Would adding RV garage features greatly broaden appeal?

[Lelandwelds]

I am already most of the way there with ceiling height for a lift. Are there more RVers or barely trailerable boaters than GJ types?

Can you add other hobbies or interests which need a large building? My place would be a poor choice to hanger an airplane. Pretty good place to build one from scratch, though.

 

[kd3pc]

to whom are you wanting to broaden the appeal of a shop/garage??

For many, the larger/taller/wider the building is - the less the appeal. Similarly real estate agents and HOAs see little to no value or return on structures like these.

Where we are, there are entire neighborhoods that offer ONLY pull in RV garages with a 1 or 2 bedroom living space - all in the same structure.

Boat builders are too cheap to build large, comfortable structures so they use what they can acquire cheaply.

bests,

 

[Thumper68]

I have been reading your threads with interest. IIRC you said that you plan on keeping this property for 30 years, if that is the case then why all the ??? about building for resale? Yes that is important but if I were you I would build what I want/need and not worry so much about what the market wants, it will change a lot in 30 years.

 

[ForceFed70]

I planned for an RV when I built my garage. Mostly because the wife's been talking about buying one tho - not for resale.

Having said that, it didn't cost much extra. Overhead door that was 2' higher than initially planned only cost me an extra $150. Otherwise, Am additional hose bib that's already come in handy for other purposes and a 30A 120V RV circuit. All told - making the garage RV friendly cost me something on the order of $300.

 

[Lelandwelds]

I have been reading your threads with interest. IIRC you said that you plan on keeping this property for 30 years, if that is the case then why all the ??? about building for resale? Yes that is important but if I were you I would build what I want/need and not worry so much about what the market wants, it will change a lot in 30 years.

"With interest"? OK, cool. Many people seem to think my habit of questioning things is "odd" or worse.

I have four kids, six grandkids, one grandson from a blended family. The number is still climbing. One grand kid is twelve. Great grand kids arent that far out.

I have seen some vicious squabbles over inheritances. I intend to try to force a quick sale upon my death and split up the cash. (Wife thinks this is creepy. I view it as estate planning.)

It lessens general appeal.
It enhances very specific appeal.
Cost is never recouped.
Any added value comes as CASH from the buyer.

The thirty years mentioned above should, as mentioned above, negate any concerns or reason for the added expenditure.

The additional expense is less than $1000 including concrete if I do it up front. So, you think my dream garage decreases my values?

I planned for an RV when I built my garage. Mostly because the wife's been talking about buying one tho - not for resale.

Having said that, it didn't cost much extra. Overhead door that was 2' higher than initially planned only cost me an extra $150. Otherwise, Am additional hose bib that's already come in handy for other purposes and a 30A 120V RV circuit. All told - making the garage RV friendly cost me something on the order of $300.

I am not much of an RV guy. (Family had fun with it when I was a kid. I prefer carribean island cruises.) My garage is just almost there for one. I want it for fab space and car maintenance.

If I can make it appeal to car guys, RVers, deep v boaters, ag use, horses owners, and guys with an industrial bent, I thought that would be a strong plus.

 

[Lelandwelds]

I think most people live in the sticks because they have interests they cant indulge in the city or suburbia.

 

[Voi]

The additional expense is less than $1000 including concrete if I do it up front. So, you think my dream garage decreases my values?

In my area if you're that close to having an RV garage it's considered a good idea to make the changes necessary for RV storage, even if you don't have or want one. Not necessarily putting in a 14' overhead door but maybe at least having your structural header high enough for a future owner to put one in.

From what I understand RV owners also like:

RV stored to one side and not in the center of a building like in a monitor style barn.

Sufficient room between the overhead door and adjacent wall so slides can be out while loading up for a trip.

Things like a pull through RV bay or sufficient length to leave truck hooked up to a 5th wheel or bumper pull trailer are less important.

 

[Falcon67]

Things like a pull through RV bay or sufficient length to leave truck hooked up to a 5th wheel or bumper pull trailer are less important.

Unless you own 63' worth of same. But I've also seen some property with "RV Storage" that would not accept anything but a small Class C or B because they put in cross beams too low in the space.

