My Quandary

[Luva65wagon]

As many of you know I've been working nearly around the clock for nearly a year to get the house where my now-wife lives (just had 1st anniversary last month) ready so I can move there. Technically I do live there too, but have none of my stuff there.

Among the many items on my list has been the building of a garage sufficient to store my 5 pounds of stuff that is currently stuffed into a 1 pound bag (as someone who came to look at Freddie once said). Well, that garage is taking forever to build due to who knows what. I've been trying to hire a drainage engineer for a couple months and nobody seems interested in helping me - for their fee. I really need to get my house on the market, while there is one, and this has forced me to downsize drastically and to do so I am having an estate sale of epic proportions at the end of October. http://www.girlfriendsestatesales.co...d-estate-sale/. I am selling about 90% of my estate; keeping just what I need and letting everything else go. It will be an interesting and yet gut-wrenching weekend. I've got a lot of stuff.

And no, not the Ranchero or my pickup.

In preparations for this I am trying to decide what to do with all the Falcon parts I've collected - or have been left with me post-swap meet(s). I don't want to trash it all, but storage is also not something I want to do either. I may be forced to store it nonetheless since I doubt I'll be able to sell it at an estate sale or get myself to throw it all away. I'm not yet sure all that I have stored up there, but there is a lot of car parts up there. I'm going to make a list and post them here on the forum in the very near future.

Anyway, just posting this so everyone knows why I'm not following up quickly to posts - or participating in club stuff.

[Gitanesteel]

Tough decisions to be sure, Roger. I wish my shop didn't have all my brother in law's junk in it (most that is never used) or I would offer to store some things here.

[dhbfaster]

Yep, I feel your pain a little, .my last visit I cleaned out the garage and we got rid of our storage unit we were paying way too much for...the cost was more than the stuff in it was worth. I rented a U-Haul truck and at the dump they charged me for 1800 pounds of stuff that I put in the dump! I couldn’t believe it.
I had a sick feeling about it, but I can’t keep paying for it, no time to Craig’s list it, and no more place to put it all. The reality, I doubt I will miss any of it.

[Luva65wagon]

Here's an update for what's happening.

1) I've pretty-much moved to the Southern Estate (SE) now. Certainly feels good to have that behind me. Still lots to sort out/through, but no longer pulling clothes out of a box to wear everyday.

2) The Ranchero and my '66 pickup are at the SE now, as well, though there is no garage yet for them. The Ranchero, at least, is under the ghetto garage.

3) It took about 6 weeks of nearly 12 hour days (on average) with nearly no breaks or days off to go through all of the stuff I had, and Lila had, to decide what we were going to keep and what we were gonna sell. Click on the link in the first thread to see an update on the sale, with list and pictures. They added a day to the sale because there was far too much for a standard 2-day sale. Suffice it to say, it is pure insanity there. I can only hope and pray a big chunk of it sells. I am selling some of the equipment I had too, so someone is going to get some good deals. The sale is next weekend (Oct. 25-27).

4) Have been trying for months to get a civil engineer to the SE to get this garage project going, but have had no calls until just about a week ago. The engineer said, "What triggered the need for a drainage engineer is because the building is over 750 sq. ft." After learning what it would cost for their service and the work and all, it took me less that 5 seconds to decide I could easy make due with a smaller garage footprint. So, now awaiting the builder to offer a redesign. I'm a bit PO'd I wasn't notified by [ insert whoever here ] that this was a threshold I could have avoided. 864 sq. ft. and 750 sq. ft. isn't hard to adjust to. Especially now that I'm selling off all the stuff I was planning to use/store.

[Jeff W]

Good luck with the sale. I looked at the pictures on th auction website. You’z gots lots of stuff!

[dhbfaster]

Holy cow you are not kidding about epic proportions....those pictures went on forever. You are quite a collector!

[BadBird]

You have more stuff than I could ever imagine. BUT, SELLING WEEPY THE WEE WEE? Good luck Roger. Larry

[Luva65wagon]

Of course, after a couple weeks of no rain, the first day of rain is forecast for Thursday.



Also, that isn't all my stuff either. Lot's came up from the south-end. But yeah, a lot of it was mine - all boxed away for slowly being sold-off on ebay to support my retirement. Lacking the garage to store it... it's gotta go. Or at least get widdled down. After the sale I'll see what's left and decide what to do with it. I suspect Goodwill will get a sizable donation, but some is too valuable and I'll have to probably store it. Meeting with a realtor tomorrow to see about getting the house listed.

