that they can do the bulk of the work or even show that the client may be able to use things such as Craigslist to purchase portions of the build.
I do think that he has a business model that should work but that it will take a long time to grow. I suspect that to be successful he will need to build a client base that provides referrals that will become the bulk of his customers.
ScottsGT
Well-known member
Where do I start? First off, description of my garage. I live on a hill, garage and basement is the bottom floor built as the foundation with 10” thick poured concrete walls. My ceiling height is 7’ 10”. Garage itself is a side entrance on the house. It is 3 typical residential stalls wide, with two standard doors. The far right side is a dead storage area with a walk through door. At the back of the garage is the door into the basement with a stairwell leading up to the main house floor. Under this stairwell is a lot of storage area.
Right after we moved in I bought a project car. I restored the car in this garage to include all storage of removed parts that I kept until I fitted new replacement parts and then slowly sold off or tossed the old. So I had to use the side area as partial storage of old parts. I have a 16X24 workshop off to the side of the garage in the basement. I kept all new parts in there. This project lasted roughly 18 years and took up the majority of the space.
Car is 99% done, so now the far left stall holds the restored Mustang.
I picked up woodworking as a hobby. So now everything I add to the garage is on wheels. All my woodworking saws, benches, etc can be moved in a matter of minutes. I can roll everything into my workshop to make room for either general car repairs or when we get notice that a bad storm with expected hail is coming and I can park my 2015 Mustang in the garage.
In the far right storage area, I have my HF 44” tool chest with side cabinets, water heater and a 2’ X 4’ storage shelf. In front of the shelf I have a wall I build out of 3/4” ply that is on a trolly that rolls between the shelf and the tool chest. I store all my yard tools on this since they were piling up in front of the shelf and it was a major PITA to dig for yard tools or access the shelves behind them.
This fall I hope to rebuild the storage space under the stairs to store my bandsaw, planer, jointer and table saw with pullout shelving to store all my other woodworking tools, beach umbrella and coolers on.
Right after we moved in I bought a project car. I restored the car in this garage to include all storage of removed parts that I kept until I fitted new replacement parts and then slowly sold off or tossed the old. So I had to use the side area as partial storage of old parts. I have a 16X24 workshop off to the side of the garage in the basement. I kept all new parts in there. This project lasted roughly 18 years and took up the majority of the space.
Car is 99% done, so now the far left stall holds the restored Mustang.
I picked up woodworking as a hobby. So now everything I add to the garage is on wheels. All my woodworking saws, benches, etc can be moved in a matter of minutes. I can roll everything into my workshop to make room for either general car repairs or when we get notice that a bad storm with expected hail is coming and I can park my 2015 Mustang in the garage.
In the far right storage area, I have my HF 44” tool chest with side cabinets, water heater and a 2’ X 4’ storage shelf. In front of the shelf I have a wall I build out of 3/4” ply that is on a trolly that rolls between the shelf and the tool chest. I store all my yard tools on this since they were piling up in front of the shelf and it was a major PITA to dig for yard tools or access the shelves behind them.
This fall I hope to rebuild the storage space under the stairs to store my bandsaw, planer, jointer and table saw with pullout shelving to store all my other woodworking tools, beach umbrella and coolers on.
Bessy
Well-known member
If he's looking at new builds in higher end neighbourhoods, I'd expect he's looking more at retrofitting existing shells, likely during or shortly after the initial build process.
Rather than having specific packages for say the weekend mechanic, the detailer, the wood worker, etc, the real money would be in educating on and sourcing premium quality products and offering design, project management and basic installing services for those products. As far as I've seen on the forum here, the biggest problems people face have to do with deliveries being just dropped off in the driveway, damage done to products on their way to the site, lack of knowledge of the options that are available, and general frustration due to contractors, delaying projects, under delivering or not delivering at all.
