My Latest Folly

[jyl]

Wish me luck, folks. I’m about to do something kind of silly.

I don’t have a usable garage to work on cars. It is tiny, low ceiling’d, and barely holds a small car and nothing else. With workbench, table saw, bikes, storage, wife’s kiln, etc there isn’t even room to work on a scooter.

I have multiple cars that need working on. The 911, the Vanagon, now the E28. The driveway doesn’t really suffice, partly because I’m too old and lazy to crawl around on my belly under jackstands, and partly because it rains 11 months of the year here, or something like that.

So, I’ve been looking for a 1500-2000 sf industrial space with a roll up door, high ceilings, bathroom, power where I can install a lift and stereo and bar, and wrench away. The wife also wants to set up her pottery stuff and kiln, welder, etc.

These spaces are kind of hard to find, assuming you want a decent area where tweakers and thieves won’t be checking out the new neighbors and noticing that there’s a woman alone or a Porsche unattended.

I found one. But it’s not cheap. Like, I can technically afford it but it’d be flat out stupid to spend that much on, basically, our hobbies. But I really want it. But it’s stupid. But I really want it. Etc.

Well, I put some feelers out on a couple of the local car Facebook groups and forums. Got a number of interested people right away. Turns out I’m not the only one in this boat.

Today I connected with a guy, texted then phone then met him at his shop. We clicked right away, and have a handshake deal to share the space. Connected with a few others. Feeling pretty confident I’ll find at least two other guys or gals to bring in to what is starting to look like a BMW - Porsche - pottery - screenprint - general maker etc hobby and club hangout space that will be affordable, not dirt cheap but reasonable, for each of us.

Of course, it’ll be me alone signing the lease. I don’t really want the complication of co-lessees. Which means I’m on the hook if this doesn’t work out. But I’ve a good feeling about it.

Think we (me and the handshake guy) are going to start out with one two-post lift and the equipment from his current shop (mill, lathe, bandsaw, torch, sandblast cabinet, compressor, etc). I don’t have much equipment to contribute, so maybe I’ll buy the lift. We’ll accumulate more stuff as we go along. There will be a couple kilns and wheels for the pottery. A fridge of course, maybe work up to a wet bar. I’ll bring in a projector for showing races on the wall. I’m pretty excited about this.

[Bill Douglas]

Funny you should say that. I've done exactly the same thing. A short distance from my house - a few minutes walk, they are building a 56 unit commercial park. And I've bought one. Darn, I'm the only non commercial buyer so the only one who as to pay GST (goods and services tax) but what the hell I wanted the unit. I'll set it up man cave style and sit around drinking coffee and giving everyone else advice. I'll be like a pig in muck. Room for my hoist. Plus I'll move all my hoarder's stuff out of the ceiling space/attic so if I want to move out of my house and rent it out I can. It may be time for a fresh new start for me.

[sc_rufctr]

Great idea but why are alarm bells going off in my head?

Maybe because the idea of safely sharing my tools and space with a bunch strangers seems "ambitious" to say the least.
- and your name alone is on the lease so if something dumb happens you're responsible. (A fire for instance)

If you can work your way around the potential issues then yes it would be great but either you or your wife should spend some time on site everyday.

- How close it it to your house? The closer the better.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Funny you should say that. I've done exactly the same thing. A short distance from my house - a few minutes walk, they are building a 56 unit commercial park. And I've bought one. Darn, I'm the only non commercial buyer so the only one who as to pay GST (goods and services tax) but what the hell I wanted the unit. I'll set it up man cave style and sit around drinking coffee and giving everyone else advice. I'll be like a pig in muck. Room for my hoist. Plus I'll move all my hoarder's stuff out of the ceiling space/attic so if I want to move out of my house and rent it out I can. It may be time for a fresh new start for me.

That sounds great Bill. I need to get my arse over there at some point.

[Bill Douglas]

Do. I came to visit you! And you were out at the time. Something about barramundi fishing in Darwin if I remember correctly

[jyl]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

Great idea but why are alarm bells going off in my head?

Maybe because the idea of safely sharing my tools and space with a bunch strangers seems "ambitious" to say the least.
- and your name alone is on the lease so if something dumb happens you're responsible. (A fire for instance)

If you can work your way around the potential issues then yes it would be great but either you or your wife should spend some time on site everyday.

- How close it it to your house? The closer the better.

The plan is to keep the number of people who are sharing this space to four, max six. Don’t want to be crowded and that should get each household’s monthly cost down to $500 ish. I’m thinking everyone should use their own hand tools.

Most likely only 3-4 of us will be there to wrench, 1-2 will be there for pottery. And since we all have busy lives and day jobs, I’m guessing usually there will only be 1-3 people there at a time. Realistically how many nights a month am I going to be working on my car(s) anyway?

We’ll have to figure out a protocol for not hogging the lift. And if that’s a problem, maybe we’ll look for a second lift if we can find one cheap.

Unfort, it’s about 20 min drive from my house.

