Home Addition - Extra Garage Space
 

OK - This is more of a post to get your input on if what I'm thinking about is stupid or not.

Background:

1. The wife and I built our current house in 2010. We love it, and the neighborhood. In building it we figured its where we will stay for a long long time. Its not a dream home but we are not the type to try to climb the property later.

2. So its a 2000 square foot ranch with a three car garage. Basement is mostly finished. No finished ceiling or flooring, but there are walls and doors.

What's missing:

Storage mainly. My wife is a pack rat and thats not going to change, she's also picked up a hobby (guns) that is requiring more and more space. What the house really lacks is a place to put vacuums, brooms, and that crap. We also don't have a good area for the dog. And the biggest problem is the laundry, right now its in the entry off the garage, great when it was just the two of use, not so great now that we have a little dude.

Another consideration: I have 3/4 of an acre lot, so I have a big lawn mower that I also use for snow removal, and when my Dad passes on I'm going to end up with one or two of his WWII jeeps. I'm also in the process of building a off road trailer with a roof top tent for some off road camping.

My plan:

I'm thinking about adding a two car attached garage, a laundry room, and a side entrance to the house. Laundry room would be off the kitchen, and be large enough to have big island with cabinets under it. Closet for cleaning supplies, and ample storage, and a dedicated dog kennel area. Since I probably don't need a full two car garage I'd steel a little spack out of that for the laundy room.

The current garage set up is a little different. I have a single stall that loads straight off the street, the two car you turn into. New garage and common area would sit behind current two car garage. I'd add a new drive way to the new garage and add a drive in between the two, essentially giving me a circle drive off the side of my house, which would be nice for guest as currently if anyone comes over they block my drive.

Thoughts? Is this something that would add value to the home (not that I really care but it is an investment). And Idea what something like this would cost?

Thanks - Rip away!

Call the show Hoarders and get an intervention. There are absolutely ZERO reasons that two people should be able to/need to have that much crap.

This. A 2000 sq. ft. home with a finished basement should be more than ample for 2 people and provide plenty of storage space.

If you build it-she will fill it.

You'd be better off with a pedicure.

I do agree that there should be ample space in withine the existing footprint of our home. She is just like her parents - buy shit you don't need. Buy shit you use once. I hate it. I'm just trying to tame the beast. That said, I still have the problem of being a future owner of a couple old jeeps.

I'ld be interested to see the sitemap or floor plan for the current house and the addition.

Eventually you'll be parking them on the side of the garage and covering them with a tarp if you can't reign her in

Useful space is a good thing. A functional laundry room is a necessity.

Beyond that, a five-car garage is three garage spots too many. Think about what it'll cost you to house a couple of jeeps that you're probably never going to drive. Unless there's massive sentimental value, sell them. Plus, it sounds like you're at risk of your wife riding them through town shooting her guns, which isn't advisable.

Having said that, I want to see a floor plan. I love being an amateur architect.

My father has a pickup truck that he bought brand new in 1966. He's very attached to it and it's been sitting in his driveway, usually uncovered, for the past 30+ years. He's told me that he's giving it to me if I outlive him, and I've told him several times that it's going to be sold within a week of that happening. I have no desire to own more vehicles than I need.

It’s crazy. I’m completely comfortable in 540 sq. ft. It’s been an adjustment from the previous 1300, but a needed adjustment. I had way too much crap.

If you would ever decide to sell you might be limiting the buyer pool with a five car garage, although to some car crazy folks it would be a dream house that they would be willing to pay the extra value that you will be adding.

You or someone can rent out the space if needed. Make sure everyone's insurance is good.

Just look at codes and make sure you do not piss off your neighbors in the process.

this

So the Jeeps are great, and both were in the bottom of the neighbors barn for years. I always played on them. My Dad bought them got them running, we basically go bar hopping with them.

kinda funny, we sound like the same people. 2000 sq ft house, 2 car garage, 1 acre lot wife started collecting guns along with every other hobby shes laid down !!!
got willed a 38 Studebaker from gpa and dad has another old car probably coming here whenever hes passed. I already have too many tools and need more room, so im already in the process of building a 30 x 40 shop, (dirtworks done) looks like its gonna cost 30k for building 8k for dirtwork, elec will run at least 3k, so theres an idea of costs. hope this helps