Shop Buying - Actually pretty awesome

"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori) 04/08/2018 at 16:21 • Filed to: TQ HQ

7

9

In my ongoing quest to find a better home for my various automotive projects, I went out to look at 8.8 acres of land approximately 25 minutes from my house. It was surprisingly awesome.

First of all, this is the first time I’ve gone to look at a plot and been surprised at how large it is, rather than the other way around. The lot is oddly shaped, which I think helps.

The creek mentioned in the listing doesn’t run though the lot, it is one of the borders of the land. It is also super awesome.

The pond was considerably less impressive, but certainly has potential.

Evidence of wildlife was everywhere too. I almost took this home for the pups, but decided that’d be a little shady shade.

No utilities is a little problematic, to the point that I’d want to consider solar or solar + wind over paying to run electricity. Just spit balling.

Lots to think about here. I’d actually pretty well convinced myself to by the crazy shop that is close to the house, now dubbed the “Crack Shack” but this one certainly has me thinking.

Build a cabin?

Camping?

Fishing?

Woods!

But not really a great place to store cars...

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 04/08/2018 at 16:29

1

Solar wouldn’t be too hard to do I’d imagine! Why not get one of those metal pre-fab utility buildings? You know, the half-cylinder-sticking-out-of-the-ground-sideways type ones? Cheap, quick to build (other then needing a flat base of concrete for a floor), and would be easy to mount solar panels to the roof....a shop would need a lot of electricity though.

There would also be an issue with lack of plumbing unless you had a well drilled, and those are NOT cheap...

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 04/08/2018 at 16:36

1

I think those are called quonset huts? Right? And as an homage to Car Talk I think it would have to be dimly lit ... Either way most of the money is in leveling and pouring the foundation.

Yeah... solar would be tempting depending on the money involved.

Are wells expensive? I thought... :google it: oh dear. Yeah $10k+. Woof. I guess as long as that is included in the value proposition. I wonder if rural water is available...

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 04/08/2018 at 16:53

1

Depending on the market demand prices can jump for well drilling. On the plus side, you know that you are close to the water table due to the presence of the stream, so you wouldn’t have to pay for extra depth.

Also make sure that the property percolates enough to support a septic field. You’ll want bathroom facilities eventually, and soil conditions can vary from property to property.

I don’t see why you couldn’t use this for car storage if the costs work, accounting for a structure and utilities. You could add the cabin later, or park a camper there. Just plant some trees to screen it from the neighbors.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 04/08/2018 at 17:01

1

The other issue with wells is that there is no guarantee they will hit a satisfactory water supply on the first drilling.....then you pay them more to do it again.... :/

atfsgeoff > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 04/08/2018 at 17:10

5

As someone who rented a garage that was a half hour drive from my house for a few years, I’ll go ahead and say don’t do it. It’s not worth the commuting time and fuel expenses to have a place just to store cars and be able to work on them, that far from home, if you’re not also passing nearby during a commute to work. After a few months of using it routinely, it just became a chore that I was paying monthly to keep.

I’d say keep distance to within 5 miles of your house if you actually want to utilize it regularly.

MM54 > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 04/08/2018 at 17:17

3

Maybe it’s just me, but even with the awesome lot, having the shop 25 minutes away from home seems really inconvenient

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > atfsgeoff 04/08/2018 at 17:19

1

Yeah that is a serious worry worry.

This property is falling under what I’d call “use case B.” Basically use it to store parts cars or out of seasons cars (put the convertibles out there during the winter) and as a weekend getaway spot, but not something I’d be going out to regularly. All wrenching would still take place at my house, with the exception of anything engine out, which I would do out there instead.

Use case A is reserved for properties withing 15 min of the house, which the Crack Shack is. Anything in plan A would turn it into my primary wrenching space.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 04/08/2018 at 18:15

3

As someone currently looking out for more than one hundred acres of Australia near our town of work and school on which to raise a house, sheds, cattle, chickens, rusting hulks and trees...your search is entertaining.

I also sense an element of ill-discipline in your search. This is so familiar! Focus on what you need now rather than what you might want down the track. The Crack Shack may not satisfy the latter but it’d probably get you all of the former...

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 04/09/2018 at 17:30

1

I mean... I’d totally buy 100 acres if I could afford it! There is actually a pretty sweet plot of 160 acres near where I’d like to be (about 14 min from the house) buuuuut they want $800,000 for it. Not a bad price, especially considering the location, but I don’t have that just... ya know... sitting around.

You’re not wrong on the ill-discipline. The search has evolved to include other possibilities as I’ve been searching. It started as a shop search, then added land with a budget to build. Similarly the radius has increased and the use options changed as I’ve been looking.

All that said, yours is the comment I’ve been weighing the most of the last 24 hours. I think the Crack Shack would work to fill the need much more readily and with less work. The biggest drawback for me right now is the back 5 or so acres has a easement road on it. Not a deal breaker, but certainly changes the value of the land, imo.

My gut is telling me to blow off the whole thing, as I have a lot of other stuff on my plate, but I also don’t want to kick myself later for passing up a good thing because I was busy...