Educate the client on the best products for their needs, design the layout, subcontract/manage the delivery and installation, and get out. To really nail it in the market he's looking to access, I'd suggest establishing relationships with premium quality lighting/sound/AV/electrical installers, flooring distributors/installers, cabinet makers/distributors, etc. for the big ticket items, and then source the rest of the more nitpicky stuff himself to install, ie air systems and . It would be a whole lot more project management and less labour work, which he may not be up for, but I think the major value in terms of a turn key solution is the ability to manage a project in such a way to minimize pain and frustration by ensuring your deliverables are met on time, on budget at exceeding expectations.
It's really about pulling all of the best products and services together and ensuring that the design, timeline, and finished product all meet the client's needs to the point that they don't really have to worry or think about the project once the design phase is done. That's where the value is to the consumer.
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Rather than having specific packages for say the weekend mechanic, the detailer, the wood worker, etc, the real money would be in educating on and sourcing premium quality products and offering design, project management and basic installing services for those products. As far as I've seen on the forum here, the biggest problems people face have to do with deliveries being just dropped off in the driveway, damage done to products on their way to the site, lack of knowledge of the options that are available, and general frustration due to contractors, delaying projects, under delivering or not delivering at all.
Educate the client on the best products for their needs, design the layout, subcontract/manage the delivery and installation, and get out. To really nail it in the market he's looking to access, I'd suggest establishing relationships with premium quality lighting/sound/AV/electrical installers, flooring distributors/installers, cabinet makers/distributors, etc. for the big ticket items, and then source the rest of the more nitpicky stuff himself to install, ie air systems and . It would be a whole lot more project management and less labour work, which he may not be up for, but I think the major value in terms of a turn key solution is the ability to manage a project in such a way to minimize pain and frustration by ensuring your deliverables are met on time, on budget at exceeding expectations.
It's really about pulling all of the best products and services together and ensuring that the design, timeline, and finished product all meet the client's needs to the point that they don't really have to worry or think about the project once the design phase is done. That's where the value is to the consumer.
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PNWguy
Well-known member
There's no need to be a doctor, lawyer or whatnot to have a half million dollar house. Wages are high in the coastal cities, and so are housing costs. After the crash of '08 I bought a 1050 sq ft house in a reasonable neighborhood in the SF Bay Area for $400,000 and sold it 7 years later for $780,000. The new buyer was not a doctor, lawyer or any of that.
Kirkvkid
Well-known member
I tell my wife all the time... 'I didn't build the shop to work on or store other people's ****.. I built it to get drunk in and wrench on my own' 
But seriously, I store 3-5 limited use cars in my shop. Perform maintenance, repair work, detailing, and light restoration.
Like some have mentioned, I will fix my lawn equipment in there and do other tasks....But my hard and fast rule is: If its not car related; once its fixed it has to go.
But seriously, I store 3-5 limited use cars in my shop. Perform maintenance, repair work, detailing, and light restoration.
Like some have mentioned, I will fix my lawn equipment in there and do other tasks....But my hard and fast rule is: If its not car related; once its fixed it has to go.
I want to thank everyone who replied to this question. Not surprised there were a wide variety of answers from all over the country. While some gave encouragement to the idea, most seemed to be like me and would rather plan and do the work themselves and are not willing to spend the money to let someone else do a turnkey installation for them.
I will pass this info on to my friend and let him sort it out. If he goes ahead, I suspect he will address the upper end homeowners by starting with floor/wall painting/storage jobs and gradually move into the more complex installations as he gains experience and reacts to the market needs.
Thanks again,
Glen
I will pass this info on to my friend and let him sort it out. If he goes ahead, I suspect he will address the upper end homeowners by starting with floor/wall painting/storage jobs and gradually move into the more complex installations as he gains experience and reacts to the market needs.
Thanks again,
Glen
My garage needs are:
1. Air system, nothing elaborate
2. Plenty of 20 amp outlets on at least two circuits
3. Indoor and outdoor 220/240 plugs for RV & welding
4. Multiple 2x4 flat panel dimmable LED lights
I build my own benches to suit my height and projects.
1. Air system, nothing elaborate
2. Plenty of 20 amp outlets on at least two circuits
3. Indoor and outdoor 220/240 plugs for RV & welding
4. Multiple 2x4 flat panel dimmable LED lights
I build my own benches to suit my height and projects.