IMHO, if you want your RV/5th covered - then do it and don't worry about payback. Same as a pool - build, enjoy. Next owner may fill it with dirt.

 

[jd_1138]

It would obviously appeal to a person with a large RV who wants to put it in the garage, but those people are probably rare, but it's still worth mentioning the tall height of the garage in the real estate ad. And put that it'd be ideal for an RV.

Not sure I'd spend money on adding RV stuff to it. You already have the height of the garage built in and paid for I assume.

 

[TractorJeff]

For what its worth, my neighbor built his garage/shop with a 16 foot tall doorway to accommodate his Peterbilt, now it makes a handy RV garage!
Just another angle to think of!

 

[ForceFed70]

I also think property type/location is important to consider.

Large farm or a commercial operation - many buyers will want a shop that can accommodate over sized equipment. But in the suburbs, it's not as likely someone will want/need to accommodate "big things"

 

[Showkey]

Seems to me a RV garage would appeal to any GJ type guy that wants or needs a lift..........these two purposes share common needed building dimensions to function well.


That said wish list for a good shop is 12-14’ ceilings ?

I rent my storage spot for my RV because I do not want to give up a huge spot in the shop. Also a shop that has actual work going on makes a lot of dirt and dust etc.........not great environment for any valuable vehicle storage.

 

[denis4x4]

I have two RV storage spaces...one is a pull through for my Airstream and the other is a pole barn for the motor home. Both have 12' door clearance and 30 amp outlets. Built them for me, but plenty of opportunity for the next owner to repurpose them.

 

[finn]

You need 16’ ceilings to accommodate a14’ door for large motor homes and fifth wheel trailers.

A building like that would look hopelessly out of place in a typical suburban setting, and probably narrow the resale market significantly, but would be ok on large acreage in the country.

I would never build something with concerns about disposal upon my departure. I helped my kids get a good education. What they do with that education will define their future, not a few dollars one way or another from an inheritance.

 

[Nexussian]

I am already most of the way there with ceiling height for a lift. Are there more RVers or barely trailerable boaters than GJ types?

Can you add other hobbies or interests which need a large building? My place would be a poor choice to hanger an airplane. Pretty good place to build one from scratch, though.

From the way you ask, I expect you are asking RE: resale, so the answer is, it depends on the market.

In South East Phoenix, we were told it could make a 90% difference on resale (recoup up to 90% for "RV" garage V/S 0.0% for "man cave" etc. )

From what I remember central Texas can have similar concerns for weather (ie hot in the summer) but I don't know if you have a large enough snowbird population in your specific locality to make it pay.

 

[James-W]

I think everything depends on who the potential buyer is. If you have a buyer who owns an RV then I would assume having a garage equipped to handle it would be a huge plus. On the other hand, if the buyer only has one vehicle, a Smart Car, then having an RV garage would be of little value.

It is sort of like having a lift in your garage. If the potential buyer enjoys working on cars, then a lift would be a big selling point. If the buyer tunes pianos and has no interest whatsoever in cars, then the lift is worthless to him.

 

[MikeF2316]

In my area - and I'm talking about the whole area within commuting distance of Toronto - the real estate ads never have a picture of the inside of any garages. They only mention them in the text - like "8 car garage, 4 doors. Loft space above" They'll have 30 pictures of the kitchen, some with vantage point so close to the last pic, they might as well be duplicates. And maybe one of the outside of the garage, maybe not. They only picture what adds value.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Check your local building codes. You may not be allowed to go high enough without a variance. My neighbor went through that when he decided to build a new garage and wanted to park his RV in one side of it.

Tommy

 

[lakeroadster]

Think Don King.. but bald headed.

Would adding RV garage features greatly broaden appeal?

Greatly... No. It will broaden it, perhaps in ways you can't imagine.

When we sold our last place I figured the 28' x 42' unattached with a 2 post and a 4 post lift and the 35' x 35' attached garage would be prime selling features for a car guy.

The guy that bought it... was a boxing trainer. Wanted to set up a boxing ring to train his clients.

Who saw that coming?

 

[Lelandwelds]

Greatly... No. It will broaden it, perhaps in ways you can't imagine.

When we sold our last place I figured the 28' x 42' unattached with a 2 post and a 4 post lift and the 35' x 35' attached garage would be prime selling features for a car guy.

