Car Storage Facilities?

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
Anyone use or know of any car storage facilities?

Just looking at the possibility of a little sideline business as we have some land here that would be ideal for this use. Just looking into the costs of start up, running costs and ongoing revenues to see if it could be a viable proposition. Would be located in Hertfordshire just outside London in between J23 & J24 of M25.

Came across a couple this neck of the woods and the costs they charge seem to make it look like a viable business. As an IT & Internet company we could really spruce the product/service up to give it a real high end tech feel with lots of tech bells and whistles.
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,547
I have a couple of cars in storage on a local farm. In a container. They charge me £22 a month

C
 

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
Thanks. Good price. I take it that is quite basic in that it is just more renting a space in a container and that is it? Is there any bells/whistles or options?

I would be looking to go a fair bit further in offering secure indoor storage space. With options for covers, carcoon, battery charger/conditioner, CCTV to each space, start up/drive services etc. etc. There are quite a lot of bolt ons and additional products/services that could be offered over a basic service. Things like MOT service, valeting/detailing, collection/delivery the list goes on! Options for dehumidified and stable air/temp. I guess it would suit cars treated more as an investment or not moved so much rather than accessible temp or short term storage.
 

zagatoes30

Member
Messages
20,759
We have been looking into storage options as a few of us have a number of cars we would prefer not to be clogging up our driveways. We are looking for a unit that could hold ours and have some space to store customers to offset the costs.

Around here basic storage is £100 a month for that you get dry under cover secure storage with anywhere between 24 - 48 hrs notice to get your car out. Most then have add on services, i.e. monthly start ups / move, battery trickle charge, use of cocoons etc as well as wash & prep services. You can easily be up to £200 per month.
 

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
Thanks Andy. Sounds good. I am going to do a nice spreadsheet & detail upfront costs, ongoing fixed/variable costs with revenues. Seems like many are doing it and doing OK. Nobody seems be doing a real high end tech fest that we could add at a fairly cost as that is what we do as a business. We could cater for short, medium and long term I would say with different areas for each with different costs for each. It is quite a scalable and modular business which is ideal for my circumstances.

Happy to help you with anything I find out for your thing. I'm guessing Hertfordshire would be a bit far for you really and are looking for something very local? Seems to suit someone like myself with a bit of land that could be used as an ideal business.
 
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6,001
Yes I would be interested for basic figures, you could pm ime if you would rather go that way
Don't mind either way
 

2b1ask1

Special case
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20,220
I worked for Richard who owns C.A.R.S. U.K. Ltd. He pops up on Wayne Carinie's show and others on occasions, rather minted and bases his business and lifestyle in Monaco. Has a number of warehouses in secret locations around Europe filled with his 'finds' as well as looking after collections for his customers... A nice lifestyle business. Go for it if you can :)
 

hilts uk

Member
Messages
945
Cost in Surrey is £25 per week. I live just inside M25 and the nearest site is 20 miles away. There is little or nothing within 30 miles of SW London. The main issue is business rates, rent and insurance relative to the low revenue per sqft geenrated from leasing out a 20 sqm car footprint. There are loads of agricultural buildings around which house cars but I suspect they haven't applied for proper planning consent nor are they paying the right level of business rates.
 

GeoffCapes

Member
Messages
14,000
I'd be interested. There's plenty of cars I'd like but just no-where to put them at the moment.

As a basic you need it to be secure, inside, not damp and vermin free. After that, the sky is the limit with how you want it to go.
 

dem maser

Moderator
Messages
34,221
Great location Dean, J23-24 is very attractive for North London and Herts owners.....

Some basic garages near me and some I have let in the past are £3- pm, very basic no services.
 

Contigo

Sponsor
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18,376
Big business in it especially if you have some rich middle eastern clients with some very expensive classics. One just opened up near me and I went for a job there, couldn't take the paycut but was a dream job for me. There is a big business in this if you provide all the services, detailing, maintenance, tours, car shows, rallies and even transport arranged.

It's called Car Management services.
 

dem maser

Moderator
Messages
34,221
Big business in it especially if you have some rich middle eastern clients with some very expensive classics. One just opened up near me and I went for a job there, couldn't take the paycut but was a dream job for me. There is a big business in this if you provide all the services, detailing, maintenance, tours, car shows, rallies and even transport arranged.

It's called Car Management services.

yes I know the firm Phil :rofl5: it is a good business to get into, itll be a dream job for me if I could manage that
 

zagatoes30

Member
Messages
20,759
You use to be able to pick up council garages but they are now few and far between, badly maintained and therefore good ones hard to come by. They can be had for as little as a £10 a week though.

We asked around a number of car forums about what people would be prepared to pay for a basic keep it dry & secure with relatively easy access and £75 ppm came out as a price most forum members would be willing to pay. Forums included Alfa, BMW, Rover, Jaguar owners all were relatively low value cars that needed storage.

If you move into the premier league the requirements, security, locations and services are more important than the actual cost. A warehouse full of Fezzea, Lambos & Astons would need to be similar to Fort Knox
 
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