business survey about a car lift what do you think

[ray m]

If someone down the block had a lift you could put your car up on to do work on would you use it if he charged $10.00 an hr, $5.00 an hr. I'm trying to think of a way to pay for a lift. Thanks Ray

[Rich300TDMBZ]

I will gladly pay even $20 an hour to use a lift, but sadly renting the use of a garage with a lift is no longer available in my area. There are too many morons around who get themselves injured and sued the owner. Liability is something you have to be aware of. Your homeowner's insurance will not cover this if this is "business".

[H-townbenzoboy]

I would gladly pay $5-10 an hr to use the lift. But of course, I would have to learn about the mounting points, mounting safety first, etc...

[300SD81]

Can;t you make people sign something saying your not responsible if they get hurt? The junkyard does every time I go in...

$5-10 and hour is reasonable these days, 20 is somewhat high.

If you do rent the lift to individuals in your shop, insist that sign a liability/insurance waiver before they lift the vehicle off the ground.

[toomany MBZ]

I would suggest YOU set the arms and lift the car, taking away most problems associated with any drops. Personally, the only time I would use this, is if I need to get a pipe on a wrench, and torque the HECK out of it, however, I spent $65 recently to replace a starter, for that reason. Now, I have a garage, floor jack, jack stands and two cars. Often times, I need to get under hood, and under car with out having to raise, lower, what have you. But it sure would be cool! Having said all this, I would like to change rear end oil, I would prefer, and be happy to rent a lift, do you have something to drain the fluid into? Sometimes, I'll jack up the car, and using my creeper, just have a look. Having folks sign a release might work, trade a lawyer lift time for advice, hell, even change his oil!

[bodyart27]

I have one in my garage. As much as I'd like to help a bunch of folks out in the area, I don't want the legal exposure. I avoid even working on someone elses car if I can. If you start renting out the space, then you have to be there, clean up, inconvenience your family, and risk having a car there for a long period of time if someting can't be fixed quickly or waiting on a part, etc (I use 100% of the space - I park a car there as well).

There is probably a market for renting garage space, but have a good attorney write up a waiver.

[Rich300TDMBZ]

Originally Posted by bodyart27

I have one in my garage. As much as I'd like to help a bunch of folks out in the area, I don't want the legal exposure. I avoid even working on someone elses car if I can. If you start renting out the space, then you have to be there, clean up, inconvenience your family, and risk having a car there for a long period of time if someting can't be fixed quickly or waiting on a part, etc (I use 100% of the space - I park a car there as well).

There is probably a market for renting garage space, but have a good attorney write up a waiver.

I agree that you need to consult a good attorney. Getting people to sign a waiver does not work if you operate a business (if you charge a fee) at a place (home) that is not legally allowed. Look at your city codes, and you will see provisions that disallow certain activities such as operating an illegal business. Businesses such as Pick-N-Pull have people signing waivers - they are different as they are registered and are covered by their insurance policies.
I love to use a shop lift and wish there is one in my neighborhood.

[tjohn]

I love using a lift. Even jobs that technically don't require one seem to go much faster when you have the advantage of leverage. I am lucky in that I have access to a military auto hobby shop in that provides you with a full garage - a lift, tools and shop air - for $3/hr. Without access to this, I'd pay $5 an hour for the lift without flinching, and for certain jobs (rear axles, starter, a few others) I'd go quite a bit higher. $20/hour would price you out most of the DIY market.

Definitely talk to a lawyer if you're serious - I think some states are much stricter about this stuff than others. I think that's why some states don't have diy-type junkyards.

[charmalu]

Having a lift is a great idea, wish I had one. but then I would have friends
I didn`t know I had coming over.
Like the post above it would be a liability. I use to have horses and there
was always some one thinking they could come over and go riding.
when I said no, never saw them.
you say no, you are a SOB/ help them out, something goes wrong, they
end up owning the lift and more.
my dad being in the insurance business, and refeering to a swimming pool,
called it an attractive nuiance. a huge liability.

[Matt L]

Another thing to consider: having a signed waiver may help you avoid a big judgment in court (or may not), but it won't keep you out of the courtroom.

[nhdoc]

For $5 or even $10 an hour it is not worth your trouble to rent out the lift, trust me. I have one that I charge $15 an hour or $100 for a whole day for and it is still more trouble than it is worth...if you can't afford to do it for your own use than I suggest you don't do it...letting others use your stuff never works out well.

[ray m]

your ideas have all been thought of . My thoughts were to have the small piece of property the lift was on owned by a corpration i form thats only assets were the lift. it would be purchasing the lift and property from a 2nd party,namely me. The purchase price would take so long to pay off that the corporation would never end up paying for it therefore never really own it to loose in a suit. NO real assets to loose. With a good waiver and instructions that the lift is only operated by the hired attendant(me) No real profits at least at a quantity thats a taxable level. Everything expensed as cost to the corporation. I Have no friends to worry about per say. My life is my family and our future. I,m sort of in a rural setting out side the city. Lets Start A franchise. We'll All get a lift.
How does that sound. RAY M

You can always find a shop that rents theirs and ask them how they do it.

[ray m]

I didn't know any shops did that.