Busy times.

Larry, you could get the wee wee - or the bobble-head Jesus. I was torn to sell either, but would be happy if you got either of them.

[Luva65wagon]

The sale has been going far better than any of us expected. Tomorrow (Saturday) is 50% off day and will probably clear a lot of what remains out - if they're things people want. I drove out there last night after what was a very high-dollar day (double any guesses we had) expecting a big dent and was very surprised how much was still left. Shocked, in fact. Today was about a third (dollar-wise) and so I suspect there was not as big a dent made yet. Will report back tomorrow evening or Sunday what kind of a mess I've been left with. Then comes the clean-up, boxing up what's left, scrapping some, Goodwilling others, setting things at the curb for free - and then work begins on the house with the hope to get it on the market by the middle of November.



On that note the meeting, again, may be short and sweet again - on the second Wednesday of November this time due to the Thanksgiving holiday timing.

[Luva65wagon]

Just a quick update (since I didn't).

The sale was awesome. Easily made enough to recoup all we paid for that stuff. Probably not much in the way of profit, but certainly didn't loose money - even with the commission. Even still - it took over 30 loads to Goodwill and a few trips of kept items (too good for Goodwill) to empty out the place. Then I spent about 4 weeks doing a full repaint and grounds cleanup to get the house on the market. Finally got it listed on the 5th of December... and got an offer the following week and am in the middle of that sale; and hoping all goes well there. If all goes well closing is in early January!



On the garage front, there was that 750 sq ft thing I mentioned requiring a huge drainage assessment. Over a month has past since learning this and getting these builders to help me move this forward is like pulling teeth. It's very obvious they don't do anything until I call them. Then I get a note - then nothing until I contact them again. I don't often get mad, but I'm being pushed to the edge with this. If I didn't already have a contract and a large deposit I'd walk in a heartbeat. I wrote them a letter (of sorts) today telling them they are on notice. Probably won't help.

[Luva65wagon]

Just wanted to post an update about this garage thing. As some of you know I fired the previous garage builder because it was growing very clear they had zero clue what it takes to build in the city limits. A two year, $4000, error in judgment. I had talked to a builder during a Tacoma home show and he sounded very knowledgeable and so I called them up after getting a closure refund with the other builder. He came out and gave us a quote, telling us what we could and could not do, and after submitting these plans to us and getting our approval - he headed to the city... only to be turn ed around because he didn't draw the trees in the site plan. But adding those as of yesterday he went back and walked out with our permit!!! OMG, I'm beside myself. What going with the right folks can change. So, hopefully, in the next 10-12 weeks (the lead time of truss delivery) I may be able to work in a garage again! Or at least park in one. Power will come afterward, and here's a kick in the pants... new regulations require I setup the garage with the ability to charge an electric car! The next Ranchero upgrade, maybe?

[Gitanesteel]

So what are the measurements for the garage, Roger. We're looking to move to another place over here in Ellensburg and my requirement is it has to have a shop. Looking at a place tonight with three acres and, if it works out, I'll probably try to go at 30'X45' stick built. If I can get what I want with a pole structure and have space I may try a little bigger. My daughter really wants an indoor batting cage for the next three years and I have a 3/4 ton, Falcon, RV and 15 bicycle collection to put into a shop

[Luva65wagon]

Scott. you'll no doubt have far less hassle out there building whatever you need. Seattle has gone mad. I'm as large as I can go without added distress, which is what I was dealing with before, going larger than "an easy permit" permits. The maximum, which is what I'm going with, is 24x30. I'll add a lean-to and an outdoor room for the compressor so I should have plenty of shop space and car working space. More than I've ever had.

[Gitanesteel]

Found a contractor selling plans and a truss package for a 36'X48'. 10' ceilings in part and peaked in the other section which would work for a lift in the future. The apartment area in the floor plan will change to an office, 1/2 bath and storage room. On the left elevation I'll get rid of the right window and replace with a single 10'x9' overhead door

Shop elevation.pdf

sandeno main.pdf

[dhbfaster]

Wow, you guys are both building dream garages!
Roger, I’m losing track. After you add the electric Ranchero (Rancherolectric) does that get you back to three falcons?
Funny thing is- I think that would be a great project, and you could probably make it faster than all the gas falcons.