Accidents - well, that’s why I’m talking to my insurance agent . . .

[sc_rufctr]

A 20 min drive is close.

There's a "workspace" near my house. It's basically and empty shed with two car lifts (one four post and one two post). You pay a fee and you can fix your car there. Just bring your own tools. They were talking about installing a heated paint booth and mix room but that never happened. The fee is around $80 per lift for 24 hours.

And they're busy. You have to book and pay a deposit and there's a two to three week wait time.

Bill: This workspace is at Port Adelaide, near Semaphore.

[KFC911]

Gopher it .... just because you can !

[IROC]

The Heart of Dixie PCA region did this back in the '90s-'00s. Actually, I think one guy "owned" the space, but many used it and contributed financially. It was awesome. We used to hold Dixie Tech there, for those that remember.

[Seahawk]

I let a few friends use shop space here at the farm...really good folks. The fact that the space is heated and has a/c in the summer may be an attraction

One of them sold his farm and I let him move his shipping container here for tool storage, etc.

The important thing is routine communication, all done via text messages. They always text the group when they are planning a project, check availability, space requirements, as well as the mundane: when they are coming over, can I bring a friend who wants to help, etc., etc.

It sounds cumbersome but it really isn't. We have had zero issues because we all understand expectation management.

The only potential issue I can see with your arrangement is the initial rush from all parties to catch-up on deferred work, projects once the space is available. If the space is big enough to accommodate all, great. If not figure out a way to "draw straws" (for lack of a better term) to assure fair access.

Good luck and enjoy.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Good luck. I have buddies who share shop and storage space. They seem to do ok. Occasionally one of them will "confide" in me that the other is hogging the space, lift, loosing tools, etc. but they've been doing it for a few years and are still friends. They certainly support each other working on projects, etc. I spend a fair bit of time there helping or just drinking their beer. They started with one 2,000 sq. ft space and now another friend has joined them in the park they are in. Between the 3 of them, they have leases on 3 shops in a 10 shop commercial development. What's the old saying "you grow into the space you have"? They keep adding space :-)

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

time.

Bill: This workspace is at Port Adelaide, near Semaphore.

Nice, I like it around there

[pwd72s]

Not a folly...but perhaps injury/liabilty issues to discuss or insure for? Working on cars involves risk, depending on the project.

But the concept? I know of a similar set up involving serious pool players. A private keyed facility containing different tables used in tournaments...participants use for practice or money matchups.
Members share in the costs of the facility.

[LWJ]

John,
I have had the same idea. Not needed now, but if I move to a more urban location. I figured I would buy a barn / shed somewhere in the burbs.

A great idea.

[herr_oberst]

My dad retired to an airpark. Everyone had a hanger next to the house for the airplane, and everyone shared in the costs of maintenance and improvements to the runway that ran smack-dab down the middle of the subdivision.
I always thought this would be a great model for gearheads, and I'm sure it exists. (Substitute the runway for a clubhouse with a big parking lot for shows or releasing the smoke from the tires or stress testing new components...)
Expensive.

[McLovin]

The general concept is good, your particular execution isn’t something I’d touch.

I did it when I was younger and had way too many cars. But I achieved what I wanted (2000 sq feet of warehouse and mancave space), and made money doing it.

I just made sure the space met the technical requirements to obtain a dealers license. Then I got a dealer’s license.

This was financially hugely beneficial. Just some of the benefits:

Put all my cars on my dealership insurance. This was way less than personal car insurance. Surprising, but true.

Didn’t have to pay sales tax or registration on my car purchases.

To pay the rent, I’d just go to the auction once every month or 2 and pick up a car or 2 and flip them on Craigslist. These were mostly cars I was interested in anyways, BMW, Porsche and MB mostly, so I’d have fun driving them for a few weeks or months. Always made money on them, sometimes a decent hit of $5-6k each. I was surprised at how easy it was to make decent money doing that, more than enough to pay for all my car related hobby spending (which was fairly considerable at one time).

Everything was tax deductible.

I had a nice big warehouse a few miles from my house to store all my cars, and it also had a small office and bathroom that I used as a man cave/workshop, it was fun.

No way in the world would I have let anyone in there without me being there. Not with my cars and stuff being there. I wouldn’t want to be the only person on the lease, responsible for the actions of everyone else.

[Chocaholic]

Didn’t read this all but I have three words of advice, especially since you are the lone lessee.

Umbrella. Liability. Policy.

[jyl]

Progress. Identified a better space (2400 sf, including mezzanine level is 4000 sf), found partners to co-lease and share costs, trying to get lease done. Found out about Oregon collector car registration. Searching for insurance now.

[john walker's workshop]

Partnerships suck, don't say I didn't warn you. Carry on.

[jyl]

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

Partnerships suck, don't say I didn't warn you. Carry on.

Am warned, thanks!

No choice really as I don’t fancy a $3K/mo nut on my own for an activity that won’t bring in revenue . . .