Small Upgrades, Big Difference - My temporary garage/shop build

[imported_Quenga]

I currently live in an apartment complex (originally built to be condo`s) and detail out of my garage. It`s small, but it works. Unfortunately, we are moving out of here in less than 2 months. So I`m doing small upgrades that will make a huge difference, and transfer to my next place. My girlfriend and I will be renting a house with her two other cousins. Even though I like this place, it`s small and I`ve had to have my parents look after my dog until we could move out (long story on why I had to give him up temporarily and move here).



I wish I could afford a legit place separate from my home, but if you know what SoCal is like, you know that`s out of the question. $2k out here will get you what you`re looking for and that`s 5 times my current monthly business expenses! Anything cheaper and you`re not even remotely close to your customers.





Anyways, here`s a shot of how it looks now. Will post photos tonight!

[imported_Quenga]

Lights are up!



BEFORE





AFTER!









BEFORE





AFTER!











If anyone wants to know about the lights:



(4) Stainless Steel Shop Lights $16 each @ Wal-Mart



(1) White Shop Light (does not have on/off pull cord...but I have a fix for that coming soon!) $11 @ Wal-Mart





Phillips 10-Pack "Daylight Deluxe" T8 Bulbs - $40

2750 Lumens

30,000 Life Hours

82 CRI

6500k Light Color



Miscellaneous extension cords: $20



Total Cost - $130ish





Now time to re-arrange for another goodie I got

[C. Charles Hahn]

Wow, that is small! Makes me feel like I`ve got a warehouse to work in by comparison, and even I`m in just a single-car garage.

[imported_Quenga]

Yeah, it`s NOT easy to detail in here. I`m SO glad my girlfriend`s cousins decided to move out with us. 2-car garage here we come!



When I get trucks I have to hang part of it out while I detail...which is another reason I`m re-arranging.

[imported_Quenga]

Big chest out and everything pushed to the back wall! Time for a lunch break at 5pm, lol.

[moderator2]

Charlie

How did you get legal zoning to work out of your house? Do you live on commercial property?

[C. Charles Hahn]

Charlie

How did you get legal zoning to work out of your house? Do you live on commercial property?

Zoning is not an issue. There are a lot of us here on Autopia who work out of residential garages, along with several mobile detailers who work on-location at client residences. It`s perfectly legal.

[imported_Quenga]

All cleaned up!



















Finally organized and ready to work in the garage, or load up fast if I`ve gotta be mobile. I keep all my microfibers in the house since there`s not a lot of room. I will be migrating all of my mechanic stuff to the back patio so I can add a few more tubs for the towels.





Still more to do, but I`ve gotta write a Marketing paper and load up for a detail tomorrow morning...

[imported_Quenga]

The difference is AMAZING. Can`t wait to detail in it!!

[C. Charles Hahn]

Did you ever check with your city or community to confirm this? Just because several people are doing it doesn`t mean they are legit. Unless you are zoned commercial, industrial or rural you are playing with fire. Being a mobile detail working on location isnk the same as running a auto repair business out your house. I certainly wouldn`t mind if my neighbor had a mobile mechanic at their house working on their car for a day or 2, but if I had a neighbor doing repairs out of his house on a regular basis you can bet I`d call the city and as many federal agencies as I could find to shut that crap down.

In the state of Michigan, detailing is not classified in the same category as a mechanic or `auto repair` business, nor the same category as a body shop/refinisher. None of the work I perform/services I provide are in violation of any regulatory standards.



It has never been a secret to anyone here that I don`t work out of a commercial facility, and it has never been a secret to my neighbors that I operate a legitimate detail business out of my garage (in fact, one of them used to do the same, and now he sends inquiries my way). I am not a high volume operator, so it`s not like I have multiple cars per day going in and out, or always even a car here every single day of the week to be worked on and about 90% of the time one is here, it`s behind a closed door and there is little to no noise pollution.

[imported_Quenga]

Well thanks for hi-jacking my thread.