How much to pay for storage?

[madpogue]

First, hi! Bit of a forum junkie, and we're buying a tractor, so joining TBN was a natural.

Anyway, we're waiting on delivery of a shiny new John Deere 790 4WD, no loader, just some front weights and a very unshiny, un-new King Kutter 5' rotary. Our property (21-acre field, 24-acre woods) has NO storage buildings on it, and we're only out there every few weekends or so. It's just down the street from a neighbor (resident farmer) who has some space in a garage for it. He's willing to rent it to us, but hasn't named a price. So what's fair rent for a space big enough for a chore tractor and a brush hog?

 

[tuolumne]

Most tractors are probably stored in the great outdoors...for free! I was worried about this when we purchased our tractor. We are remote and only get to the site every few weeks. Eventually I will build a barn, but for now nature does the job fine. So many people on TBN indicated they store out doors that I stopped worrying about it. I know this doesn't answer your question....

 

[Thomas]

That's a toughy of a question...if your gut feeling says saftey from others plus weather maybe $40-$50 month,or make deal for some tractor work w/him to cut the cost.

What would those self storeage units cost in your area for month,

 

[Dougster]

First, hi! Bit of a forum junkie, and we're buying a tractor, so joining TBN was a natural. Anyway, we're waiting on delivery of a shiny new John Deere 790 4WD, no loader, just some front weights and a very unshiny, un-new King Kutter 5' rotary. Our property (21-acre field, 24-acre woods) has NO storage buildings on it, and we're only out there every few weekends or so. It's just down the street from a neighbor (resident farmer) who has some space in a garage for it. He's willing to rent it to us, but hasn't named a price. So what's fair rent for a space big enough for a chore tractor and a brush hog?

All depends on location, overall length of stay, property owner hassle factor, etc. If this is not in a high crime location, I would be tempted to just get myself a high quality cover that could be locked down or one of those temporary framed canvas garages and tie it down real good against high winds. If it is in a high crime location, pay the guy to lock it up good in a secure garage, barn or building!

Actual secure "garage" storage is very expensive around here. $100 a month and up. That's for classic cars and expensive motorcycles only!

Dougster

 

[davidseaquist]

I would buy a 20' or 40' shipping container. I bought one for 1500 dollars for a 40 footer it was 1750 delivered. Now if I was renting the space at 100 per month it would be payed off in 17 months than the rent would be free. You can always sell it later. But I don't know why you would they are so usefully. One of our members made a barn out of two containers and some trusses. you could cut holes in it and put in a couple of doors. My container I set up as a shop, I insulated, wired and framed the inside with osb it is comfortable and doesn't sweat, like it did before I insulated. They are secure and weather tight. I used to keep my kubota in mine before I sold the tractor. David

 

[Dougster]

I would buy a 20' or 40' shipping container. I bought one for 1500 dollars for a 40 footer it was 1750 delivered. Now if I was renting the space at 100 per month it would be payed off in 17 months than the rent would be free. You can always sell it later. But I don't know why you would they are so usefully. One of our members made a barn out of two containers and some trusses. you could cut holes in it and put in a couple of doors. My container I set up as a shop, I insulated, wired and framed the inside with osb it is comfortable and doesn't sweat, like it did before I insulated. They are secure and weather tight. I used to keep my kubota in mine before I sold the tractor. David

Great idea!!! Unfortunately, illegal in my silly town... but I'm sure "no problemo" anywhere else!!!

Now why didn't I think of that???

Dougster

 

[madpogue]

Wow, lots of great ideas! Yeah, I guess there are two objectives - security and protection from the elements. Security is the bigger one, though. Theft out there is uncommon, but not unheard-of. And the victims are almost always "absentees" like us; the perps know who's there all the time and who's not. So it'd actually be more secure in Dan's unlocked garage than if it were locked up in a shipping container or the like on our property. I'd be concerned that anything put on our land that's obviously meant to store equipment would just send the wrong message, i.e. "Hey, valuable stuff in here!" A neighbor down the road (granted, big city speculator, not well-liked locally) had his pole barn broken into and some pretty dear stuff stolen.

We're also seeking to minimize our "footprint". It's conservation land; the only structure on it is an Amish cabin

BTW, the shipping container idea is gaining broad interest. I've read of homesteaders making dwellings out of one or several of them bolted together. We'll be spending more time out there in later years, and will eventually move there upon retirement, and that's when the modular container idea (for storage) will have some appeal. Our only zoning ordinance is a limit of one dwelling per 35 acres. Storage, etc., anything goes.

 

[schmism]

i would think i could get one of my neighbors to do it for as little as $30 a month...

i had my popup stored in my neighbors garage they werent useing for free for about 8 months..... (they gave us a key to the lock so we could come and go as need be)

but then again, ive been known to help them out with projects also sooooo....

barter system?

offer to cut the feild for him for free in exchange for storage? something like that

 

[davidseaquist]

Some people plant a bunch of trees or shrubs around one to hide it form view. Or paint it to blend it in. Would your neighbor let you put it close to his property so he could keep an eye on it, Or could you share it with him to store on his property. I spent 6,000 dollars using self storage to store my stuff and equipment. When I put the container on my property it was payed for in one year I have been using it for free the last four years. I do understand your security concerns and they they are eye sore. David

 

[jsborn]

I know this may sound like a smart @#$ answer but it is not meant to be.