The guy that bought it... was a boxing trainer. Wanted to set up a boxing ring to train his clients.

Who saw that coming?

When I started this plan I considered two approaches. First, build specialist structures dedicated to each task. Second, try to get double, triple, or even better duty from each building.

I have decided on the second. What I am really asking is " how can I build the most versatile building?"

Check your local building codes. You may not be allowed to go high enough without a variance. My neighbor went through that when he decided to build a new garage and wanted to park his RV in one side of it.

Tommy

Permits cost $20. No inspections. No interference. Only limits are on septic systems. Two neighbors within 300 ft. Next closest is miles away. Cant see my place from any public road.

In my area - and I'm talking about the whole area within commuting distance of Toronto - the real estate ads never have a picture of the inside of any garages. They only mention them in the text - like "8 car garage, 4 doors. Loft space above" They'll have 30 pictures of the kitchen, some with vantage point so close to the last pic, they might as well be duplicates. And maybe one of the outside of the garage, maybe not. They only picture what adds value.

I didnt think of the photos. Thanks.

You need 16’ ceilings to accommodate a14’ door for large motor homes and fifth wheel trailers.

A building like that would look hopelessly out of place in a typical suburban setting, and probably narrow the resale market significantly, but would be ok on large acreage in the country.

I would never build something with concerns about disposal upon my departure. I helped my kids get a good education. What they do with that education will define their future, not a few dollars one way or another from an inheritance.

I have 16 ft sidewalls in my livingroom. The peak of my roof is something like 31 feet above the ground. I am not typical and neither is my place. I have four acres. Most neighbors places are in the 20 acre size. Some are hundreds.

Any place worth fractions of million$ can cause bitter squabbles. This place is pretty much my only asset.

 

[musgofasta]

My .02 is that if it's that's trivial of a cost increase, I would do it.

Being able to fit most RVs and/or a Semi tractor could be a big selling point and differentiating factor at some point in the future.

 

[lakeroadster]

What I am really asking is " how can I build the most versatile building?"

Open floor plan.. tall enough for a big rig with stacks, and doors that allow big 'stuff" in and out with ease.

 

[Lelandwelds]

Open floor plan.. tall enough for a big rig with stacks, and doors that allow big 'stuff" in and out with ease.

That stuff is easy. I think fewer but larger doors in a tandem style garage looks less commercial. It is less expensive construction wise to enter from the ends instead of adding a bunch of door headers along the side. I already prefer thicker slabs in case I get the CNC equipment I want. My planned electricity is more than adequate. I was hoping to delete plumbing and windows but if it is to be adaptable to horse barn and boxing gym those must stay.

I want it to double for holiday entertaining space. I plan on projecting movies on one exterior wall for kids birthdays and sleepovers. For these reasons plus anti theft, I will have everything locked up instead of displayed on pegboard. I am searching for a mix of overgrown lockers and mobil cart. I want a huge clear span carport with a boom mounted car pressure washer. That could double as a dance floor.

 

[rsanter]

I am already most of the way there with ceiling height for a lift. Are there more RVers or barely trailerable boaters than GJ types?

Can you add other hobbies or interests which need a large building? My place would be a poor choice to hanger an airplane. Pretty good place to build one from scratch, though.

Depends on your area.
Where I live people love their RVs and other outdoor toys. There are tons of places with big garages to store them
If that’s the case for you then yes it will add appeal.

Bob

 

[purplezr2]

You need 16’ ceilings to accommodate a14’ door for large motor homes and fifth wheel trailers.

A building like that would look hopelessly out of place in a typical suburban setting, and probably narrow the resale market significantly, but would be ok on large acreage in the country.

I would never build something with concerns about disposal upon my departure. I helped my kids get a good education. What they do with that education will define their future, not a few dollars one way or another from an inheritance.

There is a community of homes near ogden UT that all have RV bays attached to the house, many of them look very nice, some look awkward, if you spend some cash, it can look very nice.

 

[GLFlyer]

Here's my buddy's build... it's in the suburbs. He did a couple of things to make it fit into the neighborhood. Firstly... he used the same materials to match the house. He also upgraded his garage door on his house to match the new cedar doors on the new garage.

