-Update 11/5/2010
Well the prices I got for building new ranged from 45 to 68(!)K and while I have the money, it just feel like that's just too much to spend, so I decided to renovate the garage I have for less than a 1/3rd of those numbers.

For sure it's less than ideal, but by renovating, I can have something close to what I wanted AND money for a new Mustang 5.0 or Focus ST (am I a bad person for liking the Focus ST more?)

The plan is to:
1. Insulate and finish and paint the shed area behind the building for a workshop
2. Add two garage doors to the front
3. Pour a new pad
4. Finish and paint the interior of the garage

It should be wrapped up next week.

Here are the pics
What I'm starting with


The shed area before


Adding windows and a door


Framing for the new garage doors


New Pad


New Doors



-Update 8/6/2010

We bought a cool 1939 brick, craftsman bungalow in Rome, GA with a garage outbuilding.




I wanted to expand / renovate the existing building, but it looks like it'll have to come down and I'll build a new one. The building suffers from extensive water intrusion and and fix might kill trees on the property line and ultimately prove ineffective.

So this is what I want to build. I want t go with the one door option, but I'll have to wait until I meet with the Rome, GA historic commission to know if I can do that


This where I want t put it


So assuming all goes well, demolition should begin on the 30th of August!

 

What's the pricing like in that area?

From what I've gathered reading on another thread, right now custom home building for the best materials is around $150-250/sq.ft. Obviously, YMMV--like this guy who built a 10,000 sq.ft spread in one of the most affluent zip codes in the nation, and his "bad economy bargain price" was around $600/sq.ft

 

A garage won't be as expensive per square foot as a house unless you make it a REALLY fancy garage.

 

Can you even build a free standing structure on your property?

 

There's a 2 story carriage house there now but it's 20x30. Expanding it in 2 directions would probably cost me more than just building new (right?).

 

Honestly, you should be calling up about 5 different contractors, have them come out to your house, tell them what you want and ask them for a bid. Not a whole lot of people will be able to help you out.

 

better check your zoning before your get bids...

 

I'm gonna guess you don't own this house yet, and are contemplating buying as long as you can have a garage you really want with the extra $30k you have leftover because it's priced lower than expected.


amirite?

 

I've been in contact with a local architect, and he seems confident that zoning won't be a big issue, since there is an existing garage/carriage house.

I posted this here to get some additional opinions on cost.

 

Close, but I own it, we closed Monday. My wife loved the house, but I would only go along if I could renovate the existing garage.

I do have a spare 175K, but want to keep as much of that invested as I can, which is why my budget is 30K (maybe 40K)