A different but maybe interesting topic...

[goufgators]

Wife and I are contemplating selling our house and was wondering: We have a metal carport type building on a concrete pad to house our 32' motorhome. Is that structure going to be more of a hindrance or benefit in our planned selling of the house? Certainly, someone with an RV or large boat would likely be interested in buying the house. BUT, a person without a need for the structure, I believe, could be turned off and not interested in buying the house because of the structure. Anyone with thoughts about this? Hindrance or Benefit??

[goufgators]

Teacher's Pet wrote:
Where are you in FL... looking for a place possibly if close east coast.

We're in the panhandle about 25 miles south of Tallahassee. If interested, let me know and I'll give you information.

[Community Alumni]

Leave it, provided it is not in bad shape. Demo cost is far cheaper than building new from scratch, and most potential buyers know it.

When listing the house, make sure the carport is featured in the listing as an additional amenity that comes with the house. You may be surprised how many people are looking for what you have. Good luck!

[Chum_lee]

A picture is worth 1,000 words/posts. Is there a google earth/map surface view of the property that goes along with the satellite view? That way, everyone who is interested could see the local environment and remove, at least, a little of the "guess" factor.

Chum lee

[2chiefsRus]

westernrvparkowner wrote:

ro_sie wrote:
From a womans point of view. I would leave it. We built a steel building for our MoHO. It has a concrete pad and is large enough for a 41 ft with all the slides out and still lots of room for storage. I live on several acres and recently someone bought the closest house to me that also has acerage. the new owners are building a huge garage on their property. The man is into race cars and builds them. another house close to me is up for sale, a couple of acres, and people are fighting over it. A bidding war is happening, because they all want the extra land to build another structure on. Yeah, keep that building standing. Its easy to remove it if it is unwanted.

Barns and garages are very different than carports. And the construction of a carport will not lend itself to conversion to a true garage. To me, carports are the above ground swimming pools of vehicle shelters. They sort of work, but they aren't ever going to be a positive focal point.

Carports in Montana vs carports in Florida are somewhat different animals. It doesn't take much to provide shelter in Florida from the almost daily summer rains and or sun and the winters are mild enough to just want to keep the frost off of the windshield. Carport in Montana not nearly as functional.

[Teacher_s_Pet]

Where are you in FL... looking for a place possibly if close east coast.

[goufgators]

From the OP: Thanks to all! Consensus is clearly to leave it...and I'll take that advice. Again, thanks...

[FIRE_UP]

Well,
As you can see and read, there's all kinds of opinions. Who cares whether or not this is the right or wrong place to post this type of question. You asked and, you got answers, period. The really short of it is, whether or not you installed the cover or not, or poured the slab or not, will not make any difference in your sale. Your house, its condition, its age, where you live, the type of community, whether or not there are schools nearby, crime rate, and all kinds of other variables will attract or, not attract a given set of buyers.

Some will see the carport as a great advantage and some maybe not so. I'd not even consider even thinking about removing it. If a set of buyers likes the house and is willing to put in an offer, but really doesn't like the carport or sees no value in it, that's THEIR PROBLEM, not yours. It's the same with a pool. Some see a pool as a great hindrance and added monthly cost while others, really embrace the value of a pool and are glad it's already in place so they don't have to add one. But, it's the buyers choice. If you don't want a pool, DON'T BUY THE HOUSE, it's not rocket science.

If a carport for a motorhome, WITH A SLAB, is a turn-off for potential buyers, then there's two answers. One, DON'T BUY THE HOUSE!! Or two, buy the house and TEAR IT DOWN!!! This is not a life or death situation. It's a carport for a motorhome.
Scott

[westernrvparkow]

ro_sie wrote:
From a womans point of view. I would leave it. We built a steel building for our MoHO. It has a concrete pad and is large enough for a 41 ft with all the slides out and still lots of room for storage. I live on several acres and recently someone bought the closest house to me that also has acerage. the new owners are building a huge garage on their property. The man is into race cars and builds them. another house close to me is up for sale, a couple of acres, and people are fighting over it. A bidding war is happening, because they all want the extra land to build another structure on. Yeah, keep that building standing. Its easy to remove it if it is unwanted.