I have an attached and a detached. I really wish I could use it to park out daily drivers to keep them out of the elements, there just isn't enough room. Lucky for me the garages are maybe 98% my stuff and 2% hers. I park my cars, project cars, car parts, the yard equipment, tools. I really need to do a massive dump run and throw out some of this stuff I'll probably be needing a few years down the road.
I store my daily driver, wife's daily driver, and my camaro in there. I remove vehicles when I need to do light vehicle maintenance (LOFR, brakes, etc). Same goes for lawn equipment maintenance. I also detail in it.
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
My attached garage is used for parking daily drivers and OPE storage, nothing more.
The shop however, is for anything and everything when maintenance, repair, fabrication or machining are required.
The shop however, is for anything and everything when maintenance, repair, fabrication or machining are required.
gtae07
Well-known member
Holy ****, someone still building a Defiant?!
Our 10x20 attached garage is storage of car maintenance stuff, some sporting goods, a beer fridge, and my wife's art studio. My detached garage is a workshop for building an airplane, a little welding, and generally working on anything else that needs working on except cars. I have no car related stuff out there.
Sounds like a neat idea. I do everything from parking to repair work and hobbies and have a 4x8 workbench and small natural gas unit heater so I can use my garage in the winter. IMHO, a 4-car garage looks HUGE until you have 4 cars in it. So, if I were selling this idea I'd maybe try to find a sample garage that has Zero or little practical working space with the desired # of vehicles parked inside and then an 'Ideal' setup where there is space to get from the front to the back with a riding lawnmower or ATV without moving or hitting parked cars for the customer to compare. The 'ideal' garage should have space to maneuver an 8' 2x4 or sheet of plywood without dinging a bumper or hood, and be well setup with work benches, countertops, storage cabinets, shelving and then enough open space to move and work in. Table saws, saw horses, engine stands, hoists, etc. all need clear open space. It seems like in the homes I've lived in, the garages have been great for only the cars. Once shelving, cabinets, benches and lawnmowers move in the garage is pretty much no longer all that useful.
gahrajmahal
Well-known member
Everything Bessy said.
I now do work for friends and family. I work strictly for time and material. I have more work than I can handle because my friends know the job will be done correctly, I will suggest unique and quality products and I work on one job at a time so no long periods of no work once the job is started. Last year I did a garage refurbish that included insulation, painting and a whole day of sorting stuff with the homeowner doing toss, keep, donate. I also hauled away several loads. Adding lighting, labeling stored items and defining workspaces for tools- workbench, gardening and bird feeding. I also set her up with a contractor to repair the door threshold and add trench drains.
For high end garages the rapper Vanilla Ice had a Netflix show about high end home remodeling he now does. He did a multi-million dollar Florida home and followed a Ferrari theme with red and yellow race deck floor and Ferrari colors on the walls. He put in standard garage cabinets and some other “bling” to market to the high rollers who might buy the house.
Jay Leno had his garage made over on a show and it featured a giant turn table so his Brass era cars could easily be driven out of the garage without backing down the driveway.
Good luck!
I now do work for friends and family. I work strictly for time and material. I have more work than I can handle because my friends know the job will be done correctly, I will suggest unique and quality products and I work on one job at a time so no long periods of no work once the job is started. Last year I did a garage refurbish that included insulation, painting and a whole day of sorting stuff with the homeowner doing toss, keep, donate. I also hauled away several loads. Adding lighting, labeling stored items and defining workspaces for tools- workbench, gardening and bird feeding. I also set her up with a contractor to repair the door threshold and add trench drains.
For high end garages the rapper Vanilla Ice had a Netflix show about high end home remodeling he now does. He did a multi-million dollar Florida home and followed a Ferrari theme with red and yellow race deck floor and Ferrari colors on the walls. He put in standard garage cabinets and some other “bling” to market to the high rollers who might buy the house.
Jay Leno had his garage made over on a show and it featured a giant turn table so his Brass era cars could easily be driven out of the garage without backing down the driveway.
Good luck!
