What\'s it worth? (Garage)
 

Hi guys

I've been without a garage for over a year now, and it's driving me mad! Bikes are kept at my sister's, so I can't 'twiddle' with them at all. I haven't even seen them for three months! (..and I can't wait to strip my 888 down to the bones for a rebuild).

Anyway, I've found a garage for sale reasonably locally, and wonder what I should pay for it. It looks very well made (thick walls/strong roof tiles) and comes with a sentry post at the entrance. The guy's open to offers. Anyone have any ideas what it's worth? It looks practically brand new, and it's as dry as a bone. The driveway comes with the price, but not the surrounding grounds.

It's internal dimensions are..
Length = 17ft.
Width = 9ft.
Door = 7ft (up and over type)

Here's a few photos.
Cheers
Steve

Here's another..

I'd offer you room in my garage and use of my facilities but, I have 7 bikes in it atm and not enough room to swing a cat! lol.

As for the value of the garages...haven't a clue... sorry.

Inside..

Last one..

Looks good. How close is it to you and does it have power. I'd not be too keen on putting my bikes in a garage away from me without any power to drive an alarm etc.

Hi twpd

It's about 8mls from me, and no it doesn't have power. (I'll be fitting lights/power sockets, and running them from a generator). As for security, it'll make Fort Knox look vulnerable by the time I'm done with it! (..there's another grand spent then!!) A heavy duty battery will have to do for the alarm though.

Won't that bugger up your insurance? I'd have thought your insurance company wouldn't be too happy - might be a good idea to check with them first and to see if you can get additional cover.

Good luck m8!

I'd go for a long term self storage facililty, lots of garages inside a massive one if I had the option, lots of them around to check out, limited as to what 'work' you can do on them though?

not sure I'd sleep easy being 8miles away....

Steve

Is it a buyer is responsible for dismantling and removal from site? How will you remove the drive in one piece?

Only kidding:bouncy:

A garage like that would cost £3000? to build - land £1000 and potential rent at £250 per year= £5000? + solicitors fees

My concern would be what is surrounding the garage. It looks like it's in the garden of a house. What happens if the house is sold and the purchaser is a thieving murderous drug dealer and turns the house into a brothel?

Could this be a potential disadvantage to owning the garage ( Or an asset? )

Something to think about though. Also is it in a ' nice area ' or are you vulnerable to thieves who will know that you are not 'on the premises'.

Phil

God knows!!! - I'd go and speak to a few local estate agents and get their view. Is it freehold, leasehold? Who owns the access road etc, etc......

I'd try to get a lease deal on it and just pay monthly, then you won't get the **** and hassle of purchase etc....

Tim

If it's too much trouble to get a garage, you can buy those bike metal sheds that are very secure...

www.secure-a-bike.com

I know someone who's got one and they even have a pull out trailer bit on and take less room than a real garage! and you get money of insurance company...He bought his from the NEC

Hi all, thanks for the replies.

Most of what's been mentioned has already been bugging me, but I'm pretty desperate for a garage now, and have had no luck in finding one nearby. This one looks excellent - providing I can make it secure.

Rattler - I've yet to look into leasehold/freehold/insurance etc. but will learn more on monday. Renting isn't really an option, since I'd need to dig holes everywhere for sentry posts/ground-anchors/barriers etc.

Chris - I thought about long-term storage when I decided to keep my Strada, (after buying another bike) but couldn't bear the thought of it just sitting there in a vac-bag when I could maybe ride it occasionally.

Melnie - I live in a flat, and haven't the space for one of those purpose made sheds. Wish I had! Mind you, I've two bikes to lock away, so I'd need a couple.

Philthy - So far as I can gather, the current owner doesn't live in the house next door - but a few doors along the street. Old couple live next door. Strange situation I know!
As to my not being 'on the premises'; it's not ideal. I'll just have to make the place practically 'bomb proof' and hope for the best. I've had a few ideas already. I'll be fitting the usual ground anchors/chains/alarm etc. And maybe one of these removeable barriers across the door opening (see pic). I'm even prepared to buy an old car if need be, and park it in front of the bikes. (Wheel-clamp it too!) It'll probably take me twenty minutes to get the bikes out, but what the hell.

Steve

Steve,

Just a thought, but the more you make the place look like Fort Knox, the more you're advertising that the contents are worth a closer look. And by the very people you don't want to draw attention to those valuable contents.

Not helpful, I know. Just my £0.02 worth

My mate is selling his lock-up at Liphook in Hampshire, part of a block, no electricity, for £9,000. You can't buy or rent here locally very easily , there's such short supply.

You're right Rob, but they'd see me coming and going anyway. I'll be keeping an SP4 in there too, and it's not a bike I could creep around on. Maybe an old van with a flat tyre parked on the driveway would lower the tone a bit, and hide the garage front? It'd mean keeping a footpump handy of course, but I'd do it if it would help!!

(Update - the guy's now said he'll take £6500. Doesn't seem too bad then Henners?)

[Edited on 8-1-2006 by weeveetwin]

It looks a beauty compared to my mates one - if it's freehold I'd take his hand off, you're never going to lose money on it in the long run, also there's no rates to pay so no other expenses other than upkeep. One thing - if the walls are single brick thieves will simply knock a section out with a sledge hammer to gain access so your ideas on internal security are sound.



[Edited on 8-1-2006 by Henners]

Henners much more quieter to remove a few roof tiles and cut through one lath;)

Oooooooooooo - er :o







:lol: