O.T. Sort of... Garage Probs

if it were me, and it's not, i'd have to ask myself if i'm really the kind of guy that lets other people tell me what to do & what to drive.

i just can't see a basic hot rodder/car guy being pushed around by non car folks.

if your wife ABSOLUTELY has to live in that subdivision then i have a suggestion.

put the front door of the house on the garage. put the garage door on the side of the house.
you & the caddy live in the house & let the wife live in the garage. simple.

 

Just to add to what others are already telling you...neighborhood associations are the devil, ESPECIALLY if you're a car guy. My Dad married into one of those his second time around, and was miserable. No cars parked outside, etc (not even a daily) Someone actually knocked on his door at 10 PM on Friday night to inform him that the neighborhood infestation of tent caterpillars had been traced to a tree in his yeard, and what was he going to do about it, thank you very much. Solution? 5 AM, Stihl chainsaw, 5 gallons of gas, a match, and a very crazed look in his eye. Nary a problem with the neighbors after that.

But long story short, you're not real likely to get handed a chance to tell everyone to fuck themselves in such a glorious manner. Not only can you not park in your garage, you also will run afoul of a ton of shit for working on your car in the driveway, parking outside, etc. You need to have a VERY serious talk with wifey and explain your reservations on as many levels as you can think of, not just the car.

Clay,
Livin in the woods and giving civilization the finger since 1998

 

....and the land of the free

 

It's always free until you add in the "until death do we part" bit.

Once my local gubment told me NO MORE CARS or be FINED! Then they sent an inspector out.

You just never know when you'll find a fellow car lover.
Ditch the house. If the wife truly loves you, she'll understand your sickness and desire to have that garage.

 

Slogans, watch out for the slogans...

The irony is Orange County is considered to be a "conservative" County of mostly Republicans...Go figure.

 

This is a relationship problem. You need a real session with the wife. Professional if necessary. If you think this is just a little problem to be tidied up now you haven't seen the rest of the iceberg Captain Smith.
It can only get worse for you.
Last I checked there wasn't a housing shortage in Wilmington NC. It's much easier to divorce if you don't have any kids.

Good luck Sir. No fucking kidding.

 

The HAMB is a wonderful place to ask what rod to use when welding, the best way to install air bags or even how high to wear the cuffs in your blue jeans. But my advice is to find a better place to get marriage counseling. Really, man. My guess is a lot of the people posting to this thread sleep alone.

 

Can you build a detatched workshop in the back yard? Not a garage, mind you (that'd probably necessitate a driveway over that easement); just a workshop/shed? twenty by twenty-plus, with a ten foot wide door...

If not, how attached to the car are you? Is this your dream car, or just an old car you like. Big difference. I have a '54 NY'er; it's nothing I'd make a real estate decision over. But I'd be pissed if I had to get rid of my truck or the FV.

Lots o' guys touched on the 'neighborhood nazis' idea. Something to think about, for sure. Easy for me to sit here and talk (type?) like John Wayne, but I gotta' admit, I fight more like Woody Allen. That's why we sold the condo; wasn't worth fighting over everything, all the time.

Lots o' guys also touched on the wife angle. How fucking attached can she be to these neighbors? Of course, I still don't know most of my neighbors' names after 8+ years... maybe I'm not the guy to ask.

But if she really is that tight with them, then maybe she can go around and get a bunch of people to petition to allow a variance for your garage. And if they won't help you out, then maybe it'll open her eyes to how good of friends these people are.

But really, if Maggie (my wife) & I had put the earnest $ down and found something fucked up like this, I honestly think she'd back me up if I found the deal wasn't working out for me. 'Cause if it ain't working out for one of us, then it ain't working out for the both of us; and we're a team.

Also, an hour with a lawyer could get you some good insight on the real estate deal. A letter from him to the builder (or zoning board, or neighborhood committee) might get something done for you. Or maybe he'll have some other ideas on how to get what you want. Probably be cheaper than the 'kiddie shed'.

I won't jump on the 'me too' bandwagon and say what other guys already said, but I bet there's personal experience behind a number of posts.

I bought a 1150 foot house on a 9800 foot lot (nice & flat!) that was zoned for 35% coverage. Do the math; 2000 foot garage, right? Before making the offer, I checked the building setbacks: ten feet on one side, five on another, fifteen feet in back, and twenty-five in the front. So I put my money down and dreamed of the GARAGEMAJAL!

OK, how did I end up with an 865 ft garage? Well, there was another building setback I didn't know about: there's no street behind me on the East side of the yard where the garage is going: 25 foot setback there if building attached. But only five if detached. But wait, detached accessory bldg max size is 800 ft. Doh!

Moral: do your homework.

Best of luck!

-bill

 

You should have three days to get out of a contract. Put your foot down on your contractor. From what you said, I'd bail on him!!!!!!! A good friend of mine just laid out serious money on a new house. Not even a year into it, two cracked tiles in the bathroom, septic system has been redone, and a few planks on the kitchen hardwood floor has popped up. If he isn't willing to add to the garage, talk with an attorney. This is a long term investment for something your not happy with....

I, like a few other on this site do some CAD. Send me your plans and I can make it work.

 

It sounds like you're already committed to the house, so if you exercise your 72 hour "cool off" option, you'll probably lose any down payment or earnest money you paid.
Have you gone to the association with your problem? They may issue you a variance. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen.
If you want to stay married you don't have much choice but to stick with this deal you agreed to, so:

1. Maybe you could find a place to store the caddy while you work on her to move somewhere else.

2. Sell the Caddy with the agreement that you get to buy a car that fits in the garage.

3. Find a way to secretly modify the garage to fit the car.

Good luck

 

Uhm... DAMN... didn't quite expect all that. I think I"ll haveta show the wifey the replies. Maybe it'll help open the eyes a lil bit. As I see it, our "housing association" is just like any other piece of crap housing assoc, with too many gawd darned rules. But.. I see plenty of contractors trucks parked in driveways, and they live there. So their trucks are always gonna be parked outside. Plus, I've seen plenty of fellas workin on motorcycles, and cars, in their driveways. Don't know about the rules on it, but I think I'd better read up. Otherwise, worst case sceneario, make a deal that the money made on this house, goes back in to my caddy!!! Wish me luck

 

Your life will be hell in that neighborhood. Cookie cutter McMansions are no place for a hot rod. You will be the instant troublemaker in that place as soon as you pull in with your caddy. Unless it's a pristine stocker, and even then they will hate you as the 'Hillbilly' with the 'old car' or 'rusty junker'.

Run my friend. Pack all of your favorite things in the Caddy, and point it towards Las Vegas right now!

 

We built our house in a subdivision...no association, but the group of builders had a set of rules that needed to be adhered to until they sold the last house in the subdivision, then we (home owners) could decide if we wanted an association or not. We don't have one, but I honestly think it wouldn't be a bad idea (Since I'd be on the planning committee, I'd craft it to be hot-rodder friendly!)

We told the builder a couple of simple things: The lot had to have enough space for a shop. He'd be building the shop to match the house. No problem.

With the house, we made a BUNCH of changes to the basic "mass produced" plan he used: Added a sliding patio door from the dining room instead of a French door out onto the deck; Put a double door in the basement going out to the back yard (cuz it's SO much easier to get furniture and a pool table through a sliding door); put a 220 line out in the garage ("um, why? You have a laundry room, so your drier will be in there," said the confused builder); instead of "Laundry room, $3000 bathroom, bonus room" why don't you stub the laundry room out for a toilet and sink, and then enlarge the bonus room? "Okay." And the list went on. The realitor who was handling all the paperwork--and this is the real gold nugget for you--looked at me at one point and said "You know, everybody else I've dealt with just bought the house like it is..." At which point I said "You know, if I'm going to spend all my money, and live in this place for a long time, I'm going to make it just like I want it. Otherwise, I'll work with a different builder."

I can't, for the life of me, imagine a builder refusing to do what you'd want, especially if it was for something like moving a non-load bearing wall so you can actually have a real garage.

As for your wife...All I can go by is my wife's attitude when we moved up here: she knew how important a shop was to me, and wouldn't consider a house that didn't accomodate one. She knows how important cars are to me, and--though she isn't always happy with the obsession--she's never made me choose. That's a really, really rare thing in this hobby. The road hot rodders drive on is paved with broken marriages. I know a ton. I bet we all do.

NEXT!
-Brad

 

Run, don't walk, as far away from a community with restrictive rules as possible. It won't be long before they add one making it against the rules to own an old car. My mom and pop lived in one when there were in Houston. You couldn't leave a car in your driveway overnight. Those places sux ass.

 

maybe. i dunno, i can't speak for anybody else.

when me and my girlfriend started getting serious, i told her NEVER give me an ultimatum. do not make me have to chose between her and the cars, because she'll lose. the cars were here first, and will be here long after she's gone. ten plus years later the cars are still here, and so is she. she'll even tolerate taking to bus to work when too many of the cars are in "project" stage. there are some good women out there, no need to compromise when it comes to the most important thing in a guys life...his cars.

 

Reading a bunch of these, it occurs to me that, on the surface, we seem like a bunch of dumb assholes--putting cars before wives, personal relationships, etc. At least that's the way it's going to seem to the wives and girlfriends!

My wife put it best: our hobby or passion is what makes us US. Women need to understand that when they go in. And if they ignore it, they're going to get burned.

