Ask your neighbor without being that guy!
 

I made the mistake of purchasing a home without a 3 car garage. I'm new and was wondering if its rude to ask one of my neighbors that doesn't drive or own a car if they would rent their garage to me. Would be so much easier to have access to my car via golf cart. Any ideas in approaching them would be appreciated.

I don’t see any problem with asking a neighbor. You might want to know them before knocking on the door but I don’t consider it rude.

In my neighborhood, we usually have small parties every month or so. If you have them, you might want to ask if anyone knows of any neighbor that might be interested in renting a garage. That way, you aren’t asking any particular person.

Your neighborhood probably has an internal website that you can ask questions with just your neighbors. We have several that are gone for 5-6 months and some in return of use of their garage, you check in their house.

Maybe consider a garage clean out (no offense). It took us a couple weeks to get things in order but we finally got organized and still had minor stuff from up north that we finally said we no longer needed. I have it down to the decorations boxes which are either going in the attic or put on shelves in the garage. Lastly, do you need multiple cars with double the FL insurance (no offense). I found it helpful to look at the homes for sale and if they had garage pictures look at their storage ideas, etc. You will find it better if you had a longer term solution to make the garage your storage and car garage.

GO do it.

Everyone is too worried about affending others, this AIN'T even close.

Just ask, maybe they can use the rent money.

When you do ask, I would suggest that you tell them how much you are willing to pay.

I think the problem with using someone else's garage here in The Villages - do the doors leading from the garage into the house have locks? I don't know, I don't have a garage for my house, just a carport.

I've never had an attached garage in any house I've ever lived in, so I'm asking because I don't know, not because I'm being snide.

If there's no lock on that door, I wouldn't rent my garage to anyone. If there's a lock on the door I would consider it, if I was a neighbor with the space for someone else's car.

Yes there are locks, but this ain't the OP's problem.

OP, you can ask, however, you might want to consult a lawyer to see what the liabilities are on BOTH sides, you will need to contact your insurance carrier as the car is NO LONGER STORED IN YOUR HOUSE, and finally the neighbor needs to do the same thing. You may be surprised at the insurance implications to BOTH parties for this arrangement. There are some local storage facilities that could provide suitable conditions and as I recall some of these can be accessed by golf cart.

Best approach, ask them.

Personally I would say no.

Orangeblossom.....yes, attached garages do have locks on the doors leading into the house.

robstar, can you add on to your garage? Or maybe a golf cart garage? 3 car garages are around, but not in large quantities, and not in a lot of villages.

Why anybody would buy a house without a 3 car garage? There would be 0 chance that I would rent or even have somebody accessing my garage. what happens if you forget to close the door and the house gets broken into or somebody steals tools out of the garage.
IMO, buy a new house with at least a 3 car garage.

I'd say yes, but it depends on how you approach this and how friendly you are with your neighbor:

(The Wrong Way) I have 3 cars and need to store one. You have an empty garage, I'm willing to pay and you look like you could use the money.

(The Right Way) I don't know what I'm going to do with my extra car. I've been looking for a place in the area where they store cars and allow you to have easy access. You've been here longer than me do you know if there is any place like that around here.

This way you will be asking without actually asking.

After living here for a while, many married couples end up with one car and two golf carts. After you get your car insurance bill, you might too.

The direct approach is the best approach. Just ask.

That said, think about what *could* cause this arrangement to become a problem. Better yet, maybe this is an opportunity to declutter so that a 2-car garage will meet your needs.

“Neither a borrower nor a lender be.”

Renting someones garage.
 

Keep in mind that when they rent you their garage, that makes them a landlord. They have to follow whatever rules there are for a landlord and pay taxes on the rent. That might be more then someone wants to be involved in.

Here’s one very good reason why someone would purchase a house without a three-car garage: They don’t want or need one now or in the future.

Genius, I know. 😎

So the right way is via subliminal mind manipulation?

The First Agreement: Be impeccable with your word.

I agree. Totally not my style. If you want something, ask for it. Don't beat around the bush.

Plenty of storage faculties around villages. IMO if got have them you should have planned accordingly if can’t let one set in driveway?

I have a question....you didn't know before hand you might need more space?? Now with that, I'd be concerned about liability. Too much can factor in........

Some people just leave one car out, parked near the street, so that the golf car has room to get around it and the other can pull straight out.

The direct approach is the best. Particularly after you get to know your neighbors. But sounds like it could lead to significant liability problems. Many house fires start in garages (wires short out, flammable liquids, etc.). If it's your car in their garage, sorting out the insurance could be complicated.

Yes, I totally agree with you this could be looked at as type of manipulation but it's a nicer way to approach the topic.
In this way it does not put his neighbor in an awkward position of having to reject the proposal if he choose to, which could put a strain on the relationship. Remember this is a person he's going to be living next to and might be seeing every day.
Obviously, they are not childhood friends, if they were it would be a lot easier just to come out and ask.
These days one word can sour a relationship.

$$$...

They cost significantly more...

And I agree, the extra golf cart garage (wish we would have found a home with a "full size" golf cart garage) was on the "must have" list...

That is one of the reasons that "the average Villager moves 3 times" mantra...

Once you get there, you find your needs may change...

We bought 4 years ago (this coming February) and we're already looking to move...

We needed a place to securely put our vehicle for a few months. Asked on the Facebook group for our Village and had a few people offering to rent their garage spot to us. We ended up doing that.

Our 2 car garage held my 4 door pickup, car and golf cart. A little snug, but very usable.
Personally, I prefer my possessions stored on my property.

Primary Entrance
 

Our garage is our primary entrance, even if we only drove a golf cart. I wouldn’t intend to be selfish, but the answer would be a resounding NO!

Nobodys fault but mine
 

I thought a 1.5 car garage could hold a car and a golf cart. Unfortunately, this is not the case with the golf cart we purchased and the two vehicles we own. In the past vehicle length has never been a consideration. (golf cart fits at a slight angle, if vehicle was shorter)

I would clean up the garage so I could fit my cars in the garage. Or, I would try to upgrade to a house with a larger garage. A lot of people did not sufficiently downsize enough before buying their home.

Maybe because for many of us 1 car and 1 golf cart is enough? Doink!!!!:duck: