Does this look familiar? who else has a garage/storage area like this?

Question

Along the lines of DIY I thought I would share these couple pics of one of my garages. I buy refrigerators, carpet, stoves, etc...when I see a deal and store them along w a bunch of other stuff any DIY landlord needs. The furniture was left behind & maybe a new tenant will want it.

Kevin C. · Answer

Fixed those pics for ya!

Chris Volkers · Answer

I have a garage and a couple of basements like this... maybe a little messier.

I always have a spare fridge ready and I like to be able to take advantage of great deals on flooring, appliances, etc. I never can seem to get my helpers to understand that latex paint needs to go in the basement where it won't freeze...

I also store furniture and housewares. We have orthopedic companies here that bring people in from all over the world on  short-term contracts and they will pay a premium for a furnished and stocked apartment.

Paul Ewing · Answer

We have a couple building with supplies and spare appliances.  It is cheap since we have the space anyway on the farm.  You never know when you might need to replace something and tenants are very happy when they report a fridge is out and you say you will be over there with a replacement in an hour or two.

Robert Blanchard · Answer

I am so tempted to become a broker for items for fix and flippers.  I tend to find really good deals on Craiglist and other places.  One of my best deals was when I was working a Mobile Home for my Father and he needed a fridge for it as the old one walked away when the people moved out. Part of doing Lonnie Deals on MH's.  Told me not to spend over $150 for one.  I knew the lady next door was moving out. I asked her what she was going to do with her newer fridge.  She told me she wanted to sell it so her ex would not get it. Spent over $700 for it less than 2 years ago.  I asked her what she needed out of it.  She said $50.  I said I would buy it but I did not have my dolly with me so I would pay her son $5 to help me carry it over to the next Mobile Home space.  My Father did not believe me when he saw the fridge and I told him it cost him only $50.  This was in 2002 or 2003.  Even at Sears Outlet, a good fridge is over $500 nowadays.

Colleen F. · Answer

We do have some stuff in a garage on one property.  We got a discount set of  kitchen cabinets that will do three apartments and we have only done one and a half so far.  The stove that was a little broke that we swapped out and will fix and lots of odds and ends like doors and such that the previous owner left behind. That being said  there are 6 units at that property so having spare plywood, window rope, an extra stove makes sense.  We have another unit  where all I leave are some cans of paint  and a couple of pieces of flooring for patching. Otherwise if I need an appliance I am going to order, get it delivered and have them take the old one away.  Washers/dryers I have swapped out at that place but if they need a fridge I am working so I won't be able to drop everything and bring them one. You just have to be sure to only keep stuff that you may really need and that you can find it (this is our big issue) and can put into use. Also having a dumpster helps us not keep things.  I don't keep furniture but having other stuff around keeps me from running to the hardware store for a small item.

Douglas Larson · Answer

@Rob Beland

Yep. I have a couple garages that look just like yours. When I lived on Maui and in San Diego I just bought what i needed when I needed it. Storage was too expensive! In Utah I have 2 large garages that came with some land I bought and over the last 10 years I have managed to fill them with cabinetry, appliances, lumber, trim, fixtures and staging furniture. When I need something I go to my garages before heading to Home Depot. It's hard to pass up a great deal on essential components I know I will need...someday.  That said, I should really purge the warehouses soon because some of the "essential components" are starting to look a lot like junk. It's time for a Garage Sale!

Rick C. · Answer

@Rob Beland

My basement has been my storage area and has a similar amount of supplies, but in a smaller space.  I finally created a storage area in one of my rentals - will be so nice to have my basement back!

Rob Beland · Answer

@Bill S. I don't typically store furniture. This was a favor I did for somebody. I do buy appliances when I see a good deal on a floor model at Home Depot and I always buy carpeting when it's the end of the roll and heavily discounted. I can carpet a bedroom for about $75 including labor if I have one of my guys do it. I also have a small workshop for paint, tools, supplies. I guess some people are in a different situation if they hire a management company to take care of their properties but I am my management company.

Bill S. · Answer

Storing stuff is more expensive than just purchasing it when you need it. I would never store an old, newer-used couch (bed bugs) or even tenant furniture. Costs me more to haul it around and store it than it's worth. I do have some stuff but it was put in place before I figured the true cost of holding. For me I can rent the storage space out and in one year buy everything I would store.

William Avery · Answer

I don't have one. Yet.

But my remodels are all an hour from my house. I keep thinking that somewhere down the road I'm going to purchase a small house where I can store tools and materials in the garage, as well as take a shower and stay overnight occasionally. Driving an hour to get home after working all day and then having to unload tools into my shop gets very old.

Does this look familiar? who else has a garage/storage area like this?

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