Workshop woes

[Eastblock]

I'm currently living in a rented apartment with no option to move into anything bigger in sight. This means I have no workshop. All I have is a couple of sq.meters in the corner of the living room. I rent a council garage but there is no power there and it's not allowed to use them for anything other than parking a car. Already been burgled once anyway so don't want to keep anything of value in there. I'm sure if I fired up a generator and a table saw there it wouldn't take long before complaints started coming in.

Finding a reasonably secure industrial unit small enough that I can afford it seems impossible. I live in Harpenden, Herts. and everything around here is very expensive.

Any suggestions how I can find a place? I know very few people so lack those vital connections that can sometimes lead to finding a solution. I'm from Denmark and back there I could have found a place in seconds flat.

 

[rtbcomp]

Are you within striking distance of any farms? Sometimes you can rent redundant farm buildings.

 

[Eastblock]

There are some farms around here. A couple of years ago I was looking for a space to park up a truck and was given some numbers/names. I called several times and left messages but never got a response.

I currently have a military vehicle in storage on a farm and I might be able to get permission to to plonk a container there. Problem is it is 20 miles away and petrol isn't cheap these days. Add the cost of buying a container and a generator for power and it all adds up.

 

[the artfull-codger]

There are some farms around here. A couple of years ago I was looking for a space to park up a truck and was given some numbers/names. I called several times and left messages but never got a response.

I currently have a military vehicle in storage on a farm and I might be able to get permission to to plonk a container there. Problem is it is 20 miles away and petrol isn't cheap these days. Add the cost of buying a container and a generator for power and it all adds up.

you'r wasting your time phoning farmers up as they don't know you from adam, you're best going round to let them see you & weigh you up then you'll probably get a place,I know I wouldn't bother with anyone if they phoned me up.
slan go fol

 

[mike 109444]

And If they say no then worth asking can the recomend any one near by then go to them and say jo blogs down the road said you MIGHT have something I could use (lots of smiles and politness...) Best of luck with your search

 

[Moose-LT]

I know the feeling. Trying to start up a business, but the cost or buying or renting suitable industrial units is just so steep i can't possibly afford to have one.

London's even worse.

 

[chunkolini]

Knocking on farmers doors?
I tried this for about 6 months, I had a few almost offers of workspace, a few mutterings.
Then I met this guy who said 'A sculptor?' 'good idea' 'we'll build you a workshop come back tomorrow'.
I was stunned, farmers do not act like this.
I went back the next day, I was offered two sites to choose from. Then the option of three sizes and I moved in three weeks later.


Then I was worried about being on my own on a farm in the middle of nowhere. Turns out there about 20 hippies living on the farm in yurts, benders etc. Nice hippy scum as well.

I think the trick is to speak to the owner of the farm, not an employee. I tried lots of places that had tenant farmers, it was awful. These guys are struggling, they have loads of empty buildings and the owners will not let them sublet, or even let it themselves. One had a beautiful brick milking parlour, it has since lost it's roof.

So worth the effort, but go in person and find the boss. Good luck.

 

[blacksmithstris]

It took me 5 months of scouting out potential sites and chatting to mostly grumpy farmers until I found my place. I didn't even find it, my good man did, entirely by accident, my partner took his boy to the fishing ponds on the farm and met the partner of the farmer lady, told him how I was looking for a workshop, and he said his farmer lady was looking for a blacksmith to move into one of her units! I drove down the next day, we shook hands and moved in a few weeks later. It's not at all as glamourous looking as Chunko's place but it fits the bill, is the right price, and surrounded by the right people, and that is important!

So mention it to everyone and anyone you meet, along the line somewhere something will come up!

 

[Eastblock]

I know very few people locally and those I do know haven't a clue who to ask. For the past year and a half I have mainly been working abroad which doesn't exactly help when it comes to making local acquaintances.

 

[blacksmithstris]

Eastblock, when I say 5 months- that is 5 months after I have relocated to where I am now, from moving from 500 miles away, not knowing a soul and having no family around to help!! I do think it's easier for people who know lots of people and have family in their locality, but it's not impossible if you don't, just will take a little longer.

 

[Eastblock]

Thanks for the suggestions. I managed to get a bit of info from a local and it appears that most farms around here are now occupied by people with "room for a pony" so I would have to be very lucky to find something.

 

[chunkolini]

You need a positive head on and a willingness to keep plugging away.
I had to move, I was working full time in a domestic garage on a communal carpark.
Moving out was a great feeling.
Even now on 'grumpy' days I still get a buzz when I arrive at 'My' workshop.

 

[Seano]

At the moment I work from my garage, which is attached to my house.....great for amenities, but very tight none the less, I would love a workshop / unit but here in the southwest I generally find that people expect to get an awful lot, or are just plain greedy in their expectations of what they may want to rent out, then you have rates and services on top.

 

[Eastblock]

I don't need more space than an average garage but I can't afford to rent a house with one. It's a pity I can't work out of the council garage but even if that was possible chances are it would be burgled in a matter of days. I lost nearly £1000 worth of tools last year.

 

[Eastblock]

A longer overdue update: I ended up in a 24' storage container on a farm. How that happened I can't divulge but it's a place to work from and I pay £30 rent per week including electricity. I own the container. I can't afford insulation so it was quite cold to work there during winter. Even with a radiant gas heater I could only get the temp up to 8C. Good thing I have viking blood running through my veins. We've finally got a road into the field. Until now it's just been a (very) muddy track that even my 4x4 couldn't cope with in the end. I'm actually really happy being on a farm - I can have a cuppa and go out and have a chat with the sheep and cows. How small startup businesses can afford to rent a unit is beyond me. There aren't many small units around and prices are pure extortion. Then you have to pay rates on top of that.

 

[London Wrought Iron]

Maybe its worth your while to partner up with someone. Half the price is half the headache.

 

[Eastblock]

Can't do that - I was declared bankrupt earlier in the year so I have a snowballs chance in hell of getting a rental contract on a unit. Besides my income is still to low to even consider anything better.

 

[Shox Dr]

Maybe its worth your while to partner up with someone. Half the price is half the headache.

More like twice headache

I was once told there are usually two types of people in a Partnership: One with the money the other with the idea. It never ends well. If you've money then employ. If you've the idea work at it.

Out of many partnerships I've known only one lasted and that was two lads I had worked with, both mechanics. It lasted 27yrs, with the last 20 shouting at each other, finally one disappeared with a very well off widow


Good the hear you found somewhere.

 

[rtbcomp]

More like twice headache

...........

Hear! Hear! That's a subject for a Forum of its own.

 

[Keith 66]

I ran a small boatbuilding & restoration buisness on a farm for 15 years. I started in 1984. Rent on a 1500 sq ft cow shed was £30 a week, as my work was very seasonal even that got hard to find at times. Never did make much money but i learnt a lot!
After a 10 year stint as a househusband i have started again, initially working from my shed I looked for a small unit, prices here in Essex are telephone numbers. I was offered a choice of units on a farm but they were pricy consdering no insulation or 3 phase. Basically in my game that means half the year its too cold to do what i do.
I was extraordinarly lucky to be offered a derelict scout hut, it had been abandoned for 12 years, its basically sound & i have it for a year on a trial basis with an option to go permanent.
To be honest though if i lose it in 7 months that will me be wiped out completely.