Someone else put it this way: Women want to marry a man and change them into what they want. We're projects with potential.
A Man marries a woman, and NEVER wants her to change. When we finally settle down, we've already done all the screening, and found the exact make and model we want, and don't feel the need to change her.

That explaination might help some guys, and might help pre-screen a few women. Or at least give you ammo later, when she starts griping about how much time and $$ you spend on the cars.
-Brad

 

oilcan harry brought up a good point, LOOK INTO the "regulations" in your area pertaining to moving a wall or creating a 'bump out' to extend the garage into the living space.

i admit, i was assuming that it was allowed in your area.

 

If you're totally stuck with the house...consider renting a storage unit in a well secured (fenced-in) nearby location. A guy I know does this and keeps all his tools & beer fridge & tv & couch and his rod in there. Goes over and spends evenings & weekends tinkering & getting away from the wife & kids & nosey neighbors. They live in a high-rent/high snob area and his wife didn't want his rod sitting around greasing up the driveway and looking like an eye-sore to the golf-clubbing-dick-head neighbors.

Myself, I'd make some changes....but, she has a great job to support the guy's rod habits. So, I guess it's a win/win....sorta.

Might check it out as another option or get a smaller ride as I think the local govt. or neighbors might call you on your other plan w/the playhouse.

 

Insulate the garage walls, Put a deadbolt on the door from the garage to the house, and use the overhead door for patch panels. Now it's a carport.

Or cut out a hole in the garage door to close around the end of the caddy. When you aren't home, it will look like a cartoon car drove through your house.

Or better yet find a nice pre-owned home and make it yours. I'm a "mortgage contractor" i.e. the guy that changes locks.... and I do an amazing amount of work in brand new subdivisions.

The houses are usually very poorly layed out and built. I once saw a "chimney" blown off a house and laying in the retention pond 20feet away. There was no tornado, just strong gusts.

The mortgage payments usually skyrocket in a few years as well. I talked to a woman today who's payments doubled in four years, from rising property taxes, interest rates, and balloon payments. The taxes for the land were last assessed when it was farm land, when they re-assess it, it has a neighborhood of 100-200,000 dollar houses on it, oh yeah your taxes are going to go up.

C'mon you're a hotrodder, someone who lives for individuality why own a home that looks like the other 20 on the block.

My 4cents. Good luck.

 

OK - my 2 cents. Wow, some of these guys have you divorced and living in a 5,000 sq. ft. garage/house in the boonies somewhere, not showering and letting your beard grow, swilling beer and yelling in a Tourette's like manner about 'them crazy-assed bitches' and the damned Gub'ment!. You know the truth about your wife and marriage, and you'll act accordingly. I'll leave it at that.

I'm a real estate appraiser by trade and some good advice was given here. Consult an attorney who specializes in real estate. Give this attorney a copy of the Covenants and Restrictions. Many homeowners associations in this area (Chicagoland) don't have any real teeth when it comes down to legalities so all they can do is bitch at you. Some do have the ability to levy fines and make them stick. You'll want to know this before you move in. The attorney can verify this for you.

Read the Covenants and Restrictions for yourself. If it turns out you can get a variance, have that in writing and notarized. If you can't, you know that you have some decisions to make.

BTW, I've appraised over 800 houses and I have never seen a garage that was only 17 feet deep, especially in new construction. The usual is 20 feet minimum.

Good luck to ya!!

 

If only that were true. When I was looking, I had a 1970 DeVille - it wouldn't fit in ANY of the garages that I looked at, all were 19' or less, usually less, owing to a floor step or some such, which the blueprint wouldn't show...

And, yes, this was/is where YOU live, too...in Chicagoland...

Cosmo

 

I don't do too much work up in Elgin. Maybe you guys have some local code that's screwy. Key word here is USUALLY. I guess that makes some garages unusual, much like their owners... me included.

Besides, how big IS that Citroen of yours? (I'd like to see it some day.)

 

That's it. If you're a car nut it's just who you are & nothing will change that. For me it goes even deeper. I'm an artist, & cars/vehicles are my medium. I *cannot* quit not only working on cars, but starting new projects (believe me I've tried). In addition, I can't half-ass a paintjob on someone's car/bike. But i digress...
A friends wife left 'cause he spent too much time in the garage working on his cars. When they met lets see he had 2 lowered/tricked out blazers, A lowered/tricked out pickup, a blown Camaro, a project pickup, & several other cars/trucks - & she didn't know he was into cars! They've worked things out now (they're both great people), & I *think* she better understands his passion. It just drives him crazy to sit in front of the TV & do nothing when he could be working on a project & getting something done.
But I don't know maybe the OP just owns an old Caddy, & dosen't really care what happens to it or even if he drives it. I still can't see living any place where others DICTATE how you build your home & live your life! Dosen't sound like the USA to me!
~ Paul
aka "Tha Driver"

Headline: APATHY RUNS RAMPANT - Nobody cares.

 

There's a lot of those "Association" developments around here. Somebody we know bought one, moved, and placed their family heirloom china in the display cabinet in the kitchen. The cabinet fell of the wall, broke every last piece. Why? because they used liquid nails to attach the cabinet. And its okay with building codes. How fucked is that?

Stay far away from "Association Homes', why pay money to have your freedom limited? Why pay way more than the properties worth? If the wife really just has to live there, knowing the opposing feelings to such - there needs to be some problem solving. We just bought a really nice 1950 Cape Cod, completely remodeled and modernized, in a revigorized neighborhood, for half what a semi-detached association home of the same size was going for. Its real estate jailbait, is what it is.

 

No association, fence for the dogs, remote control rolling gate for the wife, garage i built for myself, patio, sidewalk and landscaping I did for her to keep it even. Can't do that where you'll be.

 

Did the condo/gated community thing for five years. Lived in a cul-de-sac surrounded by community "board members" (GESTAPO). Received complaints when I put shelves up in the garage, planted flowers in the atrium, warmed up my truck in the morning with the garage door open, partially out on the three foot driveway. Also got a "friendly visit" from the parking monitor when I backed in to a parking spot while I swept out the garage, and the best one was when the next door neighbor (Mr. Board President) told me I couldn't leave my hose out outside in the atrium area due to it being a tripping hazard. The next day I came home from work, his wife has it draped over to their second story, washing down their patio.

Moved out of there into a normal neighborhood and will NEVER go back.

I suggest you look at all the options: Extend your garage for the Caddy, build a shed or "play house" in the back yard for it, or if nothing else re-think the investment.

Just my .02 cents

Good luck

 

In the suburban neighborhood of my "youth", many of the little garages from the turn of the century houses had a bumpout of a couple of feet out the back. The bumpout usually was as wide as the garage and @4' high (like an attached wood bin) to fit the nose of the Buick or other 50's land-yacht that was a little too long to fit.

Get a shorter car and keep the wife if you get a choice.

Powerband

 

Ok.. gotta letcha all know how this thing worked out now. I'm finally moved into the new house. Yeah.. the one with the lil 2 car garage and all. It's a great house, got a few lil bugs to work out with the builder, BUT.... and here's the BIG BUT. (no pickin on my fat ass either), the CADDY FITS. It took me about 10 lil moves, forward and back with power steering doin it's part, to get it in, but on a nice diagonal... the caddy fits. I don't care if my hyundai sits outside. I can fit the caddy.. and soon maybe a motorcycle too. I'm a happy camper.

Just wanted to share

 

That's awesome that you got it to fit...with no divorce, no alimony payments, no selling of the car! I have a friend who just moved into a subdivision with an association. Its a nightmare, but you're already moved in so any advice about "find another house" is too little too late I guess. He's a hardcore car guy and he's finding out the hard way how much free time these neighbors have to bitch and complain. Same stories as the rest....no parking in the driveway EVER, no boats EVER, no oil or grease stains in the driveway EVER, no working on cars in the driveway EVER, no fences EVER, no storage sheds EVER...the list goes on and on.

There's also ordinances that dictate what you can't do on the inside of his garage AND THE INSIDE OF YOUR HOUSE! His wife wanted to paint the den for him and make it a "hot rod room" with his trophys and model cars. She painted it red, it was done professionally, it has blinds so noone will ever see it. Its an awesome room, its huge with leather couches and some really cool hot rod art. A neighbor who's a holy roller who also sits on the association board thought it was a shrine to the devil....I'm dead serious about this! He's the newest neighbor in the sub, and he's finding out that certain neighbors build alliances with other neighbors to lobby to get ordinances passed. There's cool cliques, outcasts, etc.... If you're friends with one neighbor, you now can't be friends with another. We ended up calling his subdivision Survivor Island because the way these neighbors operate to vote people out of the sub is just like the show! Its the dumbest shit I've ever seen in my life, and it reminds me of high school. These people are fucking ridiculous.

My best advice is this: I personally would never move into a situation like that, because contrary to what you think, these people are not usually "car people". They are the type of people who don't understand working on your own car, doing things yourself. You're there, you've moved in, you love the house, thats great. What I would suggest though is get a detailed copy of ALL of the association rules and guidelines, read them THOROUGHLY, preferably with an attorney that specializes in that sort of thing, so one day when you decide to do something to your house....or even park a damn car in the driveway, you're already one step ahead of the Neighborhood Nazi's and you can tell them to fuck themselves at the same time showing them a copy of your association rules proving that you comply with all the guidelines. Fight ignorance with intelligence!