Get a big chain and lock and chain it to a tree. Find a way to lock the fuel tank and battery. This will keep the honest people from bothering it . (kids and such) Make sure the tree is off the road and relatively out of site of the road and get good insurance.

Like I said sounds bad but it worked for me for 2 years till i built my house and barn.

 

[Dougster]

i would think i could get one of my neighbors to do it for as little as $30 a month... i had my popup stored in my neighbors garage they werent useing for free for about 8 months..... (they gave us a key to the lock so we could come and go as need be) but then again, ive been known to help them out with projects also sooooo.... barter system? offer to cut the feild for him for free in exchange for storage? something like that

I like the barter system idea. In terms of a "rental payment" both sides could live with, that's got to be the way to go.

Funny... but $30.00 a month is roughly half the property taxes I pay related to my elongated two-car garage... one large space worth.

Dougster

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Bring that bad boy on over here! I'll watch it for ya! No charge. I Might have to USE it once in a while......

The storage container issue is just that around here. An issue. Their use is being limited, even in rural areas. Towns and cities are restricting use to 60 to 90 days. They do make a great shed though. The contractor I work for bought 6 to use at jobsites. When I moved (almost 2 years back) I loaded one with household stuff and had it transferred to the new place. That gave me ample time to unload and bring everything in the house. Would you believe my wife actually had me moving furnature back and forth all over the house before she decided where it would finally stay? And I married the woman..........

 

[CATMAN]

Off the subject a little; with 24 acres of wooded property, I would really think you would want and need a loader for your tractor to maintain those areas. A loader almost doubles the usefulness of a tractor, in my opinion.

 

[ToadHill]

In our area dead storage inside is about 40 per month.

 

[ScottAR]

We rent a 20x20 garage to a contractor for about $150 a month. Dad thought he was an interesting guy to have around. (and he has been)

The same garage has also been rented by a guy to store cars in for $350 a month.

The current arrangment has little to do with money exactly as we had our tractor stored there till recently and numerous requests have been turned down before. I'll have to clear out the other garage when winter comes.

I don't want to sound like a snob or somthing but, as a landlord, for the $30-$40 a month being discussed I'd rather use the space than rent it.
On the flip side, mini storage or self storage go for somthing like that.

 

[madpogue]

Bring that bad boy on over here! I'll watch it for ya! No charge. I Might have to USE it once in a while......

Say what? You callin' our brand new 790 junk?

(Kidding! I've read enough of your posts to know what your handle really means.)

Off the subject a little; with 24 acres of wooded property, I would really think you would want and need a loader for your tractor to maintain those areas. A loader almost doubles the usefulness of a tractor, in my opinion.

Agreed. It's just that we're doing the field/prairie projects first, and will be getting to the woods in later years, and we have to focus our spending on the projects at hand. A FEL is in our future, I'm sure. Just not sure how far in the future.

And yeah, we thought about chaining it up real good, and with a "bigeffin" Kryptonite lock, but everyone out there tells us that the best security is location. Dan, esp., has this one dog.....

 

[madpogue]

Thanks for the 411, all. We settled on $25/month, and paid 6 months up front (Danny's not going anywhere; the road's named for his family!). We also paid him for some GOLDEN training time, advice and mechanical assistance.

 

[shane]

Who's insurance will cover your tractor? A friend of mine in Indiana had a large building he rented out to folks to store boats, cars, etc. He would have them sign a disclaimer saying he was not liable for their goods. Well, the building burned down. The renters insurances paid the renters, but then their insurances turned around and sued him. He lost big time. Took him years to recover the loss. Your friend may not be a friend any longer if something like this happens and he's not covered. Just make sure you are both protected.

 

[crbr]

Thanks for the 411, all. We settled on $25/month, and paid 6 months up front (Danny's not going anywhere; the road's named for his family!). We also paid him for some GOLDEN training time, advice and mechanical assistance.

As I was scrolling, here's my thoughts:

Neighbor = $25 per mo.

Good neighbor = free

Smart neighbor will want work done in exchange...

The $25 now allows you to store away and not feel any hospitable obligation to do any work on his end, other than to your choosings.

 

[madpogue]

Yeah, I hear ya, crbr, and eventually, we'll probably get it down to a barter. But we don't live out there, and when we do go out there, we have our hands full with our own work. Eventually I'll be in a better position to offer him work or help with somethng, and we'll be able to drop the money part of it.

Shane, re. insurance, we had to get it insured because we financed it (zero down, zero %, thru JD Credit). Get this - JD insurance was cheaper than our own agent! Our homeowner's here in town doesn't cover it, and the insurance we got on the cabin we put out there doesn't either. Our only choices were to insure it lke a vehicle (they insisted on collision insurance!), or to covert the cabin insurance to a "farmstead" policy. Either choice woulda been several hundred a year. Thru JD, it's $100/year, and they even threw that into the 0% financing (so it added, like, $3 to the monthly payment!).