Thread: DIY Garage In Hull - Thoughts and comments please

Hi Guys,
I am in the process of setting up a DIY Garage in Hull, which will be basically a fully equipt garage were you can book the use of a ramp and tools by the hour to work on your own car in clean dry conditions. There will also be a few bays without ramps ideal for detailing or non ramp essetial maintenance/modifications.

Prices will be £10 per hour for a ramp and £5 per hour for a STD bay.

Any thoughts good or bad, things you`d like to see etc will be much appreaciated.

Thanks Phil

That doesn't sound like a bad idea atall IMO with the amount of people who prefer to do it themselves who don't have access to a full compliment of tools this would be ideal, but one thing to consider could be the insurance implications? Or would you be getting them to sign a liability wavor?

they have them everywhere in the states
there was 1 in sheffield but all the tools got nicked
unless you can watch it while its been used

How are you going to keep an eye on your tools? They'll be always some scroat wanting to thieve once they've book a bay.

It does sound a good idea but i can see things going missing sharpish.

I am in discussions with the insurance firm at the mo, but it is looking like a liability wavour may have to be used

Originally Posted by AidenUK

How are you going to keep an eye on your tools? They'll be always some scroat wanting to thieve once they've book a bay.

It does sound a good idea but i can see things going missing sharpish.

Its a sorry state of affairs i know so ID (ie driving licence) will be viewed upon arrival and all tools checked/signed in and out

It will be manned full time and upon arrival ID ie driving licence will be viewed and tools checked in and out, only way to try and prevent them getting robbed i reckon.

sounds good
theres a lot of ppl with no drives etc

one thing i would invest in
is a good code reader for all makes
and then you could offer just code reading for say a tenner
but get 1 that you can do codeing and basic settings

Do it !
Just dont let retards like me near a car with tools but you wouldnt anyway ! lol

Which part of Hull you're planning to open it in?

i really like the idea of this... makes wicked sense to have a place to work in without the rain... and £5 an hour is a bargain! i think you should charge a little more really and have a couple of bouncers to watch over the tools

i would use this like a shot if there was one in london good luck setting it all up

Good idea, i'm lucky enough to have a friend who owns a chain of garages i borrow his lifts many times it just makes life so much easier.

As you say keeping an eye on your tools plus some kind of signed disclaimer to protect you if they make a hash of there own car.

Location, location, location! Have you got your premises sorted?
Also, get all ur mates to post it on all forums, even bike ones.

Sounds good, I use my dads service pit if I need to. Just be careful and get full public liability insurance, some people will try and claim against anything unfortunately...

philla - I was running my business in few cities, including Hull and have only one thing to say - look for a place in another city...

Originally Posted by slepy

philla - I was running my business in few cities, including Hull and have only one thing to say - look for a place in another city...

Why ? what makes you say this ?? sounds very dubious !

come on theres worse places than hull
not many but some

Originally Posted by flying oyster

i would use this like a shot if there was one in london good luck setting it all up

have a look round on the net theres a few in london

well im from hull my self and while i can see the idea is very good i know lots of people that would like somthing like this especialy if it was an open till late kind of thing oviously alot of diyer's would be after work hour but also like all area's your going to attract theifs and so on to

Don't understand me wrong. I've lived in Hull for 3 years and I do like it as a city.
There is simply not enough money and development in there.
Humber bridge charges, KC monopoly, crime, one of the worst educated cities in UK. These are one of many things why people don't want to invest in Hull. In which part of Hull you're planning to open it?

Edit:
Forgot to mention one of the highest unemployment in the UK

But surely if people didn't bother trying to start up new ventures then it would get worse ? - All i can do is try! the way i look at it is if you have plenty of money then surely you'll just got to the main dealers and not attempt to do it yourself ??

Being in business myself, the issue with Hull is its lack of money generally and small catchment area. Because of the Bridge costs there is little opportunity to do 'small value' business over the water. Next nearest 'big city' is Leeds/Sheffield. Its a little out on a limb. Large council estates on low incomes. If you open up a large blue chip premises and expect them to flock to it, it would be a risk. If you find the right place for the right money, in the right location, you could just be onto a winner as there are lots of d-i-y-ers in the area. Good luck!!

Sod the doubters and go for it!! So long as you limit how much you are liable for then why not. Best of luck.

Go for it, Hull also has one of the largest modified car clubs in the UK, fast-n-modded, worth a join up on there maybe.

Thanks for all the positive comments guys , got a meeting tom to discuss possibility of getting a MOT bay in there aswell :-)

Great idea, my partner and I are moving house one primary reason is it has a inspection pit in the garage, which will enable more work to be done to our cars. I think this is a great idea, I can see the risks associated. Maybe look into a deposit scheme, say £50 which is returned when all the tools are returned. Or they leave their driving license or keys to their car behind the counter, returned when all tools returned. And make sure all you have id's from all people in the garage, and maybe limit the number of people allowed in to say 2 or 3, to avoid people slipping away early. I know you could look at this cynically but such businesses are successful if run correctly. Contact other such businesses find out the problems they have encountered and what solutions they have found.
I think 99% of people will be honest. Good use of signage and cctv can be a deterent. And if someone does steal- report them to the police.
You could speak to the local police and ask them about known car thieves, can they give you descriptions and ID of what they look like so you can refuse them to enter?
You could also have no under 21's allowed without an over 21 present maybe.
There are risk involved with all small businesses, but lots of ways to reduce these risks. Don't be put off. If this is something you've been wanting to do go for it. Do your homework take the risk- Best of luck wish you lots of success.

Good luck with it I say. There a few places down south that do it..... and there has been the odd occation where I could have really done with a car lift.

Guess the inspection pit in our new place will have to do at the mo. But I'd be interested to see the place when it's done..... as it may still come in handy.

I would imagine most competent DIY mechanics would allready have a good selection of their own tools, you could still offer the covered space and use of lifts for your suggested hourly rates and charge extra for use/hire of specialised tools for which you could take a seperate deposit.
+1 for signing of insurance waiver/disclaimer to protect yourself.

Great Idea.. In need of something like this now myself - with respraying needing done and rain on the way

I have a garage with a ramp that I lease out and it's worked out good
You get a lot of have a go mechanics ,, fun to watch ,, I jump in when there about to kill the car or themselves