He lives near a lake, so he wanted a bay high enough to pull a boat in. He also has a Challenger that he's going to put on a lift in the high bay. Lastly... for re-sale purposes, he was thinking about folks who may want to park an RV in it as well.

I think he did a great job of broadening the curb appeal as well as the overall value of his house, especially for his location near the lake.

He's not done yet... so he still has fencing, landscaping, etc...

 

[Lelandwelds]

Here's my buddies build... it's in the suburbs. He did a couple of things to make it fit into the neighborhood. Firstly... he used the same materials to match the house. He also upgraded his garage door on his house to match the new cedar doors on the new garage.

He lives near a lake, so he wanted a bay high enough to pull a boat in. He also has a Challenger than he's going to put on a lift in the high bay. Lastly... for re-sale purposes, he was thinking about folks who may want to park an RV in it as well.

I think he did a great job of broadening the curb appeal as well as the overall value of his house, especially for his location near the lake.

He's not done yet... so he still has fencing, landscaping, etc...

Nice place. Suggests two houses not so much a hugeeyesoredetatchedgaragemonstrosity that many people suggest I am in danger of building.

There is a community of homes near ogden UT that all have RV bays attached to the house, many of them look very nice, some look awkward, if you spend some cash, it can look very nice.

Ogden UT was a good thing to google. Keller Williams is specifically marketing homes with RV storage. There are a lot of them in the $7 million and up segment. They are most definately echoing the main houses design elements and materials. Many actually look like multiple residences instead of a detatched garage.

Thanks for the lead. I NEVER would have googled that.

 

[Falcon67]

Rv storage might seem rare in some places. Not here, there are RVs everywhere. Mostly 5ers but still. In city, people seem to rarely permit a barn, they just stuff them in driveways or next to the house. There is a big 5er acrosx the street in a back yard, but they just bought the lots next door to that house and may build a hut on one of those.

 

[38Chevy454]

Most large detached garages like us GJers like to have do not add a lot of value, or at best maybe 50% if done to match the house materials and styling. So anything you can do that may add appeal to the detached garage is worthwhile considering. RV or boat storage is a big deal for many buyers. That could be what sells your house over one that does not have it. Whether you recoup **% of the build cost is a different question. Certainly the more potential use of the detached garage, the more it can help broaden appeal.

 

[myredracer]

Years ago I knew a realtor that said if you own rural property and want to increase it's value more, build a decent workshop and the car guys will come. So when I designed our house 15 years ago, I included a pretty nice attached parking garage, shop for several cars + equip. & stuff and large storage room. Sure glad I did. I finally finished "my" shop a year ago and started restoring a couple of cars and it's so nice to have that decent workshop. Then a few months back, we had an appraisal done and I was shocked at what they said the place was worth. So that all worked out well. Our municipality is probably the classic car capital of Canada and homes with good garage/workshops are always in demand.

I really wish I had built a large enough carport or enclosed structure for an RV. Knew nothing about RV-ing when I designed the place 15 years ago but we discovered RV-ing when I was in my late 50s (a common occurrence). Our travel trailer regretfully sits outside exposed the elements which is not good for it, especially being in the rainy PNW. Besides have a space large enough to store/park an RV it would be great to have another space alongside to be able to restore an old vintage Airstream, Boles Aero or Silver Streak trailer. Anytime I work on our travel trailer (I do lots of mods/upgrades) I have to walk back and forth to the workshop which gets annoying pretty quickly.

If many people are into RV-ing in the area, go for it especially if the up-cost isn't that much. Not always easy to find a property with a garage on it large enough and tall enough for an RV. Maybe ask a realtor or two.

 

[Lelandwelds]

Anytime I work on our travel trailer (I do lots of mods/upgrades) I have to walk back and forth to the workshop which gets annoying pretty quickly.

Have you considered a build along the lines of Mr. Campbell's?

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=372663


I'm really not so much trying to get a good return. I have a sales background. People are weird. They may not always put a realistic value on a thing. But, they will make a buying decision. Sometimes they zero in and ignore all else. They may not be aware.

If I can indulge my admittedly uncommon hobbies while still appealing to a broader group, I would be almost ( almost) negligent to not do so. As long as it doesnt run up the cost too much.