Barns and garages are very different than carports. And the construction of a carport will not lend itself to conversion to a true garage. To me, carports are the above ground swimming pools of vehicle shelters. They sort of work, but they aren't ever going to be a positive focal point.

[westernrvparkow]

Executive wrote:
The concrete pad will always be an asset, sort of like a patio. The cover will depend on it's condition and usefulness to a potential buyer. That would be easy to remove and dispose of. Having owned my own real estate office for almost 20 years with 22 agents working for me, I say leave it alone. Your potential buyers will thank you.....Dennis

You are the expert, but to me, a concrete pad in the middle of the yard is an eyesore at best. You are also assuming it is level to the ground, not always the case with a pad poured specfically for a garage foundation. While I agree in principle with leaving it, it still comes down to the neighborhood and the condition/construction. I think you would agree that the best source of information as to it's value and desirability in the poster's market would come from the local real estate professionals, not a RV forum.

[ro_sie]

From a womans point of view. I would leave it. We built a steel building for our MoHO. It has a concrete pad and is large enough for a 41 ft with all the slides out and still lots of room for storage. I live on several acres and recently someone bought the closest house to me that also has acerage. the new owners are building a huge garage on their property. The man is into race cars and builds them. another house close to me is up for sale, a couple of acres, and people are fighting over it. A bidding war is happening, because they all want the extra land to build another structure on. Yeah, keep that building standing. Its easy to remove it if it is unwanted.

[toedtoes]

I agree that IF it looks decent and quality, leave it up.

I looked at a house once, they showed me the garage and in the middle was a very very poorly built set of plywood walls. They said they put up the "room" for an exchange student and left it up for the new buyer. It looked awful! No insulation (literally single thickness 1/2" plywood walls) anywhere. Washer and dryer were out there and there was no room to use them without hitting the walls. No room for storage or a vehicle. Needless to say, they didn't sell their house for what they thought it was worth.

So, make sure it's clean, well built, and doesn't look like a garbage pile and it's an asset. If it looks like c rap get rid of it.

[Executive45]

The concrete pad will always be an asset, sort of like a patio. The cover will depend on it's condition and usefulness to a potential buyer. That would be easy to remove and dispose of. Having owned my own real estate office for almost 20 years with 22 agents working for me, I say leave it alone. Your potential buyers will thank you.....Dennis

[westernrvparkow]

mowermech wrote:
I would make sure it is "presentable", and leave it alone.
If a buyer wants it gone, HE can have it removed, and deal with the concrete pad.
There simply is no way you can make your house perfect for everybody. Don't even try!

Two days of labor to remove the canopy and framing, a couple of more days to remove the concrete. Preparing the ground, installing irrigation if necessary, resodding, another couple of days. Materials, labor costs, disposal and hauling fees probably approaching $10,000 for the non do it yourselfer. Add in the hassle, I would be looking for $20k off the price on a similar home without the carport should I want it gone. On a million dollar property, not significant. On a $200k property, it is ten percent off the top. That is likely to be a big deal.

[T18skyguy]

rgatijnet1 wrote:
As a contractor, it is a 2-3 day job to remove it, IF the new buyers don't want it.
I'd leave it as is because I think you will find more buyers that could find a use for it than those that would want it removed.

x2. More will see it as an asset.

[Y-Guy]

I completely agree with what valhalla360 said, if it looks professional and that isn't not going to fall down, I'd leave it. Around my neck of the woods RV/Boat parking is a premium and pads and outbuildings are n demand.

I am assuming it was built to code, with your known weather issues if it's not then I'd get rid of the cover.