We are currently looking to move house, I'm currently away with work but the mrs has started drawing up short lists and has done a couple of
viewings in preparation for my return. Now she has found 2 that she really likes and would suit our needs. My only requirement for any new house is
there has to be space for a double garage, doesn't have to have one there just the potential for one in future.
The 2 houses she currently has on her list only have a single garage built into the house (which in my experience are even smaller than standard
single garages).
So my question (to a biased audience
) am I being unreasonable with my demands or do I compromise?
no
Nooo way
Definitely not 
You're asking this question to a few thousand petrol heads. What reply other than NO WAY do you expect?
Try the same question on sewingcircle.com for a balanced view
not at all. i would imagine the short listed propertys have all your other half wants or requires or they wouldnt be on the list. I think maybe you
need to view the propertys too and see if they are good enough to warrent the compromise in garage space, or find time/wait till you can both view
together other houses
took 20+ viewings for us to find the right house for our needs, moving in 6 weeks or so
Petrol heads yes, but we all have toy cars which for us to have we have to keep swmbo happy as well.
Haha like wise.
The house we both like has a double garage and space for a workshop 
Depends on how many houses will have this in your target area...
Give us the area and budget and let us find u one
No, it's a two way thing.
When we purchased this year my only criteria was a double garage, we looked a lots of houses to get the right one at the price we wanted.
I was surprised how few houses actually met this TBH, mine was advertised as a double, garage is 4m wide so two decent sized cars would be a struggle
so I installed a lift so the little car sits above the Tin top now.
Regards Mark
The reasonable alternative is to fit patio doors to the living room and park the car there so can be admired (and kept in prestige condition)
Of course not, if you have such a requirements there's little point buying something unsuitable. My last letting agent was like that, took loads of details from me then offered lots of places that in no way matched.
As said my next move will be a minimum of a double, preferably space for a proper workshop as well
It's only one thing and you are letting her have all her own way on the house bit so I think that you are being more than reasonable 
Tell her garages are too technical anyway and that she should concentrate on simple things like which washing up liquid to use etc
I like me Whippy's thinking!
I was talking about the patio door part by the way. Lol
quote:
Now she has found 2 that she really likes and would suit her needs
All valid points even the patio door ones!
I just don't think swmbo was convinced I was being serious. She does now
quote:
Originally posted by scudderfish
quote:
Now she has found 2 that she really likes and would suit her needs
Fixed that for you.
Integral garages, single or double, are not ideal for a proper petrol head. The problem is they are always sat there looking ripe for a conversion to add more living space. This is not good! You need to guide her towards properties with a detached garage or space to build one to your specification.
Get a new missus! that's what I did!
When me and the missus were looking for a place together, we both said one of the requirements were a double garage. Only problem is they only usually
come with bigger 4+ bed houses. So as a compromise we bought a 5 bed with double garage.
At the minute there's only the 3 of us plus Dave, but means we've got plenty of space to have friends over
On the flip side the ex wasn't interested in garage space, was more interested in gardens and sh1t. That's just more work and takes the time
away from the garage!
[Edited on 20-9-13 by thefreak]
I had the same discussion and actually ended up with a much larger garage than i expected.
Although my commute increased from 10mins to 1 hour, while hers went the opposite.
Just moving house from a place with a large single garage to a place with smaller single. Annoyed by it but the missus just plain doesn't understand the whole garage thing. It just doesn't even enter her mind in anyway. Weird really as I said 'can you not see that this is important to me even if it means nothing to you'. I gave in eventually because we got the house for a good deal, she's paying the deposit (amazing huh!), we're having a baby and she is happy for me to keep the kit.
compromise - agree to a single garage or shed if you can rent nearby storage?
I ended up with the house SWMBO wanted, with a single garage at the end of the low maintenance garden (thanks to patio and decking) and a 10m x 20m
secure barn nearby
Did the same thing 6yrs back, I wanted double garage and no garden, she wanted en-suite and large kitchen. Compromise was double garage and some garden, with large kitchen and no en-suite. Bliss .......... Nah..... But as close as ya gonna get....
A garage. Pah. Round here a single built in garage is like gold dust. Double garage- forget it! I have to settle for a lock-up garage 20 minutes drive
away 
Although built-in garages are regularly eyed-up as the first place to covert into extra living space when people start running out of space by that
time you'll be so under the thumb the kit car will have gone a long time ago. So why worry
I think you guys are looking at this all wrong. If you both want different things from your house, just buy two houses. One each.
You've put in one requirement. If she thinks you're being unreasonable ask to see her list of requirements and to highlight the most important one. Then go find a bunch of houses to see that doesn't have it and see if it's unreasonable then.
Discussed this with wife - she feels your wife was wrong to even look at houses that didn't meet both your needs - was inviting disappointment and should live with it and start over with the search with wisdom gained.
My other half recently played the opening gambit of 'let's move house' by saying "that one's got a double garage and that's for sale. She knows what is needed to persuade.
quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
The reasonable alternative is to fit patio doors to the living room and park the car there so can be admired (and kept in prestige condition)
Not unreasonable at all. My wife knows that to get me to ever move the house must be detached and have an existing garage. Ideally a large double, if not, them an existing single with space to build a large double with workshop and clean room. This way the kit can be moved and be at home from day one but I can still get the size garage I want.