The tricky part is thinking of unfamiliar hobbies or activities that are generally compatible.

 

[apollo11]

I can't imagine any man not wanting more enclosed space.

 

[bczygan]

Here's my buddy's build... it's in the suburbs. He did a couple of things to make it fit into the neighborhood. Firstly... he used the same materials to match the house. He also upgraded his garage door on his house to match the new cedar doors on the new garage.

He lives near a lake, so he wanted a bay high enough to pull a boat in. He also has a Challenger that he's going to put on a lift in the high bay. Lastly... for re-sale purposes, he was thinking about folks who may want to park an RV in it as well.

I think he did a great job of broadening the curb appeal as well as the overall value of his house, especially for his location near the lake.

He's not done yet... so he still has fencing, landscaping, etc...

That is horrid!

Too bad I can't unsee it.

Bill

 

[reader2580]

I specifically looked for houses with buildings large enough to house my motorhome. I found several that looked promising, but only 12 foot clearance. There were two with 40x80 buildings, but both were short sales and I didn’t want to wait three to six months for an answer from the bank. I saw one in May or June that got a purchase agreement and it didn’t close until at least October.

I bought a house with enough space to build a large RV garage some day.

 

[GLFlyer]

That is horrid!

Too bad I can't unsee it.

Bill

Just for reference... he is on a corner lot. This isn't the front of his house.

Also... You may enjoy the inside.

He just finished building the lift last night.

 

[Falcon67]

Looks good to me, Texas chic. Needs one of those larger stars in a circle below the windows/above the door to break up the wall.

 

[200mph]

Thanks for posting on my noise insulation thread. Hope I can return the favor here:

I can echo @Voi's comments from experience. We have a 45' motor coach, have owned one 40' or longer since the mid '90's.

1) the coach stores on the left side of the garage... the driver's side. Easier to park, easier entry/loading.

2) Leave room to open the slideouts... ours extend 18", some now may be 24".

3) Put a 240V 50A outlet on the left wall. Our shore power bay is on the left rear of the coach, some are in the middle. 30A might be enough, but if you need to run the coach AC units...

4) Consider someday adding a simple dump station somewhere alongside the driveway.... just a ground level screw-on cap on plastic pipe that runs to your septic tank. For coach owners, this is the equivalent of a house having indoor plumbing.

5) A 12' wide door may seem a luxury, but is appreciated. The coach can only be 8'6" wide, but when you add those big bus mirrors, a 10' door becomes a very tight squeeze.

 

[Lelandwelds]

Thanks for posting on my noise insulation thread. Hope I can return the favor here:

I can echo @Voi's comments from experience. We have a 45' motor coach, have owned one 40' or longer since the mid '90's.

1) the coach stores on the left side of the garage... the driver's side. Easier to park, easier entry/loading.

2) Leave room to open the slideouts... ours extend 18", some now may be 24".

3) Put a 240V 50A outlet on the left wall. Our shore power bay is on the left rear of the coach, some are in the middle. 30A might be enough, but if you need to run the coach AC units...

4) Consider someday adding a simple dump station somewhere alongside the driveway.... just a ground level screw-on cap on plastic pipe that runs to your septic tank. For coach owners, this is the equivalent of a house having indoor plumbing.

5) A 12' wide door may seem a luxury, but is appreciated. The coach can only be 8'6" wide, but when you add those big bus mirrors, a 10' door becomes a very tight squeeze.

Wow. Thank you, thank you. More than I hoped for. Didnt know #1. Accidentally planned #2,3 and 5. #4 never would have entered my noggin.

I have an abandoned gravity septic from the 80s. I buddy dealed a peak with a camera. It is intact. Second thought. Not that hard to tie in and both are in convenient spots.

 

[zmotorsports]

I think most people live in the sticks because they have interests they cant indulge in the city or suburbia.

Not necessarily. I was told to find a place in the sticks and build my dream shop but to be honest, I don't want to live in the sticks. Suburban living appeals to me for some reason. I like things like curb and gutter in front of my home. Something about the nice clean lines to mow up to that appeal to my OCD.

