Garages retrofitted for alternative uses and related technology

Abstract

A real estate unit in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present technology includes an interior region of a retrofitted garage, a reusable bathroom operably associated with the interior region, and a reusable fenestrated barrier also operably associated with the interior region. The reusable bathroom can be removably disposed within or outside the interior region. The reusable fenestrated barrier can be stationarily and removably disposed between the interior region and an outdoor area. The retrofitted garage can include a wall between the interior region and the outdoor area. The wall can include an opening having a width within a range from 2 meters to 7 meters. A path permitting a renter of the real estate unit to move between the interior region and the outdoor area can extend through the opening and through the reusable fenestrated barrier.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method for operating a real estate unit, the method comprising:
 providing renter access to an interior region of a retrofitted garage, wherein the retrofitted garage includes a wall between the interior region and an outdoor area, wherein the wall includes an opening having a width within a range from 2 meters to 7 meters, and wherein providing renter access to the interior region includes providing renter access to the interior region through the opening and through a reusable fenestrated barrier stationarily and removably fastened to the wall between the interior region and the outdoor area; and   providing renter access to a reusable bathroom removably disposed within the interior region, wherein the reusable bathroom is portable or an assembly of reusable bathroom modules.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 providing renter access to the interior region of the retrofitted garage includes providing renter access to the interior region of the retrofitted garage, which is retrofitted for lodging and/or residential use at the interior region; 
 the method further comprises providing renter access to lodging and/or residential furnishings within the interior region; and 
 the lodging and/or residential furnishings include a bed. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein providing renter access to the reusable bathroom includes providing renter access to the reusable bathroom, which has a floor level at least 0.5 meter higher than an underlying floor level of the interior region. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising flowing sewage from the reusable bathroom toward an outdoor sewage hookup via a plumbing drain line of the real estate unit. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein flowing sewage from the reusable bathroom toward the outdoor sewage hookup via the plumbing drain line includes flowing sewage from the reusable bathroom toward the outdoor sewage hookup via the plumbing drain line, which extends above-floor from the reusable bathroom toward the outdoor sewage hookup. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein flowing sewage from the reusable bathroom toward the outdoor sewage hookup via the plumbing drain line includes flowing sewage from the reusable bathroom toward the outdoor sewage hookup via the plumbing drain line, which extends above-floor and then above-ground from the reusable bathroom toward the outdoor sewage hookup. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising flowing sewage from the reusable bathroom toward a sewage tank of the real estate unit via a plumbing drain line of the real estate unit, wherein the sewage tank is removably disposed outside the interior region. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 flowing blackwater from a toilet of the reusable bathroom toward a sewage tank of the real estate unit via a plumbing drain line of the real estate unit, wherein the sewage tank is removably disposed outside the interior region; and   flowing greywater from a shower drain of the reusable bathroom toward a greywater filter of the real estate unit via a greywater drain line of the real estate unit.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising swapping a sewage tank of the real estate unit with a less full sewage tank to remove sewage from the real estate unit. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein swapping the sewage tank includes removing the sewage tank from a dock removably disposed outside the interior region. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising flowing water from a water reservoir of the real estate unit toward the reusable bathroom via a water supply line of the real estate unit, wherein the water reservoir is removably disposed outside the interior region. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising flowing water from a hose bibb of the retrofitted garage toward the water reservoir. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising powering an appliance within the interior region using a battery of the real estate unit via an electrical outlet of the real estate unit, wherein the electrical outlet serves the interior region, and wherein the battery is removably disposed outside the interior region. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising swapping the battery with a less depleted battery to replenish an electrical supply to the real estate unit. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein swapping the battery includes removing the battery from a dock removably disposed outside the interior region. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein swapping the battery includes operating an electrical quick-connect coupling of the dock to disconnect the battery from electrical connection with the outlet. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising operating the real estate unit off-grid with respect to an electrical supply to the interior region. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising operating the real estate unit off-grid with respect to remote disposal of blackwater from a toilet of the bathroom. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing renter access to a courtyard at the outdoor area, wherein the outdoor area is a former driveway and/or parking area retrofitted for courtyard use. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  wherein providing renter access to the interior region of the retrofitted garage includes providing renter access to the interior region of the retrofitted garage under an overhead door stowed within the interior region in an open state.