What would you with a 10,000 S/F Industrial/Warehouse Building

What would you with a 10,000 S/F Industrial/Warehouse Building

Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 17 posts · 4 votes

Hello BP Community! Reaching out to this community for advice/guidance and ideas on what I should or can do with a 10,000 S/F industrial building I already own and is paid off. 

Background: I am currently the owner of a 10,0000 s/f industrial building/warehouse that is sectioned off into 3 different units. I am by no means and experienced property manger or real estate investor, just trying to figure this out as I go.  The building is completely paid off, and probably worth anywhere from $400K-$500K. I along with my uncle's daughters, we inherited the building as both my father and uncle have both passed away. My uncle and father were brothers and business partners who purchased the building and ran a successful auto body repair business for over 20 years in a primarily immigrant community in the SW of Chicago. Before passing, my father sold off the business but rented out the building. I continue to manage the building where I have three tenants who continue to operate auto repair businesses. The building itself, is a solid mason constructed brick building, about 90 years of age. I do have repair concerns as I know that I need a new roof, and perhaps some interior remodeling to do.  I am saving as much as I can from my rental income to make immediate necessary repairs, and eventually replace the roof.  Due to high risk factors I am pretty certain a bank will not finance a loan on the equity, nor will I find a financed buyer. 

My first consideration is to sell the property, but because I am certain a bank will not finance a potential buyer, my option would be to find a cash buyer or owner finance the sale. My father and uncle purchased the building through direct owner finance.

My second thought is to continue renting the building which collects a gross revenue around 70K per year. In order to find higher paying tenants, I would need to seriously invest and modernize the building to find a higher grossing business that would want to set up shop there. 

My third option that I have been seriously thinking about is what kind of business I can operate out of this building given that I own it. I have this resource but I have no idea what I can do with it. Sure, I currently have tenants that provide a somewhat steady income, but I have had my share of headaches with tenants and I just recently had to evict a tenant a few months ago. All three units are currently occupied, but I want to start preparing for when I have my next vacancy that instead of renting it out, I can use the space myself for a new business, and perhaps down the line consolidate all three units if necessary. The community I am in is inundated with cheap auto repair businesses. I want to move away from that. The zoning for the building is manufacturing/industrial. Although I spent most of my youth working with my dad in his auto repair shop, I unfortunately did not pick up any skills on how to repair cars. In addition, I am in my mid 30s, and feel like I don/t have a business bone in me. I have a white collar job with a good salary and great benefits, but I am tired of the desk job and can't seem to forget my father's words, "there is nothing better that to be your own boss." I am blessed to have this asset that both my father and uncle worked so hard for to achieve, and I feel that there is so much more I could be doing with it to live up to their sacrifice. Thank you for taking the time to read this long post, and greatly appreciate any advice you can provide. Also, if there are any other threads I should post this message, please let me know. Thanks!

0Reply
199 views

Most Popular Reply

Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
8y

lease it to some weed growers that's all the rage on the west coast for these things.

See this reply in the discussion

31 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
    8y

    lease it to some weed growers that's all the rage on the west coast for these things.

  • Rental Property Investor · Dallas, TX · Member since 2018 · 37 posts · 13 votes
    8y

    Hey @Julio Puentes ! I just joined BP and started browsing around. We had a similar problem a few years ago, except we had the business idea but didn't have the building. We started up a  band rehearsal facility . Bands can rent rooms on a monthly or hourly basis. Granted, it's a business but we started our because it was as close to an absentee owner model as we could find with limited investment. I will say though that my partner and I are/were both musicians in another life so we were at least exposed to the idea before we came up with ours. Depending on how you approach it, you can start small and scale up as needed or start with all 3 units we have. We have two properties in areas similar to what you describe and it's not a deterrent at all. I'm happy to chat more if you have any questions about the idea. Best of luck regardless!! Keep us in the loop on how you move forward!

  • Rental Property Investor · plant city, FL · Member since 2015 · 2 posts · 1 vote
    8y

    Hi

    How big are the units?If you think about selling pm me.But also how big is the property.Can u expand on the property?

    Look for a trucking Company.Think out side box .Think big...

  • Broker / Investor · Tewksbury, MA · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 351 votes
    8y

    Dont sell it

  • Rental Property Investor · Cincinnati, OH · Member since 2014 · 8 posts · 1 vote
    8y

    @Julio Puentes, could it be turned into a co-working space?  You could provide some furnishings for low-ish costs and rent out the space per day or start a membership program, similar to what @Tyler Faison mentioned for bands.