Sounds like a good solid marriage
bad_idea
Well-known member
Building cars - lifting jeeps and building race cars. Welding to support. Enough woodworking to build simple furniture for around the house.
Yeah... It works for us. Just kidding of course.
I was just having a little fun, but it is true in a way. Going out to the shop to work on a project is a great stress reliever and a few minutes to escape life. Unfortunately I don't get much time out there.
My wife and I have a great sense of humor towards our relationship. In our years of marriage we've never had a real fight. That's not to say we always agree with one another, but we've never raised our voices or said things we later regretted. I'm a pretty lucky guy
Back to the OP....
You said your friend wants to offer turnkey packages. For us here on GJ, that is something that just doesn't work. We all have different likes and needs. One thing that needs to be addressed is the difference between a garage and a shop. I don't need a garage, I need a shop.
To sell a turnkey garage, you need to target a specific homeowner type. A garage to me is a place where you park your car, your mower, kids bikes, and have a little room for a few tools, and some general storage. I'd offer packages with combinations of Gladiator (or similar) cabinets/products, RaceDeck flooring, and color schemes. To me this is something you market towards the general suburban dad who just needs a clean, organized space to work in after he pulls the cars out. It is also the type of garage that keeps his wife happy! You could also offer something for the two car garage, weekend wrencher. Offer something with higher end Lista type cabinets and a lift. Bendpak would fit this market well.
I think offering a turnkey "shop" package would be too difficult. Our needs are too specific. This is the category most of us on GJ fit.
Ed
In a roundabout way, this is what I was saying previously. It sounds like you (your friend) wants to jump into something you have no solid business plan or model for. Not saying it's not doable though.
Ed
24x24 garage is for:
1) Parking my Jeep and my Challenger
2) Repairing and maintaining vehicles
3) Detailing vehicles (paint correction + wax/polish)
4) Storage of tools for working on vehicles
5) Storage of oils, lubricants, etc., related to maintaining vehicles
6) Storage of car parts
7) Storage of auto detailing supplies
Luckily I have a 12x12 Smittybilt shed used as storage overflow (household stuff) and for a woodworking shop and storage of woodworking supplies (lumber, tools) and household maintenance tools and supplies.
I also have a 10x10 TuffShed on property that holds lawn maintenance supplies and tools, outdoor table and chairs, etc.
All that on a 1/4 acre lot.
If I were building a new home, I would consider getting quotes from a company that would help me design, and would install all the cabinetry, flooring, and all to make a nice garage, or woodworking shed, or lawn stuffs shed. But they would need to offer multiple tiers and materials quality options. For instance, I might drop $15k on the garage interior for cabinetry/shelving//flooring/lighting. But in the woodworking shed, it would have to be cost effective (say $3K or less) or I would build my own shelving. Same thing for the yard stuffs shed. Kind of like custom built cabinetry options (garage) vs. pre-fab for the other two.
1) Parking my Jeep and my Challenger
2) Repairing and maintaining vehicles
3) Detailing vehicles (paint correction + wax/polish)
4) Storage of tools for working on vehicles
5) Storage of oils, lubricants, etc., related to maintaining vehicles
6) Storage of car parts
7) Storage of auto detailing supplies
Luckily I have a 12x12 Smittybilt shed used as storage overflow (household stuff) and for a woodworking shop and storage of woodworking supplies (lumber, tools) and household maintenance tools and supplies.
I also have a 10x10 TuffShed on property that holds lawn maintenance supplies and tools, outdoor table and chairs, etc.
All that on a 1/4 acre lot.
If I were building a new home, I would consider getting quotes from a company that would help me design, and would install all the cabinetry, flooring, and all to make a nice garage, or woodworking shed, or lawn stuffs shed. But they would need to offer multiple tiers and materials quality options. For instance, I might drop $15k on the garage interior for cabinetry/shelving//flooring/lighting. But in the woodworking shed, it would have to be cost effective (say $3K or less) or I would build my own shelving. Same thing for the yard stuffs shed. Kind of like custom built cabinetry options (garage) vs. pre-fab for the other two.
nc.detail
Well-known member
TheShrine
Well-known member
I'm sure there are those that will be glad to go on and on about their garage/shops/etc. There are some nice ones on GJ.
