got the green light...

[Howard]

The missus and I had been considering moving to a larger house with a 3 car garage which would have allowed me to complete my shop. However, we have plans to move to the ABQ area in the next 3 years so it seemed to be not such a good idea to move in the interim. Here is where the green light comes into play. We have a U-Haul storage unit that is packed to the gills. I came up with a brilliant plan. Why not find a much larger storage unit or warehouse space (500-600 sq ft), move the stuff outta the U-Haul - saving $75/mon - and set up the shop in the space? Make sure it has 220, access to a bathroom (an imperative), set up a TV and it's 8" jointer, here I come! LOML actually likes the idea, well, sort of. She really likes the idea of getting all my equipment out of the garage so she doesn't have to worry about running into it, but she's worried I might spend too much time down at the shop. Told her not to worry! Wouldn't be down there all that much. I'm afraid it's going to be a tough go trying to find a space that fits the bill - the right size, climate controlled is a must, relatively close by, affordable. Starting to look today! Woo hoo!!

[JR]

Very interesting, Howard. LOML is high on moving to a condo/townhome/smaller place. I'm into it, but am concerned about how my hobby would be recieved in sucha community. I floated the idea of a rented shop space, which wasn't immediately shot down.

What do you think the rent would be for a place like that?

JR

[Howard]

depending on where it's located, naturally, but I think $5-6 a foot might be had if I look hard enough. Am I outta line with that thinking? U-Haul charges you up the wazoo for their space. Ridiculous amounts. $75 for month for 50 sq ft. That's $18 per sq. ft. I'm hoping to spend about $200-250 per month max. A lot cheaper than buying another house...

[BearPipes-1]

Hi Howard, perhaps I need more coffee (though it's getting to be the Mountain Dew time of day), but your numbers have me thrown a bit.

$75/mo for 50sqft is $1.50 per square foot per month.

If you're looking for 500sqft, wouldn't that make your max rent of $250/month work out to $.50 per sqft?

[LCHIEN]

he's mixing monthly and yearly rates freely.

$75/mo for 50 sq ft = annual cost of $18/sqft for the U-Haul storage unit
he said he expects to find some shop space for $5-6 sq ft (annual cost) or $.42-.50 per sqft/mo

so 500-600 sq ft would be $250 to 300 per month.

Of course, he didn't take into account utilities (at least electric and water), security.

[BearPipes-1]

Ah, thankyouverymuch.

The difference between the rents you're discussing and what's available in my part of California already makes this scenario sound unreal.

I might be able to find somebody to rent me a shoebox for 50 cents a month, but there's no way they'd have 220 service available in the shoebox.

[LinuxRandal]

Not to mention, most places that would rent for this purpose, would have a lease, and charge commercial utility rates. Most storage places won't even let you work on a car if you stored there.
If you get in one of them, the city may come knocking on your door, asking about a business license.

[lkazista]

What you need to do is look into renting someones detached garage that already has electricty. Set it up so that if you need to modify the electric, you will pull the permits and pay for the upgrade work.

My buddies mother rents her 2 car out to a contractor, charges him $200 month. She does restrict the time of day that he is permitted there though.

Lee

[Howard]

I know that a regular "storage" type place won't work. There are small strip center industrial areas that have small places available to work on cars, etc. Like I said, it's going to be tough to find the right spot but once in a while even a blind squirrel finds a nut. I'll let ya'll know what I find!