Unless you own 63' worth of same. But I've also seen some property with "RV Storage" that would not accept anything but a small Class C or B because they put in cross beams too low in the space.

IMHO, if you want your RV/5th covered - then do it and don't worry about payback. Same as a pool - build, enjoy. Next owner may fill it with dirt.

Exactly. Don't worry about resale, you won't add much anyways. Just build what suits you and enjoy it.

Most large detached garages like us GJers like to have do not add a lot of value, or at best maybe 50% if done to match the house materials and styling. So anything you can do that may add appeal to the detached garage is worthwhile considering. RV or boat storage is a big deal for many buyers. That could be what sells your house over one that does not have it. Whether you recoup **% of the build cost is a different question. Certainly the more potential use of the detached garage, the more it can help broaden appeal.

Terry nailed it. While detached garages don't do much to add value to the property here, they may attract a certain type of buyer. However, for every one potential buyer who wants a large detached garage, there seems to be 10 that want less property. The trend here seems to be large house on small property so there is less yard maintenance. There is a rather large new housing development that is going up to the east of our subdivision and the lots are all less than 1/4 acre with 4k plus square foot rambler style homes on them. Many even have a large concrete RV pad alongside the garage and have large 5th wheel trailers and/or boats on them but not much in the amount of grass or landscaping compared to in the past. Seems to be a new trend in housing.

Ogden UT was a good thing to google. Keller Williams is specifically marketing homes with RV storage. There are a lot of them in the $7 million and up segment. They are most definately echoing the main houses design elements and materials. Many actually look like multiple residences instead of a detatched garage.

Thanks for the lead. I NEVER would have googled that.

I live in a suburb of Ogden, UT and to be honest, RV garages were hard to find when we were looking last year. The home we sold had a two car attached garage and a 34'x34'x14 detached garage and the detached garage added very little value to the property. My realtor told my wife and I that we would be money ahead to find a property with a detached garage already existing as we would be able to get it cheaper than building our own. It made perfect sense until after many months of looking and not finding anything we liked with the detached garage for under $1M.

It's funny, there were real estate ads that even mentioned "bring your biggest RV" and "RV parking for even the biggest of RV's" right in the ad. They didn't mention the size but when we would pull up I would tell our realtor it's not big enough. He said you haven't even gone inside the garage yet, I said no need, I can tell from here our coach won't fit. One we looked at the owner got pissy because he told our realtor his motorhome fits and therefore anything else should fit. When we walked in I said what is that a 38' coach. The guy said YEP, all smug until I said it won't work. Then the realtor started scheming to tell me how to knock out the back wall or add on another section. Finally I just told our realtor to quit looking for the detached garage, just find us the house we want on 3/4 of an acre and I will take care of the garage because obviously it doesn't exist anywhere except in my head.

There is a very large subdivision just north of our new home by a couple of miles that my wife and I kept a close eye on because the lots are in the .5-1 acre range and it seems like every other or every third house had a large detached pole building out back. My wife and I jokingly referred to it as "pole building central" when we were looking. A house went up for sale in that neighborhood but neither the wife nor I liked the house at all, even though it had a 40x60 detached garage that would house our coach and provide a decent sized workshop. Our realtor really wanted to get us into that one but he could tell we hated the house. I wasn't going to buy a place JUST for the garage even though my wife would have settled for it.

I would suggest not settling for anything. Buy/build what you want and enjoy it. IF or when you decide to sell, you will find a buyer. I am sure ours would sell quite easily even in this market because there are people who would want a large RV garage just like I did. I know I put more money into mine than I would get out of the detached garage, but I am almost giddy now every time I walk into my shop/RV garage and know I didn't settle for someone else's hodge podge of a garage.

Good luck.

 

[Lelandwelds]

The trend here seems to be large house on small property so there is less yard maintenance








Good luck.

Four legged critters currently do the lawn maintenance. I still need to put up a fence for the yard.

I operate on a cash basis and currently I am out. I want to have my toys in a new playscape. I cant so I am gonna " what if " for a while.

I have spent a stupidly large amount of time in the last five or six years looking at real estate. A lot of it inspired thinking along the lines of "what the hell were they thinking?" and "more money than sense (or taste, depending)". I am sure when each was started the owner said " I've got a great idea".