Two suggestions....
1. Just have him log on here and search.
2. Go to this site... https://www.tailoredliving.com/garage-storage/ - They've already done what he's trying to do. They cater to " the wealthy" and do quite well. Of course, wealth is subjective.
While he's investigating the market let him know that there is a tremendous gap in in the market for those who have special needs. I'm reluctant to say "handicapped" but......where/how do we keep our "stuff" and still have a shop/garage space? For example ...two cars in one garage, both needing wheel chair space and Service animal access? 6' between cars/trucks is not uncommon and needs to be planned for in advance. Sometimes we don't/can't just walk up to a work bench. When we do can we move/lift the thing in question effectively? Bench height and access with built-in lifting assistance/devices are a need usually ignored by builders. Not a fault.....just a fact and a market opportunity. I've got ton of $'s addressing such needs in my space.
I do hope him success. It's an area I've considered in the past myself. Seems like it would b fun!
Two suggestions....
1. Just have him log on here and search.
2. Go to this site... https://www.tailoredliving.com/garage-storage/ - They've already done what he's trying to do. They cater to " the wealthy" and do quite well. Of course, wealth is subjective.
While he's investigating the market let him know that there is a tremendous gap in in the market for those who have special needs. I'm reluctant to say "handicapped" but......where/how do we keep our "stuff" and still have a shop/garage space? For example ...two cars in one garage, both needing wheel chair space and Service animal access? 6' between cars/trucks is not uncommon and needs to be planned for in advance. Sometimes we don't/can't just walk up to a work bench. When we do can we move/lift the thing in question effectively? Bench height and access with built-in lifting assistance/devices are a need usually ignored by builders. Not a fault.....just a fact and a market opportunity. I've got ton of $'s addressing such needs in my space.
I do hope him success. It's an area I've considered in the past myself. Seems like it would b fun!
BoostAddiction
Well-known member
There are plenty of businesses doing just what the OP's friend is contemplating, so the model is already semi-proven. In our area, I know of at least three of these kinds of companies with various degrees of competence, and there are probably more.
When I did my garage, there really wasn't anything like that around, and you were pretty much on your own- Steve at Ultimate Garage was really the only one I knew of then (in 2005) that was offering consulting and the kinds of equipment I was seeking at the time. Now, it's pretty common to see garage-specific companies and even stores. On a trip in NC last week I came across a garage emporium that sold cabinets, flooring, etc from a bricks-and-mortar store, and this was in a relatively rural area.
The car gene is pretty well distributed across all levels of income, so starting at the high end is a good way to get started, develop processes and relationships and generally fine-tune your business to remain profitable as you move downmarket.
When I did my garage, there really wasn't anything like that around, and you were pretty much on your own- Steve at Ultimate Garage was really the only one I knew of then (in 2005) that was offering consulting and the kinds of equipment I was seeking at the time. Now, it's pretty common to see garage-specific companies and even stores. On a trip in NC last week I came across a garage emporium that sold cabinets, flooring, etc from a bricks-and-mortar store, and this was in a relatively rural area.
The car gene is pretty well distributed across all levels of income, so starting at the high end is a good way to get started, develop processes and relationships and generally fine-tune your business to remain profitable as you move downmarket.
evintho
Well-known member
My garage is used for heavy auto building and restoration. All 6 cars, except my current project are stored outside. My garage is my shop.
Motorman55
Well-known member
Private motorcycle shop for maintenance/repairs/restorations on my old Harley motorcycles with an office for my vintage motorcycle memoreabilia collection.
Slick111
Well-known member
Beer cars motorcycles guns I don't have a wife
JRC3
Well-known member
I read that in Rodney Dangerfield's voice.
dittle fart around
Well-known member
dittle fart around
Well-known member
Detailing, maintaining, repairing and protecting my vehicles.
That's a nice upgrade on the Miata.
That's a nice upgrade on the Miata.
Thank you. I’m enjoying it.