    Agree with @Rich Hupper, don't sell

  • Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 17 posts · 4 votes
    8y
    @Jay Hinrichs if IL ever legalizes it I may have to jump on it!
  • Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 17 posts · 4 votes
    8y
    @Tyler Faison thanks for the suggestion. It would have never occurred to me for that purpose. I am concerned about the market for it in the area as I feel the there may not be a music scene in the surrounding area, but then again I am not in the music scene myself. I’d be curious to look into it. Thanks!
  • Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 17 posts · 4 votes
    8y
    @Jason Allen the two main units are about 5000 s/f each. These two can be easily converted to one large unit as they are separated by a frame wall. The third is actually an addition that is 1000 s/f. Before my dad purchased it the building was used for a furniture storage warehouse. Used to have loading docks that we filled in. The addition was used to garage the furniture trucks. The property also has undeveloped lot that pretty much serves a junk car parking. Not really sure the size of it. Not ready to sell just yet but I’ll reach out if I decide to do so. Thanks!
  • Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 17 posts · 4 votes
    8y
    @Rich Hupper - thanks Rich, my guy tell me not to sell however exploring ways to update, repair, and get the best use out of it.
  • Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 17 posts · 4 votes
    8y
    @Rob Braun I’d supposed it could as I had not considered this option before. Would need a lot of work to convert it given that the last 30 years its been used as an outdated auto repair facility. Thanks for the suggestion!
  • Rental Property Investor · Charlottesville, VA · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 726 votes
    8y

    @Julio Puentes have you had any local commercial brokers look at the space? Even if you don't want to sell (which it sounds like you don't) you can learn a whole lot from them about what type of tenants are looking for space in the area. If you don't know any, you can find some by looking at similar properties in the area and calling the people on the leasing or for sale signs.

    Also, take this for what it's worth because this is just my opinion, but don't try starting a business just because you have space to do so. Recipe for disaster. If you want to start a business, find something you love to do and find the right space for it whether it's your space or not.

  • Developer · San Antonio, TX · Member since 2016 · 1 post · 1 vote
    8y
    @Julio Puentes Good evening from South Texas. I am a real estate developer - commercial & industrial. Can you provide more details on the property? What area are you located in and what are the lot & building details? Seeking investments in industrial warehouse. -Jason Hinojosa
  • Investor · Morrisville, NC · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 673 votes
    8y

    I don't know about your area, but here in NC, this sounds like it would be a perfect place for a brewery ... 

  • Member since 2018 · 12 posts · 3 votes
    8y
    Hi Julio, I don't know the area you are in , one idea may be to get self storage there by yourself or leasing it to self storage operators. You definitely have a great asset to work with Izzy
  • Rental Property Investor | Realtor · Jacksonville FL | Savannah Ga |Raleigh NC · Member since 2017 · 467 posts · 161 votes
    8y

    Can you make it into that co working space, / co living space, coffee, beer dream place..

    a guy redid his auto garage and is featured on a Netflix series, i saw recently, he's out of Austin

  • Specialist · Victor, NY · Member since 2013 · 823 posts · 844 votes
    8y

    I would do a quick market analysis on Self storage in the area and look to convert if demand is there. You can convert a clear span area that's in could condition for as little as $8-10 per square foot. You'll end up with roughly 8000 rentable square feet.

  • Rental Property Investor · Dallas, TX · Member since 2018 · 37 posts · 13 votes
    8y

    Sounds like your biggest decision is how much you want to re-invest and how busy you want to be with a new business. 

  • Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 17 posts · 4 votes
    8y
    @Jeff Kehl thank you for the advice. I had not thought about speaking to commercial brokers before but that’s a great idea. I feel you on trying to shoehorn a business just because I have the space. Anything I do would definitely because I enjoy doing it.
  • Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 17 posts · 4 votes
    8y
    @Henri Meli would love to open a brewery. Just need to learn how to brew!
  • Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 17 posts · 4 votes
    8y
    @Izzy Nathanson thanks Izzy, a self storage could work.
  • Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 17 posts · 4 votes
    8y
    @Matt Berklacy. Not sure, I don’t think the area would attract co working space renters. Residential might be difficult also.
  • Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 17 posts · 4 votes
    8y
    @Michael Wagner thanks! I think this could also work.
  • Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 17 posts · 4 votes
    8y
    @Tyler Faison the investment part is the tricky part. I’m looking at a pretty high investment to bring the building up to today’s standards.
  • Rental Property Investor · Dallas, TX · Member since 2018 · 37 posts · 13 votes
    8y

    Understood. At least compared to other industries, musicians have much lower standards than, say, a traditional office. Is it way out of code or just out of “standards” (i.e. outdated and falling ceiling tiles)? If you do one suite at a time, regardless of the business, it might be doable. You’re the best judge on that though. Having a different type of tenant, but still with low expectations, is just as tricky it sounds like. Musicians are a good target for that though. 

  • Member since 2018 · 2 posts · 0 votes
    8y

    This sounds like a great problem to have!  I would have some conversations with local commercial realtors and banks/credit unions to get a solid understanding of the market and lending options.  You will find that there are lending options available and that $5.80/sq ft may or may not be good for that area.   I'd get hard repair cost estimates for needed repairs and borrow enough to cover that plus $$ for another deal!  If you don't like dealing with tenants hire a property manager and work your way into more properties.  

Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.