Garages?

[Darkanion]

Ok... I recently started shopping around for a house. My original plan was to get an older house, do some fixing up on it, and sell it a few years down the road. But, I have friends who keep bugging me that "with the housing market the way it is, the home builders just want to get the houses off the books. You can get a much better deal on a NEW house - the way YOU want it - than you can on an old house that you'll have to fix what other people have messed up!"

 

That logic seems to be holding some water, too, based on the few new home builders I talked to today. Unfortunately, though... The idiot home builders build garages for CARS, not full-size pickups! Have I just been unlucky in my searches or are other people running into the same problem? 18 and 19 ft garages, but the truck is nearly 20 ft (or - for some of you - even longer than that)...!?

 

I found one place this afternoon that the truck would fit in - barely! I found another that I could angle across - into this cut-out area next to the water heater - and "make it work." But, the other builders are telling me "Nope! 19 ft is as long as we go. You'll need to get a custom home or have one built on your own! Good luck!!"

 

Surely I'm not the only person who finds it ludicrous to spend that kind of money on a house and be stuck parking the truck outside, just because they made the garage a foot or two too short..!?

 

If anyone has had any luck finding builders who build decent-sized (20-21ft or longer) garages, I'd appreciate hearing about them. I was shocked (to say the least) that the garage for my apartment is longer than the ones in these new, expensive-a** houses!

[Wingnut]

I bought my place new almost 6 years ago, and the short side of the garage is about 8" longer than my '02 ex-cab Z71 was. It fit easily, you just had to park it carefully, if that makes sense.

 

So it looks like you should just buy a house with a shop.

 

Or move up here and buy my house...I'm looking for one with a shop.

[gave20]

I had our starter home custom built. I took the spec home floor plan and modified it so the price wouldn't get out of control. the house is a split level with the garage under neither so I made the garage 2 foot tall to accommodate a 9 foot garage door, 2 foot wider for two suv's and yard stuff and 2 foot longer for a 20 foot truck. My opinion if your spending $200K for a house I'd get exactly what you want.

[2000DV4.8]

My house (well, my parent's house) is about 35-40 years old, and it's got one of the smallest 2 car garages I've ever seen. My dad's '96 civic barely fits in it. My friend down the road, has a house with the exact same layout, and everything is identical, except his garage is about 3' longer than ours. The rest of the houses in the neighborhood (all different styles) all have longer garages too. I don't really know what my point is, I guess I'm just pissed my truck doesn't fit in the garage, but it would in just about any other house in the neighborhood.

[svensk]

I built my house last year and it came standard with 23' in two stalls and 21' in the 3rd. Of course this is MN, and garages are serious business up here.

[Roofer]

That's good svensk, but I have noticed alot of garages up here that are smaller also.

 

Buying an older house, t=yes, you can get all the problems with DIY'ers and their problems, but you can possibly have a lot and house that has been "lived in". This meaning more mature trees, maybe landscaping, window shades, appliances.....stuff you may have to buy with a new house. I am in Construction, but I don't recommend buying a new house, unless you are sure of what you want. Most people think they know what they want, but they realize quickly that they don't.

 

You may want to get an average house where you can have separate garage built. I feel this is the best because you can build it bigger. We are bidding a garage now, and it will be 40x60, 14 ft walls, and clear span rafters and it will be under $50K completely finished, sheetrocked, insulated, everything.........

 

Contractors want to make the most possible profit. (that's a given) They want to build the most square footage on the smallest lot, for the least expense. It seems 90% of houses now are split levels. This is the least expensive house to build, and that's why there is alot of them.

 

I look at it this way.....You can always change the house, but you can't change the location or how much land you own. Take that into consideration. Right now is a great time to get a good house at a good price.

 

Some of my friends have boughten new houses, and they have just as much trouble with things as everyone else. The kicker is they have no trees, no yard, and nothing in the house has been "tested" yet.

 

A good builder is very hard to find now days too. They are only as good as the subs they hire and the materials they are willing to buy. We have worked for upwards of 25 different builders, big companies and small. There are only 2 out of them that I would recommend to a friend and I would still be by their side helping them the whole way.

 

Good Luck with your search. Look slow and don't be pushed into anything. It is a great time to be a buyer. Not sure how it is there, but here you can get a foreclosed house for 70% of market value. Just an option for you.

[Zembonez]

My house is a little over 4 years old. Nice area of town. Nice middle of the road neighborhood.

 

The garage really sorta well... sucks. My 05 CrewCab would only fit if I backed it in and the rear bumper touched the wall... IF I closed the door carefully. It really isn't wide enough for 2 cars either if you expect to ever get the second one out. Most of my pretentious neighbors use theirs for giant crap storage compartments anyway. They want everybody to see their BMW or Lexus sitting out I guess. What a bunch of posers.

[pwall]

I had my house built in 2000. Comes with what the builder calls a 3-car garage, one single door, one double.

yeah....right. My wife's buick will just fit in the single, my truck will just fit in the double...but it couldn't even hold a smart car along side of the truck.

Guess if I had 3 smart cars I could park all three in the garage. ;)

 

And when I had the house built, I had the garage doors built taller so to allow the truck in easy. At the time, I had a GMC Safari and it fit ok.

[Darkanion]

Roofer : Lots of good points, especially about not rushing into anything and looking at repos. Thanks for the input!

 

I've been to some HUD repo sites, to see what there is to see there, too. This is going to be my first home. So, I've been hesitant to go the fixer-upper route. I have seen some pretty good deals out there, though. Some of them seem to be so far below market value that I'm left wondering what all is wrong with them. Not having much in the way of power tools (I've lived in apartments for most of my adult life), that would be another investment I'd have to make, before I could even do much fixing-up.

 

Like you said, though, my best bet is to not rush into anything and keep looking. The right deal will eventually come up... and everything will fit. Me, my plans, and my truck!

 

I was just surprised that so many of these places had such short garages!

[RyanbabZ71]

My house was built in 02. 3 car garage (3rd car sets back about 2-4ft). The 2 car side is 24ft deep I believe. I wish it was a little wider but I have room even with my hitch to walk behind

[99silveradoz71]

My place was built in 03 and I had the garage made 4 feet deeper and 2 feet wider. I wish I would've gone the other 2 feet wider that I could have. If you know someone in construction, I'd have them sit down with you and discuss your needs. My builder was pretty accommodating, and my neighbor used to teach industrial arts, so I had him go over a lot of ideas with me. We were able to insulate the garage walls while they were still open. We also ran string through the studs at that time so we could pull wire later for additional outlets.

[Zembonez]

I superwired my house for everything. Cable, phones, surround sound, speakers in the garage, speakers in the kitchen, security system, computer network... added power everywhere and like an idiot, I never even thought about having the garage extended. Man, sometimes I wonder about myself.

[Rocco715]

Its just an area thing or whatever the builder was thinking. If your looking for a new house come out towards my way and you can have a 40x40 garage like mine

[Darkanion]

We were able to insulate the garage walls while they were still open. We also ran string through the studs at that time so we could pull wire later for additional outlets.

That's a good idea. If I have one custom-built, I'll be sure to do that (or have them do that, if they're not going to charge too stinkin' much). Thanks for the tips!

 

 

Man, sometimes I wonder about myself.

hehe - We wonder about you some times, too..!

 

 

Its just an area thing or whatever the builder was thinking.

You're probably right about it being an area thing. It's just surprising, with as many people who have trucks in Texas that the local home builders aren't building the garages to accomodate those customers. I guess enough people haven't raised enough of a stink about it yet...

[wlvrn1215]

I have 6.5 acres I just bought...I plan on building the house and putting a steel bldg up....30x40 should work. for the toys and when I need to work on the silvy. I can't wait...neither can my wife..